Grief Moves Into the Open

The Tiger Rising

Rob’s suppressed mourning gradually emerges through memory, relationships, and finally tears.

increasing

Bearing strength in each event

decreasing

The Funeral Prohibition The Funeral Prohibition from "The Tiger Rising". The Funeral Prohibition A Child’s Grief At Caroline’s funeral, Rob sobs so hard that his father begins to cry too.

The Funeral Prohibition from "The Tiger Rising". The Funeral Prohibition A Child’s Grief At Caroline’s funeral, Rob sobs so hard that his father begins to cry too.

The Funeral Prohibition A Child’s Grief At Caroline’s funeral, Rob sobs so hard that his father begins to cry too. Then his father slaps him, saying that crying cannot bring her back. A Rule Takes Hold Rob has not cried since. The moment makes grief something he must hide rather than share, shaping the silence with which the novel begins.

The Suitcase Sealed The Suitcase Sealed from "The Tiger Rising". The Suitcase Sealed An Image for Avoidance Rob imagines his feelings packed into a suitcase, pressed down and locked shut.

The Suitcase Sealed from "The Tiger Rising". The Suitcase Sealed An Image for Avoidance Rob imagines his feelings packed into a suitcase, pressed down and locked shut.

The Suitcase Sealed An Image for Avoidance Rob imagines his feelings packed into a suitcase, pressed down and locked shut. The metaphor explains how he avoids thinking about his mother, school, and pain. A Substitute Focus The tiger gives him something vivid to place on top of the suitcase. It does not remove his grief, but temporarily helps him keep it contained.

Caroline’s Name Released Caroline’s Name Released from "The Tiger Rising". Caroline’s Name Released A Question Rob Avoids Sistine asks how Rob’s mother died and what her name was.

Caroline’s Name Released from "The Tiger Rising". Caroline’s Name Released A Question Rob Avoids Sistine asks how Rob’s mother died and what her name was.

Caroline’s Name Released A Question Rob Avoids Sistine asks how Rob’s mother died and what her name was. Rob repeats his father’s rule that talking about her does no good. A First Opening As Sistine is called to the car, Rob finally says “Caroline.” Speaking the name cracks the suitcase open just enough for a forbidden memory to enter the conversation.

Grief Rises With Anger Grief Rises With Anger from "The Tiger Rising". Grief Rises With Anger Loss Breaks the Seal After his father shoots the escaped tiger, Rob attacks him and cries out that he wishes his mother had survived…

Grief Rises With Anger from "The Tiger Rising". Grief Rises With Anger Loss Breaks the Seal After his father shoots the escaped tiger, Rob attacks him and cries out that he wishes his mother had survived…

Grief Rises With Anger Loss Breaks the Seal After his father shoots the escaped tiger, Rob attacks him and cries out that he wishes his mother had survived instead. The words reveal the depth of what he has withheld. A Name Answered Rob demands that his father say Caroline’s name, and his father does. Their shared naming of the loss begins a reconciliation that silence could not produce.

Tears Without Shame Tears Without Shame from "The Tiger Rising". Tears Without Shame Shared Need Rob’s father admits that he misses Caroline too and says that the two of them must make do with each other.

Tears Without Shame from "The Tiger Rising". Tears Without Shame Shared Need Rob’s father admits that he misses Caroline too and says that the two of them must make do with each other.

Tears Without Shame Shared Need Rob’s father admits that he misses Caroline too and says that the two of them must make do with each other. Rob recognizes his father’s grief alongside his own. The Old Rule Breaks Rob says he will not cry, but the tears come anyway. This time his father holds him rather than punishing him, changing the meaning of grief in their family.

six months before the opening

the opening morning

the night Sistine’s mother arrives

moments after the tiger is shot

during the reconciliation after the shooting