Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Creative & Analytical Genre Projects
Honors English 9 – Ms. Jensen
Creative Projects (CHOOSE ONE)
1. Stuff That Happened To Me Book. For one week, keep a notebook of “Stuff that Happened to Me” like Oskar did.
Include pictures from magazines, the internet, photographs you’ve taken, letters to or from you, a business card you
made up for yourself, or other things that represent what is on your mind or things you’ve done. Be sure the images
have a symbolic meaning to you. You should have at least 15 images, pictures, items or entries into your notebook.
Before you turn in your notebook, you will need to write a 1-2 page analysis of the images you chose and why they
represent you and your own journey.
2. Oskar’s Slang Flashcards. Using the Slang Flashcards as an model, create a set of 10 – 15 slang flashcards on 4x6 inch
notecards that represent the “Oskarisms” from the novel (or the “Grandmaisms” if need be). What are the unique
words or phrases that Oskar uses? How would they be defined, using dictionary definition format? IMPORTANT: DO
NOT COPY DEFINITIONS FROM A DICTIONARY. You need to write your own definitions, providing synonyms of other
words/phrases that match the word/phrase you chose (these can be other slang words or not, or a combination of
the two). Be sure to represent your word with a sentence (it can be from the novel, or you can make up your own
sentence) and then draw a picture (in the same style of the Slang Flashcard examples) to illustrate the sentence.
Usually the sentences and images are ironic or funny.
3. My Feelings Chapter. Write a chapter about your own life in the style of the four “My Feelings” chapters in the
novel. As you construct your own memory from your life, consider the stylistic elements that are employed in these
chapters: a vague beginning, fragmented thoughts, sensory imagery, repeated lines and phrases, stacked sentences,
dialogue without quotation marks, memories and flashbacks, abrupt and surprising endings. Feel free to use the
draft you wrote in class, but it will need to be revised and edited before you turn it in for the creative project. Your
chapter should be at least 2-3 pages long when typed.
4. Twitter Feed of Oskar’s Journey. Create a Twitter account for Oskar (think carefully of an appropriate Twitter
handle; what name would he use to represent himself?). Then, record some of his thoughts, feelings and
experiences as you think he might in 140 character tweets along the way. Who would he tag in his tweets (both real
people and other characters in the book)? Who would he retweet (What if Stephen Hawking had a Twitter? Would
Oskar RT him?) What would some of his recurring hashtags be (#raisonsdetre or #heavyboots?) Would he send out
TwitPics of his journey – and what would he say about them? You should have a minimum of 30 tweets.
GROUP OPTION (UP TO 3): Each group member creates a Twitter account for a different person in the novel (Mr.
Black, Oskar’s mom, Oskar’s grandma, Oskar’s grandpa, a friend of Oskar’s, etc.). Each character will tweet their own
story along the way, interacting with each other as necessary or appropriate via Direct Messages, Mentions, or
Retweeting each other. Each character needs to have a minimum of 30 tweets to get credit for the project.
Created by Amber Jensen
Thomas A. Edison High School, Alexandria, VA
anjensen@fcps.edu
5. Three letters from Mom to Oskar. The mother’s perspective is noticeably absent from the chapters in Extremely
Loud and Incredibly Close. We know, however, that both the Grandmother and the Grandfather are very avid letter
writers. Let’s assume that Oskar’s mother has been writing letters to Oskar all along since his father died on 9/11.
Using clues from the novel and inferring what you can about the mother based on what other characters say about
her, compose at least 3 letters that Oskar’s mom writes to him at different points along the way. Consider what she
might tell him about her own feelings, her memories, her concerns for him, etc. Each letter should be at least 1.5
pages long when typed, if not longer.
6. Map of Oskar’s Journey. Using Google Maps technology (this is free; you can find it on the internet), map out
Oskar’s journey. Choose “My Places” and create a new map, marking significant points along his journey and using 23 sentences to explain the significance of each place. Use clues from the novel to estimate where in New York City
Oskar lives, where his Grandma lives, where the key shop, the cemetery, his school, etc. might be. Mark these points
on the map, and then also include the destinations on his journey through the other 4 boroughs of NYC. Put the
destinations in order, and be sure they are clearly marked and explained on your map. You should have at least 20
places.
