9/11 in Literature and Film

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• 9/11 as trauma
  • Definition of trauma
  • 9/11 as a traumatic experience
• 9/11 in literature
  • Overview
  • Jonathan Safran Foer “Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close”
    • Plot summary
    • Structure and style
    • The narrator
    • Recurring themes and motifs
      • The key
      • Loneliness and loss
      • The pictures of the falling man
    • Conclusion
  • Ian McEwan \"Saturday\"
    • Plot summary
    • Structure and style
    • Setting of the novel
    • Recurring themes
      • Religion
      • Illness
      • Terrorism
    • Conclusion
  • Don DeLillo “Falling Man”
    • Plot summary
    • Structure and style
    • Recurring themes
      • Terrorism
      • Religion
      • The Falling Man
      • Loss of memory
    • Conclusion
  • Art Spiegelman “In the Shadow of No Towers”
    • Structure and style
    • Analysis of plate no. 2
    • Conclusion
  • Conclusion: 9/11 in literature
    • Setting
    • The Falling Man
    • Mental diseases/loss of memory
    • Family
    • Religion
    • Politics
• 9/11 in film
  • Documentaries
  • Movies
  • Oliver Stone \"World Trade Center\"
    • Plot summary
    • Authentic background
    • Fact vs. fiction
    • Inaccuracies and dramatizations
    • Recurring themes
      • Heroism
      • Family
      • Patriotism
      • Religion
    • Film techniques
    • Conclusion
  • Jules and Gédéon Naudet \"9/11\"
    • Background information
    • Summary of the film
    • Arrangement of the film
      • Narration
      • Creating suspense / dramatization
      • External footage
    • Central themes
      • Heroism
      • Patriotism
    • Conclusion
  • Conclusion: 9/11 in film
• Final Conclusion

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This thesis paper aims to explore the representation of 9/11 in literature and film, focusing on how these mediums grapple with the trauma and grief caused by the attacks. The paper examines the chosen works through a lens of trauma theory, analyzing recurring themes and motifs. The analysis highlights the diverse ways in which authors and filmmakers attempt to come to terms with the devastating event.

• The impact of 9/11 as a traumatic event
• The representation of trauma and grief in literature and film
• Recurring themes such as loss, family, and religion
• The use of literary and cinematic techniques to convey trauma and its consequences
• The role of art in processing and understanding traumatic experiences

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The first chapter introduces the topic of 9/11 and its significance, establishing the thesis paper's focus on examining the representation of trauma in literature and film. The chapter also provides a brief overview of the selected works. The second chapter explores the concept of trauma through the lens of trauma theory, defining trauma and examining how 9/11 qualifies as a traumatic experience.

Chapter 3 analyzes the chosen works of literature, starting with an overview of how 9/11 is addressed in contemporary literature. The chapter then focuses on four specific works: Jonathan Safran Foer’s "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close," Ian McEwan’s "Saturday," Don DeLillo’s "Falling Man," and Art Spiegelman’s "In the Shadow of No Towers." The chapter analyzes each work's plot summary, structure, style, recurring themes, and conclusion.

Chapter 4 shifts the focus to film, starting with an overview of how 9/11 has been portrayed in documentaries and feature films. The chapter then analyzes two specific films: Oliver Stone’s "World Trade Center" and Jules and Gédéon Naudet’s "9/11." The chapter explores each film's background, plot summary, structure, themes, and techniques.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The primary focus of this thesis paper lies in exploring the representation of 9/11 as a traumatic event in literature and film. The paper analyzes recurring themes such as loss, family, religion, heroism, and patriotism. The use of literary and cinematic techniques to convey trauma and its consequences is also examined. Keywords include 9/11, trauma, literature, film, representation, loss, grief, family, religion, heroism, patriotism, literary techniques, cinematic techniques.