Extremely+Loud+and+Incredibly+Close

**DIRECTIONS: Each student in the group is responsible for inventing one discussion question. This discussion question must be posted on the Monday of each week, ensuring time for discussion of each question. Each member of the group, including the person who invented the question, MUST respond to the discussion AT LEAST twice EACH week. Your participation in these online discussions, along with the amount of effort and reflection put into your responses, will account for a portion of your Literature Circle final grade. Each time you post a discussion question or a response,you MUST skip a space from what was written above, and you MUST begin your writing with your last name and first initial so I can mark your participation. It would also be helpful if you choose a specific colour and stick to that colour each week to identify yourself with also. **

** Week 4 Discussion Question:

__//BrownB//__ - Finally posting a question, so here goes. Gotta be good.

What did you guys think? I mean, the whole story, in general? Explain why. For examples, use the psychological perspectives, specific quotes or scenes that caught your attention, and any connections you guys can link to the book. Just completely let your opinions out on this one, because we might as well, right?

McNaughtonL - Overall, I actually really enjoyed this book. I mentioned this in our discussion today in class, but i don't think it is the kind of book that would catch my attention in a book store if i was picking out my own book, but it actually turned out to be pretty good. I was really pleased with the whole book, except for the ending. The entire book built up this key, event after event after event kept us waiting for something really good to come out of all the misfortune of looking for the lock to fit the key, but then i found at the end, it just flopped. it wasn't at all how i expected the book to end, so i guess in a way, it was surprising, but not a good surprising. one part that stood out for me - there is a quote somewhere where for a paragraph Oskar just talked about how he couldn't confide in anyone else. this stood out to me, because it seemed as though that was one of the major themes of the book. it kind of summed up how he has been very independant, and self sufficient this entire novel. it also summed up what we have discussed quite a bit in these discussions. but overall, i found the book was actually pretty enjoyable.

//__BrownB__// - Yeah, I see what you mean. I thought the book was rather long, myself. I think that it draggend on because it was about a child searching for something. THere's no action, really. And what's more, it got confusing because it's all stream of consciousness into the mind of a ten year old. Not necessarily easy to follow.

//__BrownB__// - And I found that, in the end, the climax was rediculous. And the ending was rather disappointing as well. The pictures were the attention-keepers in this novel, I think.

McNaughtonL - I agree, if it wasn't for the pictures i'm not sure i would have gotten through the book. I agree that it was sometimes hard to follow, especially the dialog. i still really likes this book, but there are definitly some things i would change.. i wish this book also would have given a little more information on the death of Oskar's dad. This novel is kind of Oskar's journey to find closure with the death of his dad, but the book never really specified how he died. That is a good technique in some kinds of books, but for this one i really think we needed to know more specifically. ps: i agree, the end of this novel was a big dissapoin tment.

CraftM- Ok so i totally forgot about relying. Anyways here it goes. Ok so i thought the ending of this book was a really big disapointment. It could have been so much better then having the key have nothing to do with Oskars dad and not really having point at all. It was cool though how we see Oskar developing throughout the book and growing. Although I do have to say that for most of the book i was lost and i did not really know who was talking or what was really going on or where thay were even. And for the way the dialouge was written most of the time i got what the people were trying to say wrong becasue i could not tell who was saying what. That was the biggest thing that annoyed me. The pictures did really help get me through the bok they made me make connections with what was being said so i could understand. Week 3 Discussion Question: CraftM- Throughout the book we hear about Oskar hurting himself and giving himself bruises. One day Oskars mom comes in and changes him into his pjamas and sees the bruises. She does not say anything to him. How do you think she feels? Why do you think that Oskar does this to himelf? Do you think that this just started after his dad died?

