Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

How does Oskar’s grieving process act as a microcosmic example of the psychosocial effects of the September 11 World Trade Center attacks?

War and terror shape not only Oskar’s life, but the lives of his entire family. In what ways is Oskar’s family story defined by war? How did the effects of war ripple outward?

Why does Oskar take photographs? How do these photographs add to the reader’s understanding of the story, and to Oskar’s understanding of the world around him?

What is Oskar really searching for when he undertakes his mission? Does he find it?

What makes Oskar’s grandmother and grandfather’s love story so unconventional? How does it challenge common tropes of the love story, and what are the underlying factors that make their relationship so complex?

How do past and present confront one another in Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close? Why is the novel formatted to alternate between past and present, and how does the truth of Oskar’s family past slowly unfold?

Oskar’s life was shaped by a major world event, but he spends most of his time focusing on the little things. Why are the little things important? How do the little things help Oskar deal with his reality, and how do they bring him closer to the people still left alive?

Oskar fears dying, but he also fears living. How does his decision to find the lock force him to confront his own fears? What makes it possible for him to finally do so?