7. Video Profile (GROUP UP TO 4): Using the “Profiles of Grief” mini documentaries as examples, write a script for a 3
minute video documentary that would profile Oskar’s post 9/11 experience. Remember it should be 10 years after
9/11, so imagine what Oskar, his mom, his Grandma (and maybe even his Grandpa) would be like 10 years later.
With your group, film, edit and upload the video to show to the class. Be sure to model your video after the style of
the “Profiles of Grief.”
Analytical Writing (CHOOSE ONE)
1. Falling Man Photo Analytical Essay. Write a 2-3 page multi-paragraph essay analyzing the importance of the Falling
Man photograph to the various families of 9/11 victims. Be sure to include Oskar in your analysis. Consider the
following questions: does seeing this photograph and/or knowing the cause of death cause more grief or does it
provide relief – and why? What might some of the reasons for the various responses to the image reflect different
people’s coping mechanisms through grief? Which responses from the article correspond with Oskar’s response to
the photograph? Please use detailed examples from the novel and the article – including quotes from both texts – to
support your analysis and viewpoint on the issue. Include an MLA Works Cited sheet.
2. Stages of Grief Analytical Essay. Write a 2-3 page multi-paragraph essay analyzing the many ways in which Oskar
was able to find acceptance through his journey after his father’s death on September 11. Please use detailed
examples from the novel – including quotes from the text – to recount the ways in which Oskar experienced healing
through the grief stages. If you choose, you could also analyze how Thomas Schell was able to find acceptance and
peace after the dual tragedies of losing Anna in the bombing of Dresden and his son, Thomas, in the attacks on
September 11.
3. Indirect Characterization Chart + Analytical Paragraph. Choose one character from the text and complete a detailed
indirect characterization chart for them. Using a minimum of 8 quotations for each of the four categories, be sure to
represent a full picture of who your person was, both direct and inferred. Be sure to cite each quotation accurately,
according to MLA format. Be sure your quotations show different aspects of your character’s attributes. Be sure
Created by Amber Jensen
Thomas A. Edison High School, Alexandria, VA
anjensen@fcps.edu
your quotations represent the entire text, pages 1 – 326. Then, write a 1-2 paragraph analysis of your character
using the quotes you provided. DO NOT summarize the quotes or describe the character; rather, use the quotes to
draw important and inferred conclusions about your character. Must be typed.
4. Symbols Analysis. Choose 10 important symbols or motifs from the text to analyze in depth. For each symbol,
provide 1-3 quotations from the text to give them contextual reference. Be sure to use accurate MLA formatting.
Along with the quotation, write a complete paragraph explaining the different layers of meaning that the symbol or
motif adds to your understanding of the character, theme, or overall novel. DO NOT summarize or just describe the
symbol; be sure to analyze its importance in context with the quotes you provided and showing the multiple layers
of meaning it offers.
5. Allusions Analysis. Choose 10 important allusions from the text to analyze in depth. For each allusion, provide a
quotation from the text to give it contextual reference. Be sure to use accurate MLA formatting. Along with the
quotation, write a complete paragraph explaining the significance of the allusion to the text overall, whether it be to
better understanding of a character, theme, or the overall novel. DO NOT summarize or just describe the allusion; be
sure to analyze its importance in context with the quotes you provided and showing its significance overall.
6. Image Analysis. Choose 10 important images from the text to analyze in depth. For each image, write a paragraph
that both describes the image as it’s seen, and then explains its significance to the text overall, whether it be to
better understanding of a character, theme, or the overall novel. DO NOT summarize or just describe the image; be
sure to analyze its importance in context, possibly with quotes to show its layers of meaning overall.
Free Choice (CHOOSE ONE MORE FROM EITHER LIST)
ALL PROJECTS ARE DUE: _____________________________________
***CONSIDER MAKING AN APPOINTMENT AT THE EDISON WRITING CENTER
FOR FEEDBACK ON YOUR PROJECT AT ANY STEP ALONG THE WAY!***
Created by Amber Jensen
Thomas A. Edison High School, Alexandria, VA
anjensen@fcps.edu