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The narrative structure of the novel is a frame narrative. This is seen when Oskar is narrating his story, then the book jumps to the stories of the grandpa and the grandma. Also there is an epistolary structure as letters are written to various characters throughout the book.

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Oskar Schell fits the character archetype of a hero because he goes on a journey for some truth or information to get over his dad's death. He is his own hero as he is forced to face the world on his own, which shows his bravery. He finds out about the truths of the many people he encounters on his journey. He is able to let go of the pain that causes him to isolate himself from the rest of world after 9/11, much like many other people who have been scarred from this horrific day.

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Jonathan Safran Foer is an American novelist best known for his novels Everything is Illuminated 2002), and Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (2005). He was born in Washington DC in 1977.

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"In the end, everyone loses everyone. There was no invention to get around that, and so I felt, that night, like the turtle that everything else in the universe was on top of" (pg. 74).

This reveals Oskars thoughts and feelings about death. This is an emotional quote because of the imagery and figurative language that the author incorporated.

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This is Oskar with his tambourine and the key around his neck wandering around NYC looking for people to help him find his answer.

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Oskar says this when he beings his search for the lock. It characterizes him as a thoughtful boy. Most boys his age would never think that deeply about a key or have that much interest about something like this.

"That's what i love about keys. They all open something"
(pg. 39)

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Freud came to believe that the way parents dealt with children's basic sexual desires would determine how their personalities developed and whether or not they would end up well-adjusted as adults. It is clear that Oskar’s mind and personality is not like that of an average 9-year-old. Dr. Freud stated that children usually have these vague desires for the parent of the opposite sex, however, based on our observations of Oskar’s mentality and his close relationship with his father which is on the contrary to his relationship with his mother, is it possible that Oskar encountered Freud’s theory in a sort of backwards way? Timidly lusting over his father rather than mother during his development?

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The words incredibly and extremely are used in many sentences in the novel to emphasize the importance of what characters are experiencing. For example, “…then, out of nowhere, a flock of birds flew by the window, extremely fast and incredibly close.” (p.165). At first glance, the title may seem to be relating directly to one of the main events in the story, 9/11: Extremely loud and for those in the city, like Oskar, incredibly close. However, it’s clear that the title is not related to anything specifically, so what is its actual meaning? Based on the quote, the title seems to have the closest relation to Oskar’s life. The world that surrounds him is all too “extremely loud and incredibly close”

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Throughout the book, Foer inserts photographs that don’t seem to fit the plot however, when you continue to read you realize that the pictures that are shown allow a glimpse, or a visual representation into the lives and happenings of the characters.

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My cousin that I never met died in the 9/11 terrorist attacks. This is his name engraved on the 9/11 memorial, built right where the twin towers use to stand.

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Characterization of Thomas Schell (Oskars grandfather/ The Renter) 

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Characterization of Thomas Schell (Oskars grandfather/ The Renter) 

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Oskars grandfather was an interesting character in the novel. As he got older, and went through emotional difficulties such as losing loved ones in war, he lost his ability to talk. He had YES and NO written on both of his hands that made it easier to communicate with people. He also wrote out everything on a notepad when he couldn't answer with yes or no. His goal in the novel was to establish a relationship with his grandson since he was very absent in the life of his son. He was also a very sensitive and artistic man.

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Oskar Schell is a nine year old boy with the mindset of an adult. He is very intelligent,  and he reveals he has lots of anxiety. For instance, he would always carry a tambourine with him to calm his nerves and whenever something bad would happen, he would "...give [himself] a little bruise" (pg. 41).

He is a clever young boy who self-identifies as a number of things including inventor, amateur inventor, origamist, and amateur archaeologist. He often contemplates deeper topics. His thoughts have a tendency to trail off. He is very trusting of strangers and makes friends easily, though he does not have many friends his own age.

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Thomas Sr. Internal/ External Conflicts: Thomas Sr. ‘s external conflicts are reflected in his failure to outwardly communicate with the rest of the world around him. He loses his capability to speak with others, highlighting his inability to face others as well as himself.
Thomas’ internal conflicts are conveyed through his letters to his son. He uses these letters to say the things that he never could say to his son in person, not only because he does not speak, but because he has abandoned him and knows that their reuniting is not in the near future.

