Why is ¨ The Jungle Book " such an important part in this story?

The Jungle Book plays a key role in this story because it is a backdrop to the main character´s life. It plays role in the grandfather Leonardo´s childhood and life as well as in his story of the Tiger´s wife and Natalia´s childhood. The book was given to the grandfather as a gift when small and then he used that to show his village that the devil walking around was actually a tiger. He also compared his current life situations to the book and put himself in Mongli´s place. These situations take place during the time of the tiger´s wife story and help build it up. The book is later used to bet with the deathless man, it is the reason why they see each other more than once & hints why the grandfather did not want anyone to know where he went or who he was with when he died. Also, the book was used to bring Natalia up during her childhood.

Why is the "Jungle Book" such an important factor in the story?

The Jungle Book represents NG's imagination, creativity, and knowledge. It is also mentioned as a personal item that was missing once NG's body was recovered back to the family, also was made as a big deal because the forty day ritual was interrupted. One of the main reasons the Jungle Book stands out to me so much is because of its mysterious effect it has on Natalia. Natalia acts as if the Jungle Book was her grandfather's personal bible because when she refers to it, shows the uttermost respectful qualities and recalls beautiful (detailed) memories. The bet with the deathless man intertwines with the Jungle Book as well because they use it when making the bet to prove the deathless man cannot die. It leaves a mysterious thought after the deathless man comes out from the water after an hour, unchains himself, and does not take the Jungle Book but tells NG, he will see him in the future. Hence, when NG's body is found, there is not Jungle Book.

Chapter Two -¨The war¨; Julie

Chapter two talks about the war that has split the happiness in a long civil war in this Eastern European region. Natalia comments that ¨everything necessary to understand my grandfather lies between two stories: the story of the tiger´s wife, and the story of the Deathless Man¨(pg.32). Natalia then describes the moments leading up to that war when she was a teenager. She describes how many things changed like how her grandfather and her ritual of visiting the tigers long after her growing into adolescence and became bored of it,and how the zoo with the tiger exhibition was later closed shortly after the war began. She comments how this saddened the grandfather at a point but he still went on with his everyday routine.As a result of their growing distance we are shown how she does not comprehend how deeply the loss of the opportunity to see the tigers affected her grandfather, who remained convinced the war would not last long.  We are also mentioned there was now a curfew for everyone to be inside their homes by a specific time. He grandfather, an established physician, is later retired from his teachings because of the lack of trust the Administration has for those of his age towards their country. Her grandfather of course refused to end his teachings and lifes work and arranges to work with his patients in secret.

chapter 1-Julie

In chapter one we are told that the grandfather no longer lives. He was old and died of an illness, but also died away from home. No one knows where the place he died at is located at. We are also told he lied about his last whereabouts. Natalia,our main character, is also away from home on her way to another state to give shots to those who can afford them with her friend and work partner, Zora. While on a restroom break at the border line, Natalia calls her grandmother and that is when we are told about the grandfather and our story begins. Natalia is told how her grandfather has been robed of his fourty days. Fourty days of no one touching a loved one who´s passed away´s belongings thus keeping their soul from wondering off into the unknown. We are also told how the towns are broken ever since the war. Everything is not as peaceful as before. Once at their destenation it is nightime, Natalia and Zora spend the night at a friend´s home. There we are introdused to ¨the diggers¨, people who dig in the vineyard. We are also told the youngsters there suffer from a strange illness and carry a small pouch around their necks. The chapter closes with the owner of the house´s parrot singing ¨wash the bones, bring the body, leave the heart behind¨ leaving us to wonder what is this and why does the parrot repeat it?

February 8th, Preface

I would say that since the beginning of the preface we are foreshadowed that the story will be about the narrator, Natalia, & her grandfather. The preface starts with ' in my earliest memory' hinting that much time has passed since the given event. This specific event is a childhood memory that may be of importance during the passage of the story. Also, we find out that the grandfather is a doctor & that he is Natalia's role model. The grandfather may play a key role in Natalia's life in the later years and also he may no longer be present (alive) during the rest of the story

February 8, 2016/PREFACE/LA

After reading the preface, I expect to find out how the grandpa has died because the main character -- name has not been mentioned, all we know is that she is a smart girl--depicts her earliest memory of them both, which she is able to recall since the time she was four years old. We can assume she is mature, wise and obedient because she does not repeat curse words she overhears, even in the story. For example, "..and the man says something in reply, something I know not to repeat"(pg0). This quote demonstrates the main character's wise characteristics]. The reader could also infer that the main character will be witty and have an interesting story to tell regarding her grandfather.