Quarter 2 OR Week 5 Post A

Vocab:
emaciated(140)- marked by abnormal thinness either caused by lack of nutrition or disease
stewing(144)- [informal] to be in a state of anxiety or agitation

Figurative Language:
"--anything to replace the smell of death"(145). This is kind of like personification, giving an inanimate object or idea, like death, a characteristic of a human, smell. It's also imagery- appealing to the sense of smell. Jacob probably can't literally smell death, but it gives the reader a good picture of what the place was like.

"A love for these animals wells up in me suddenly, a flash flood"(145-146). Jacob is comparing the feeling of love for the animals with a flash flood by using a metaphor. He doesn't use the word "like" or "as" which means the comparison cannot be a simile.

"...and there it is, solid as an obelisk and viscous like water"(145). This simile is a comparison of Jacob's realization- that he needs to protect the animals in the circus- and an obelisk or water. It's a simile because "as" is used.

Quote: "A pause. 'Kinko?' 'Yeah?' 'I appreciate the offer.' 'Sure.' A longer pause. 'Jacob?' 'Yeah?' 'You can call me Walter if you want.'"(144-145). Although this may not seem to be a really significant quote, I think it actually is. In the beginning of the book, when Jacob first meets Kinko the clown, their relationship is a disaster from the start. Kinko even told Jacob that only his friends are allowed to call him Walter (Kinko's real name). But at this point, Jacob has truly made a friend. Although August may appear to welcome him, I really think August resents Jacob's success and his knowledge. Besides Marlena, Jacob doesn't really have any other friends at the circus. All the performers think he is below them, all the workers are jealous of his special treatment. At this point, Jacob has made an unlikely friend, but he's a real friend.


Theme:
First impressions aren't always true and everything isn't always what it seems.