Language & Imagery

I found the language that Gruen used was easy to follow. I did, however, require a dictionary for a few words that were new to me. Some terminology is a bit different from my known vocabulary, as the bulk of the novel was set during the Great Depression. This made the book a fun read, yet it also challenged me. Gruen did a spectacular job with her imagery. There were many disturbing images that were brought up, and she described them quite well, in my opinion. For example; the disaster that brings down the entire circus is described so well that I can picture it in my head…

“Rosie stretches out her trunk, reaching for something. A giraffe passes between us, its long neck bobbing gracefully even in panic, and when it’s gone I see that Rosie has pulled her stake from the ground. She holds it loosely, resting its end on the hard dirt. The chain is still attached to her foot. She looks at me with bemused eyes. Then her gaze shifts to the back of August’s bare head. […] She lifts the stake as though it weighs nothing and splits his head in a single clean movement…” (pg. 395-396)

I find her description very useful when I try to imagine the events as they unfold. She does an amazing job providing imagery throughout the entire novel; this is just one example.

Symbolism

I haven’t noticed much symbolism in the novel really; I think I have to analyze it a bit more. However after some consideration about a certain event in chapter six, I thought it may fall under a heading of symbolism. On page 110, August has Jacob feed the cats. He tells him to feed Rex, a lion with no teeth. Jacob is unaware that he has no teeth, and therefore when the cat bites his arm, he screams. August ensures Jacob this was a joke, but he does not find it funny. I think Rex may symbolize August in a way. For example, Rex is deceiving, and so is August. Rex looks harmful but he has no teeth, so he can’t harm you as much. August at first is charming and gracious, yet turns out to “have teeth” as he is aggressive and angry.