Water For Elephants: Film Adaptation and Narrative Fidelity

Abstract

Sara Gruen’s 2006 captivating novel “Water for Elephants” follows young man Jacob Jankowski as he escapes to work in the circus during the Great Depression. The narrative structure of the book alternates between Jacob’s past and present, therefore reflecting a deliberate choice that catches the fractured nature of human memory. By closely analysing a small number of selected film adaptations, this paper investigates how directors handle the challenges of transferring literary works to the big screen while maintaining narrative integrity.