year4 Extremely Loud

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Extremely loud & Incredibly close

FICTION & FILM

trigger warning!
(online or hard copy)

About the novel

Themes:

Trauma / Loss
Interconnection

Complex characters:
Multi-layered, flawed, ..

Film & Fiction

The novel has been made into a movie (as often happens).

You are going to analyse how that works.
The story is the same, but the storytelling is different.

Test = Literature essay

We are going to READ (part of) the novel, and we are going to WATCH the movie

Then you'll write an essay about it.

Ok, let's get into the themes/background a little bit..

First: placement tests listening & reading

Why?
Fast track available
Good to know where you stand

Working time. Choose:

Gold: unit 1
Reading: Extremely loud & incredibly close

Short Break (15:00 - 15:10)

8e uur: 406.

BE THERE ON TIME

Step 2: listening (Woots) > 24" (so half an hour)
8e uur in 406

Done? Read Extremely Loud & Incredibly close
or
Work in Unit 1 (Gold)

9/11 

4 years later, this is one of the first books to talk about it.
Why do you think it took that long?

Oskar

> child (9 y.o.)
> a bit autistic, possibly (it isn't mentioned, but there are signs)

Reliable as a narrator or not?
What's the effect of a child narrator?

Visual representation of trauma

Step 1: reading (hard copy)

I'll start us off, and then you continue
Enjoy!

Reactions

Opening: Oskar’s Voice & the Search for Meaning

Book: We have read the “What the?” opening pages + Oskar’s inner monologue (his inventions, fears, the tambourine, “heavy boots”).

Film: we are now going to watch the opening; voiceover + scenes of Oskar walking through NYC, explaining his fears.

Focus questions:

How does the novel create Oskar’s voice?

What does the film do differently to show the same ideas?
What do you learn about Oskar from words vs. images?

Try to answer (DDU)

How does the novel create Oskar’s voice?

What does the film do differently to show the same ideas?

What do you learn about Oskar from words vs. images?

First, think individually
Then, discuss with a neighbour
Finally, share

Compare & analyse

What stayed the same?

What changed?

Why did the director change it?

Which version has more emotional impact?

One analytical sentence: “Foer uses ___, while the film uses ___ to show that…” 

Continue reading

See you next week!

Have a good weekend! 

Hi everyone!

SE bespreken

Niet alles in detail, maar nu even de belangrijkste punten.
Wil je meer detail of iets vragen of jouw specifieke toets of antwoorden? Kom dan morgen tijdens O&U naar mij in 410.

What do we remember about Extremely loud & incredibly close?

Focus point 2: Oskar & His Grandmother (Communication + Letters)

Book:  Letter from Grandma + the “nothing spaces” between the pages + Oskar talking with her.

Film: Scenes in the grandmother’s apartment and the rooftop.

What we will look for:

• Foer’s experimental layout vs. the film’s need to simplify.

•Elements of postmodern literature.

Focus questions:

• How does Foer play with text, white space, and structure?

• How does the film translate those techniques to visuals?

• What emotional impact does each medium create?

Have you discussed postmodernism in Art class or anywhere else? What do you know? 

Post modern narrative

Een postmodern verhaal:

- doorbreekt traditionele vertelregels

- laat zien dat waarheid subjectief is

- speelt met vorm, perspectief en taal

- maakt de lezer actief onderdeel van het verhaal

Foer doet dit bewust om trauma, rouw en herinnering weer te geven.

What is post modern about the narrative in ELIC?

- It is fragmentary (not lineair)

- multiple perspectives

- unreliable narrators
- visual and typographical elements
(Klassiek postmodern idee: taal is niet genoeg om de werkelijkheid te vatten!)
- metafiction (being aware that a story is being told)
- playing with reality and imagination 

Why does postmodernism suit this story/theme?

brainstorm / discuss

Postmodernism suits the story because:

9/11 als onbegrijpelijke, chaotische gebeurtenis

Rouw, waarbij tijd, logica en taal uit elkaar vallen

De vorm ondersteunt de inhoud.

What could the purpose be of these  post modern elements in ELIC?

- Fragmentary (not lineair)

- Multiple perspectives

- Unreliable narrators
- Visual and typographical elements
(Klassiek postmodern idee: taal is niet genoeg om de werkelijkheid te vatten!)
- Metafiction (telling the story to tell the story)
- Playing with reality and imagination 

Analysis of postmodern elements:

Fragmentarische vertelstructuur: dit weerspiegelt hoe trauma werkt: herinneringen komen onsamenhangend terug.
Meerdere perspectieven: Er is geen één waarheid over 9/11 of verlies — alleen persoonlijke ervaringen.
Unreliable narrators: De lezer moet zelf bepalen wat geloofwaardig is.
Visuele elementen: Vorm vervangt soms taal, omdat woorden tekortschieten bij trauma.
Metafictie (bewustzijn van het verhaal): De roman laat zien dat verhalen constructies zijn, geen objectieve verslagen.
Spel met realiteit en verbeelding: Verbeelding wordt gebruikt om grip te krijgen op pijn.

Let's watch

Focus questions while watching/reading;

• How does Foer play with text, white space, and structure?

• How does the film translate those techniques to visuals?

• What emotional impact does each medium create?

Now please read
pages 224 - 284 (this week)

- Letter from Grandma
- The “nothing spaces” between the pages
- Some of Grandpa's pages with visual and typographical elements. 

(PDF is in Magister > opdrachten)

Compare the post modern elements we discussed in the FILM and the FICTION version of the story.

Write down your observations and analysis. 

WEEK 3

> Abby Black
> The Renter 

Reading time

p. 90 - 99
Abby Black 

If you already read it: read another chapter.

The Meeting With Abby Black

Book: Oskar’s visit to “Black” households, especially Abby.

Film:The Abby Black visit is a key emotional scene.

• Great example of film condensing multiple chapters.

• Shows emotional realism vs. the book’s surreal wandering storyline.

Write about these focus questions:

• What part of Oskar’s character becomes clearer in the film?

• What deeper emotional layers exist in the book?

• How does the movie simplify the “quest”?

Now please read
pages 260 - 284 (this week)

-  Grandpa's pages with visual and typographical elements. 

If you already read it: read another chapter.

The Renter

Book:

 Chapters written by the grandfather (with “Yes/No” and photos).

Film:

Introducing the grandfather as a silent character accompanying Oskar.

Focus questions:

• How do the two media build sympathy for the grandfather?

• Why does the film remove the experimental formatting?

• What do we gain/lose?

The Renter

Write about these questions:

Focus questions:

• How do the two media build sympathy for the grandfather?

• Why does the film remove the experimental formatting?

• What do we gain/lose?

Week 4 

Focus on:

> Oskar and his mother 
She is a supporting character. What is her role/purpose?
> The resolution

Reading time

Read how the novel ends:
At least:
"My feelings": start at p. 306
"Beautiful and true": 
If you are a fast reader, you can start earlier. 

Planning:

> We will finish the movie today

> Next week, I am not here, but you will do the assignment on Magister "schrijfopdracht proefversie" to prepare for the actual assignment

> We will look at it together

A look at the writing assignment

ELO / Hand-out

Start working on it. 
Again: I'm away next week but please do it to prepare youself.