Genre
Middle-grade novel
Setting and Context
The novel is at FunJungle Zoo in the context of animals’ safety.
Narrator and Point of View
First-person narrative
Tone and Mood
Ambitious, concerned, optimistic, heartening
Protagonist and Antagonist
The protagonist is Theodore (Teddy) Fitzroy.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Theodore and his friends are trying to solve a mystery in the animal zoo to protect the animals and ensure their safety.
Climax
The climax comes when Theodore and his friend Summer discover that Henry (Hippopotamus at the zoo) did not die from natural causes. After narrowing down the mystery of Henry's death, Teddy and his friend realized that he was murdered. Finally, Teddy manages to track the murders, and the case against the culprits begins.
Foreshadowing
The end of animal brutality at the zoo is foreshadowed by the death of Harry (hippopotamus at the zoo), which helps Teddy and his friend uncover the mystery of animal brutality.
Understatement
The age of Teddy is understated. For instance, despite being a 12-year-old boy, he can uncover the mystery of animal deaths in the zoo.
Allusions
The story alludes to human brutality against animals.
Imagery
The description of the poop-shooting hippo is a perfect illustration of sight imagery used by the author throughout the text. The author writes, "He genuinely enjoyed shooting poop at people. There was no rhyme or reason to it, except that he was said to have an uncanny knack for knowing which zoo visitor was wearing the most expensive outfit. Without any warning, he'd hoist his rear out of the water and fire away. In the National Zoo in Washington D.C., where the walls around the hippo pit were unfortunately low, in the course of one day sullied two senators, the secretary of state, the Swedish ambassador and the president's daughter, along with four of her Secret Service agents.” The imagery paints a clear picture of the hippo and what it enjoys doing in the zoo.
Paradox
The main paradox is that humans, who are supposed to protect the zoo, are the same culprits who murder the animals.
Parallelism
N/A
Metonymy and Synecdoche
Poop-shooting is a metonym for a hobby and frequent activity.
Personification
The hippopotamus called Harry is personified because it is given human abilities. For instance, the hippopotamus is given a human name, Harry.
