An Elephant in the Garden

An Elephant in the Garden is structured as a story within a story. Lizzie’s nurse narrates the frame tale (the story of Lizzie’s life in the nursing home), while Lizzie tells the story of her life as she remembers it. What does the “frame tale” structure contribute to the novel? What would be lost if the novel only employed Lizzie’s point of view?

Explain how Lizzie’s character arc develops the novel’s coming-of-age theme. Describe Lizzie’s childhood before the war and how the war changes it. How does she grow into an adult during the war? Include details from the text in your essay.

Lizzie says that Karl, her nurse’s nine-year-old son, reminds her of Karli, Lizzie’s little brother. Compare Karl and Karli; what personality and character traits do they have in common? Include some examples from the text that illustrate how Karl and Karli are alike as their characters develop.