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Oskar's Internal/ External Conflicts: Oskar struggles with his inability to move on with his life after his father's death in the 9/11 attack for fear of forgetting him and not giving him the mourning that he deserves. Oskar tries to externally hold on to his father by searching through New York to find answers to his father's death but there is nothing for him to find. He struggles to find meaning in his father's death while also struggling to communicate his pain and anguish with his loved ones, such as his mother.

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The book Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close takes place in New York City 2 years after the 9/11 attacks (2003). During this time, the people of NYC are getting back to their normal routines after being shaken up by the terrorist attack in 2001. After horrific tragedies like this one,  it is human nature to drift apart from each other. In the book we see Oskar parading around the city on his journey and bringing people together. The city has begun to return to normalcy with people constantly moving and minding their own business.

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The key is a reoccurring symbol in the novel Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer . In the novel, the key is a symbol of hope for Oskar. It allows him to get a broader perspective of the city which connects him emotionally and somewhat physically to his father. His father taught him to explore new things constantly so by going on this journey, he was making his father proud by continuing to follow in his footsteps.

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Analysis | Shmoop

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Having trouble understanding Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close? Here's an in-depth analysis of the most important parts, in an easy-to-understand format.

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A major theme in the novel is love. Death and grief seemed to bring out the strong emotion of love throughout the novel. The main character Oskar shows his great amount of love and affection for his deceased father who passed away during the terrorist attack of 9/11. He showed his love for his father through his journey in New York City looking for the lock that fit they key his father had left behind. Finding the answer to the key would give Oskar a greater connection to his father.

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Grief and death seem to overwhelm love in much of Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close. The most strongly expressed feelings for love are sometimes saved for people who are dead: in Oskar's case, his father; for Grandpa, his first love, Anna. It's as if love with the people who are in our lives is much more complicated than the idealized love we can have for someone who's gone. Because here's the problem with love, as Oskar knows so well. If you love someone and lose them, it's devastating.

Because everyone in the novel is struggling with grief, it can be hard to tease out the love in their relationships. Oskar, in particular, keeps his mother at a distance despite her protective love for him. She's different from his Dad and Grandma, whose love for him is expressed more directly. Once Oskar realizes this, he can reconnect with her and see that she's been watching him and loving him all along.

Questions About Love

1. Did Oskar love his father more, or did he just love him differently?

2. How does Oskar help other people find love during his quest?

3. What's the meaning of Dad's fantastical story about the Sixth Borough, when a boy keeps love in a can?

Chew on This

Love may be fragile and fleeting, but Grandma encourages Oskar to express it whenever he can... maybe because love is fragile and fleeting. You never know when you'll lose a person you love.

Do you think Tennyson was right? Is it "better to have loved and lost than never loved at all"? Would Oskar agree?

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close Love | Shmoop

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Learn about Love in Shmoop’s free Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close study guide. We’ll have you laughing and learning at the same time!

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Trailer for the movie

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Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close - Official Trailer [HD]

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Partner your channel with the VISO Network: http://viso.tv/join/ Become a VISO Affiliate: http://viso.tv/affiliates Become a VISO Recruiter: http://viso.tv/become-a-viso-recruiter Subscribe http://ow.ly/3UVvY | Facebook http://ow.ly/3UVxn | Twitter http://ow.ly/3UVyA Release Date: 20 January 2012 Genre: Drama Cast: Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Sandra Bullock Directors: Stephen Daldry Writer: Eric Roth, Jonathan Safran Foer Studio: Warner Bros.

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This quote came from Thomas Schell (The Renter)during the novel. He was reminiscing on death, and it made him realize that he needed to do more to make life worth living.  (pg. 113) At this point in time, he is sitting in an airport, trying to figure out what he would say to his son, and how he would explain his absence throughout his sons childhood. He has to think of a way to make the rest of his life worth living.