McNaughtonL - I think when Oskar's mom see's the brusises she doesn't say anything because she knows that the bruises are partly her fault. Just a few minutes before she see's the bruises Oskar confesses to his mom how he feels about her moving on, and how much it hurts her, he also says something that makes her mad, which in turn makes him mad. I think she avoided asking about the bruises because she knew it wouldn't bring up anything but more trouble, and bad memories. I think Oskar does this to himself because he feels as though it is his fault when things go wrong, he doesn't have the knowledge any adult would that not everything is your fault, so he choses to punish himself for what he feels he has done wrong. I think this might have started after his dad died, but i also think it's possible he did it before, but i think since his dad's death he has begun doing it much more. **

**//__BrownB__// - To be honest, she could be many things. Scared, worried, saddenned, or at the same time she could be ignorant and unafraid. I say this because we have no insight into her emotions as of yet, and it hasn't set upon us her backing in this novel. We may find out later. Maybe. Anyhow, as for bruises, we're not even sure what he means by bruises. Like, when he's upset or depressed, he says he has "heavy boots", so perhaps his "bruises" could be a metaphor too? Although, if they are in fact physical, maybe it is because, much like emotional-hardcore peoples, they blame themselves for their problems and other's problems, like Lacy had said, and physically hurts himself. But I daresay these bruises show sort of purpose, metaphorically, too. We'll figure it out eventually I'm sure...

Ps: Sorry I didn't post my question early enough. Felt kind of stupid for that. Next time I'll do it as soon as I get home that day. :/**

** CraftM- Brad not a problem I just went on and saw there was no question so I wrote one. Anyways back to the topic. I think that they are physical bruises becasue as I recall it was somewhere that he would hit himself and give himself a bruise. But i also think that it means that he probably gives himself some kind of emotional bruise. I think that he does have severe emotional problems to because this is all two years later and he is still acting this way. Even with his phsychiatrist (not sure if thats right) he should be making some sort of progress to letting his emotions out and moving on slightly. I do think that this all started after his dad's death because he blames himself and he thinks he has to protect his mom from all the emotions of his dad's death. He has to try and pretend that everything is alright for the people around him becasue he does not really like other people to be upset from what we have seen so far of him. He said that he will bury his emotions deep inside of him to not let other people know that he is hurting even if it changes him.

 **//__BrownB__// - Yeah. I really disagree with what he's doing to himself, but who can change a novel you didn't write, right? Anyhow, that makes sense. I must have missed that along my readings.... Anyhow, the physical abuse he gives himself may be a stress release because, as emotional-hardcores (Emos) do, they hurt themselves because the adrenaline of pain releases the feeling of stress, much like drugs and their highs. Maybe the bruises he gives himself are to release that heavy feeling. To untie his heavy boots and make the a little bit lighter, as Oskar would say.

CraftM- I agree with Brad. Oskar says that he keeps his emotions in so it would only make sense that he would do that to himself to make himself feel better by releiving stress. I guess Oskar could possibly find some one he is close to or trusts and maybe he could talk about his life instead of keeping it in and worrying about other peoples. I think that it would make him feel a lot better. But who knows maybe it would not.

McNaughtonL - I agree with everything that has been said so far. I think Oskar does all this, such as the bruises, and keeping in all his emotions and not letting anyone in, because he thinks it is what is better for everyone else. He is so sensitive for being such a young boy. He is more conserned with keeping things from his mother or grandmother because he is scared to hurt them, and even though keeping all this inside hurts him, he does it. I think he gives himself bruises because holding all that in is way too much, but he is too scared to let it out. Honestly, i think that makes Oskar brave. I can't think of any other 9 year old who would cause themselve so much pain just to avoid hurting the ones they love. I think that's great of him, but I do think he needs to open up to someone, or i think it will become way to much for him to handle.  

