EXTREMELY LOUD (232-306)
PAIR 1: Grandmother to Oskar: “When I look at you, my life makes sense. Even the bad things made sense. They were necessary to make you possible...Every moment before this one depends on this one. ” 232
----How is she saying that Oskar’s existence is a product of her refusal to remain in the Experienced Perspective?
-----How is she saying that Oskar’s existence is a product of the need to travel through bombing Dresden, loss of sister, loss of parents, and arrive at the need to love Grandfather...to make Oskar's Dad who made Oskar out of love?
PAIR 2: Why is Oskar curious about “where they came from, who they missed, and what they were sorry for” when he is looking around at the people who are also standing on top of the Empire State Building? 247
----How do you know Oskar’s "shared trauma therapy" with the Blacks is helping him overcome his Experienced perspective?
----------------------------------------------------------
Ruth Black recalls how her deceased husband used to shine a spotlight at night so Ruth could see him from the observation deck of the Empire State Building. After he died, Ruth still looks for the light and comments that it was like looking for the light when he was alive in the daytime, "I knew it was there. I just couldn't see it." (Foer 252).
---How is Ruth Black a native mentor for Oskar and journeying toward Organized Innocence on lost love?
---How is the photo on page 253 of the 9/11 Spotlight Memorial helpful to all those who lost loved ones in the World Trade Center in their quest to Organized Innocence on lost love?:
----Connect the “tin can” love and Ruth’s looking for her husband’s light as helpful ways for Oskar to think of his Dad’s love for him:
PAIR 3: Why does Oskar ask the renter / Grandfather why he doesn’t have other phrases beyond “yes” and “no” tattooed on his body?
What is significant about the phrases that Oskar suggests:
‘I’ll think about it’,
‘Probably’,
‘it’s possible’
How do these phrases encourage an Organized Innocent view of the world with respect to the capacity for hope and faith? ( 257 )
--- Why does Grandfather cross out “to mourn” and replace it with “to try to live” when he returns to the USA? (273)
----How do we know Oskar has encouraged the Grandfather’s journey toward Organized Innocence?
PAIR 4: Transcribe the Dad’s last message on the answering machine. What is missing?
115 Explain the significance of Oskar’s discovery of his name in his catalogue “OSKAR SCHELL: SON” page 286….
-------Why is Oskar pleased with this one word descriptor?
-------How will this help Oskar remember that he is always his father's son and is currently his mother's son?
-------What will Oskar need to change in order to be a son to his mother?
------------- How does Oskar describe his feelings after searching for the key and not finding anything? How are these adjectives connected to the Experienced perspective? 287
PAIR 5: Oskar starts out wondering why his Mom never cares about where he is going, yet suddenly realizes that not only does she care, she has been following him this entire time and preparing the Blacks for his visits. (Foer 291)
How is she providing “unlooked for help” to Oskar?
How is Oskar moved toward an Organized Innocent perspective when he learns of her unseen help?
What was the “unlooked for help” for “Nick the Convert”?
For Gus?
What are the connections between Oskar’s and Gus’s “unlooked for help”?
PAIR 6: Why does Oskar want to know about William Black’s father? 296
Why does William Black’s father write letters?
What does William Black’s father's letter not say to William?
How does this help Oskar with his grief?
Why does Oskar tell William Black about Oskar's inability to pick up the phone and speak with his Dad? and why does he ask for forgiveness? page 301-2
PAIR 7:
Why is it significant to Oskar’s faith in people that Stephen Hawking writes him back? page 304
What does Stephen Hawking say life depends on?
Why is it important that it depends on things we will never see, hear, smell, nor touch?
------------> How does this allow for a divine presence in the universe? page 305
-------------> How does Hawking imply that the universe depends on love?
---the love Oskar had/has with his Dad?
---and the love he can still have with his Mom? and Grandfather / Grandmother?
-------------> Why does Hawking close the letter Oskar with gratitude for the beauty of the morning?