Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
What is the connection between the title and the book?
There is no clear explanation for the title Extremely loud and incredibly close. There are many
lowercase letters throughout the book. The reader himself can indicate this. The main character
Oskar often uses the words extreme and incredible in one sentence in the book, but he never says:
extremely loud and incredibly close in one sentence. I think the title could be that Oskar is a very
frightened boy, he is afraid of many things. Loud noises, strange people, the danger to continue. The
title can also go to the search of Oskar's father and Oskar to overcome Oskar's fears.
What kind of persons are the main characters?
Oskar Schell
A nine year old boy, he is the main character of the story. He lives with his parents and
grandmother in New York City. Oskar is intelligent, inquisitive and curious. He is constantly
inventing new things. He keeps a sort of diary, Stuff That Happened to Me. For example, he
reads a book by Stephen Hawking. That is quite special for a child of nine years old.
Oskars vader:
Thomas Schell, died during the September 9/11 attack. He has a jewelry store. He is also very
intelligent and curious. He continuously stimulates Oskar’s ideas.
Oskars oma
Oskar and his grandmother love each other, she always takes care of him when his moother is
working. She lives across the street and when they are not together they have contact via a walkie-
talkie.
Mr. Black
One of Mr. Blacks appears to live in the same building as Oskar. This Mr. Black is a special figure in
the story. He is old and wise, has not been outside for 24 years and is deaf, until after a long time
Oskar turns on his hearing aid. Mr. Black helps Oskar with his search for a while. He is important to
Oskar, because by taking him on the metro and at the Empire State Building, he helps Oskar
overcome his fears. One day he just disappears from Oskar's building. Nobody knows for sure why,
but Oskar likes to think that he has moved to the Empire State Building, together with the woman he
met there.
Who is your favoriete character and why?
I think my favorite character is Oskar, he is only nine years old and he has to experience so much
terrible things. Like he lost his father, he loved his father so much. I can’t imagine losing my father
when I’m only nine years old. Oskar is very young but also very smart, he likes to read science clerks,
exceptional isn’t it?
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
What is the connection between the title and the book?
There is no clear explanation for the title Extremely loud and incredibly close. There are many
lowercase letters throughout the book. The reader himself can indicate this. The main character
Oskar often uses the words extreme and incredible in one sentence in the book, but he never says:
extremely loud and incredibly close in one sentence. I think the title could be that Oskar is a very
frightened boy, he is afraid of many things. Loud noises, strange people, the danger to continue. The
title can also go to the search of Oskar's father and Oskar to overcome Oskar's fears.
What kind of persons are the main characters?
Oskar Schell
A nine year old boy, he is the main character of the story. He lives with his parents and
grandmother in New York City. Oskar is intelligent, inquisitive and curious. He is constantly
inventing new things. He keeps a sort of diary, Stuff That Happened to Me. For example, he
reads a book by Stephen Hawking. That is quite special for a child of nine years old.
Oskars vader:
Thomas Schell, died during the September 9/11 attack. He has a jewelry store. He is also very
intelligent and curious. He continuously stimulates Oskar’s ideas.
Oskars oma
Oskar and his grandmother love each other, she always takes care of him when his moother is
working. She lives across the street and when they are not together they have contact via a walkie-
talkie.
Mr. Black
One of Mr. Blacks appears to live in the same building as Oskar. This Mr. Black is a special figure in
the story. He is old and wise, has not been outside for 24 years and is deaf, until after a long time
Oskar turns on his hearing aid. Mr. Black helps Oskar with his search for a while. He is important to
Oskar, because by taking him on the metro and at the Empire State Building, he helps Oskar
overcome his fears. One day he just disappears from Oskar's building. Nobody knows for sure why,
but Oskar likes to think that he has moved to the Empire State Building, together with the woman he
met there.
Who is your favoriete character and why?
I think my favorite character is Oskar, he is only nine years old and he has to experience so much
terrible things. Like he lost his father, he loved his father so much. I can’t imagine losing my father
when I’m only nine years old. Oskar is very young but also very smart, he likes to read science clerks,
exceptional isn’t it?