McNaughtonL - As the book pregresses we learn more about Oskar's curiosity and his enthousiasm for finding new information. One day while going through his father's closet he comes across and envelope with the word "black" on it with a mysterious key inside. Oskar begins to hunt for this unidentified "Black" and starts going thro ugh all the blacks in New York. Do you think Oskar will find the black he is looking for? What do you think this key fits? Do you think his dad left the key on purpose for Oskar to find? Explain ****<span style="color: rgb(0,128,0); background-color: rgb(255,255,255);">.
 * Week 2 Discussion Question:** **<span style="color: rgb(0,147,255);">

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0); background-color: rgb(255,31,0);">//__BrownB__// - To be fully honest, I think his father did leave the key for Oskar to find, but not for the reasons one might seem to expect this early on in the book. Oskar talks about Reconnaissance Expeditions rather often in the book, owever I do not believe that this was one of those events. I think (or rather, I know, due to reading ahead *no spoilers*) that there is a secret in behind the lock that Oskar will find rather surprising. Also, I'd like to add that, because his father died in 9/11, he couldn't have planned that Oskar would find the envelope himself, because he would have had to have known he was going to die on September 11, 2001, and the only people that knew of the attack plan was the terrorists themselves. It was probably meant to be given to Oskar by his father at some point to unlock the specific lock that Oskar is currently looking for in the book. Anyhow, to be frank, I don't think that Oskar is looking for the right "Blacks". I think there's a secret behind that envelope that hasn't been brought up yet in the book.....

CraftM - I don't actually think that the black he is supposed to be looking for is a person. I so think however that black has some other meaning. I also think that his father did plan to have Oskar find the key on one of his missions. Since his father seemed to make everything a game it was probably all part of the plan. I think that the key fits a box of some sort or some building with a fence around it with a lock; or something of the sort. Or possibly a lock box that is hidden somewhere.

McNaughtonL - I think I agree more with Brad.. i definitely think the key was put there in hopes of Oskar, or anyone else, to find in hopes of returning said key to it's rightful owner. i think the key will have some sort of historical or significant meaning to someone and the main purpose is for it to be returned. i don't even think the key is meant to open something, just as a symbol. I do think Oskars dad left it because he knows Oskar has such a keen sence of descovery that he will do anything it takes to solve a mystery like the one of the key. I think the key adds a good amount of suspence to the book. (I still don't think it's safe Oskar wanders around NewYork talking to strangers by himself..)

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0); background-color: rgb(247,29,29);">//__BrownB-__// I agree, Oskar really shouldn't be travelling around New York alone, however I can't really blame him. It's a secret that his father had. He wants to know if the key has anything to do with a secret his father had, or something like that. But the key is a symbol, but so will the lock it goes to, and the thing held behind the lock. Remember that there is never a key made without its partner lock, so it must fit something. However, it *could* go either way, in the sense that this could have been a game for Oskar or not. Maybe his father planned to let Oskar start the R.E. (Reconnaisance Expedition) before he died, but after his death Oskar never knew it was an R.E. However, like I said, Oskar's dad, (lets call him Tom because it's his name and I'm tired of writing out Oskar's dad all the time XD), must have known he was going to die on 9/11 for this story to not be a coincidence. But, overall, I do think Oskar was supposed to recieve the envelope, but not under these circumstances. And as for the Blacks... like I said, it's more than likely that it isn't the right Blacks that he's looking for.

CraftM- I do not think that the black he is looking for is a person either. But lets think of it this way it is not safe at all that oskar walks the streets by himself but where is his mother? If i lived in New York and my nine year old child came up to me and siad that they were "just going out" there would be no way that that would happen... ever. I don't understand why the mother does not keep track of her child. I do not think that Tom knew that he would die on 9/11 because no one did. Except for the people planning it.

<span style="color: rgb(45,169,240);">McNaughtonL - Along with the fact that Oskar has way too much freedom, being able to wander New York city as he pleases, I think that the key he is searching for may not have been for him to find. What if Tom had put the key in an enveloppe in a vase in the top of his closet because it was something he wanted to forget? Maybe because Oskar found this key, by mistake, and finding whoever it may have belonged to will bring up bad memories, or a history his father had tried so hard to cover and couldn't? What if they key was never meant to be found, and it was burried so far in the closet in hopes of Oskar not finding it? I hope we find out soon..

