Water for Elephants: Character Analysis and Plot Review
This paper provides an overview and character analysis of Sara Gruen's novel Water for Elephants. It identifies the major characters — including Jacob Jankowski, Rosie the elephant, Marlena, August, and Uncle Al — and traces the plot from Jacob's loss of his parents during the Great Depression to his life with a traveling circus. The paper draws on several critical and reader reviews to evaluate Gruen's storytelling, the novel's title, its historical setting, and the reliability of its elderly narrator. It concludes with a brief bibliography of primary and secondary sources.
- About the Author: Brief biography of Sara Gruen
- Main Characters: Descriptions of six major characters
- Plot Analysis and Main Character: Jacob Jankowski's circus journey analyzed
- Critical Reviews: Multiple critics assess the novel
- Bibliography: Primary and secondary sources listed
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What makes this paper effective
- The character roster section gives clear, concise descriptions of each major figure before the plot analysis begins, orienting the reader efficiently.
- The paper integrates multiple secondary sources — including reader reviews and criticism — to support its analytical claims rather than relying solely on plot summary.
- The discussion of Rosie's response to Polish commands and the significance of the novel's title demonstrates close reading of thematic elements.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper models source-attributed criticism: each evaluative claim is assigned to a named reviewer (O'Connor, Chasteen, Robertson, Miller, Zancharisas), keeping the student's own voice distinct from those of the critics. This is a foundational skill in literary analysis at the introductory undergraduate level.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief author biography, followed by a character glossary, a combined plot summary and character analysis, and a section of cited critical reviews. It closes with a bibliography. This five-part structure — author, characters, analysis, criticism, sources — is straightforward and serviceable for an introductory literature assignment.
About the Author
Sara Gruen is a Canadian citizen who moved to the United States in 1999 for a technical writing job. After being laid off, she decided to pursue a career as a novelist. An animal lover, she is known for her novels Riding Lessons, Flying Changes, Ape House, and Water for Elephants.
Main Characters
Jacob Jankowski — The novel's protagonist. He is a ninety- or ninety-three-year-old nursing home resident who spent his younger life as a veterinarian with a circus during the Great Depression.
Rosie — An elephant that Uncle Al purchased from another circus. She understands commands only in Polish and becomes the frequent target of August's rage.
Marlena — The beautiful star performer of the circus, who falls in love with Jacob Jankowski.
August — Head animal trainer and husband of Marlena. He is charming yet brutal toward both the humans and animals in his care.
Uncle Al — The violent and abusive owner of the circus.
Camel — One of the first people Jacob meets when he jumps the train. Camel is instrumental in helping Jacob secure a job with the circus.
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