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);">Week 1 Discussion **<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);"> <span style="color: rgb(0,145,255);">**<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0);">Question: <span style="color: rgb(45,169,240);"> ** <span style="color: rgb(45,169,240);">McNaughtonL- As we are introduced to Oskar in the first few pages of the novel, he seems to be a bit strange. He analyses everything and has a very hard time staying on topic. He seems to notice the little things that no one else would ever notice. Do you think Oskars behavior is coming from stress after the death of his father and his mother moving on, or do you think that there is actually something wrong with Oskar? Explain.

<span style="background-color: rgb(244,49,37);">**__//BrownB//__** - **To be perfectly honest, no, I don't believe his over-analysis is created from the stressful loss of his father, or of his mother moving on. Nor do I believe that anything is, in a word, "wrong" with Oskar. He's merely a child, and children are curious, especially at his age. He's learning new things, and he's going through some twists and turns in life, and he's trying to figure out why. Children are extremely adventurous, and also knowledge-starved, and always try to quench that hunger with fact and truth. This is why the book is so well written, because it depicts Oskar's need for the truth during his youthful age. Finding exactly where the key goes is the truth he is looking for, and he is looking for facts so he can find out where his key goes. So there //is// a method to his madness, and he's using that method to complete to complete his goal. That's one thing children do well; they don't quit something if they get tired, they finish the job.** <span style="color: rgb(0,192,255);"> <span style="color: rgb(45,169,240);">McNaughtonL - I think the argument could go either way. I think Oskar is an extremely intelligent boy, he thinks of things some people would never imagine and he is mature so far beyond any other boy of his age. Not only has he dealt with the loss of his father, but he has heard the messages his father sent the momens before he died. Oskar has kept all these things to himself, and that is enough to make anyone, old or young, break down, but Oskar manages to hold it together for his family. On the other hand I do still think that Oskar is a bit off.. he has some very weird habits, such as every time his grandmother says his name he says "I'm OK", and he hasn't learned some of the skills that any other child his age would know.For example he will knock on a strangers door and have a full conversation with them and he doesn't even know them. Something about the amount of trust and his strange habbits leads me to think he is a bit different <span style="color: rgb(0,192,255);">. <span style="color: rgb(0,128,0);"> <span style="color: rgb(0,128,0);">CraftM - Oskar is a vrey interesting child. At times he is so mature that I forget i am reading the story of a child. I do think that Oskar uses all these little games and other adventures to keep from thinking about the fact that his mother has a new boyfriend and the fact that his father died. Kids do like to go on adventures and do interesting things but most children do have somewhat short attention spans so when this chase is not longer fun i wonder if he will move on. As for his grandmother i think she is a little bit insane.

<span style="color: rgb(45,169,240);">McNaughtonL - I think that Megan has a point when she says he is very mature, i too find myself forgetting we are reading from the point of view of a little boy. He seems almost too mature, like he is missing the point of being a child.. but then at other times i think he seems way younger then he is because he can act very childish at the same time. I do still think there is something slightly off with Oskar, i'm not sure what it is, but I think there is something. Like Megan said, his grandmother really does seem insane, so maybe it is being influenced from spending too much time with her.

<span style="color: rgb(0,0,0); background-color: rgb(255,31,0);">**__//BrownB//__ - Well, his grandmother does show signs of senility, however I really don't think this peculiar child attitude derives from time spent with his grandmother. I mean, yes, the scientific theory of time-lapse conditioning ( where a *usually* youthful participant is subject to long hours of a certain object, being or event, which can alter their behaviour, personality or overall mentality) would make sense here, *if* he showing signs of insanity. However, he really doesn't. Over-analysis and insanity are two different mentalities. I happen to know the over-analysis issue's effects personally. But anyhow, I truly don't think there's anything off about him, mainly because there are no problems that would show a mental problem other than post-traumatic stress, and that really didn't effect him until after the accident, and he continues to act the samne way but with a different goal and a stronger ambition. He merely has an elevated Intelligence quotient and is very knowledge-hungry.**