SIGHTS
Meandering sidewalks, a park that’s subdivided by habitat or animal classification, trees and shrubbery, bamboo thickets, flitting insects, wooden walkways, concession stands, restrooms, picnic tables and benches, gift shops, vending machines near enclosures filled with animal food, garbage cans, fallen leaves, personnel on golf carts, parents pushing strollers, teachers and chaperones corralling classroom groups, children climbing onto fence rails to get a better view, parents with kids on their shoulders, guests huddled to the side of a path as they consult a map, a zoo café, a rental kiosk for strollers and wheelchairs, smudged viewing windows, small buildings and fenced enclosures, well-worn animal paths made from pacing, getting barely a glimpse of an animal sleeping in a hard-to-see-place, rocks and caves, trees for climbing, pools and streams filled with fish and waterfowl, animal toys scattered around an enclosure, handlers interacting with the animals or cleaning out their spaces, an outdoor amphitheater for animal shows, posted signs that contain animal information and photos, education centers, a playground, an animal infirmary, a nursery where baby animals are kept, a petting zoo, a reptile house, ATM machines, a first aid station, water fountains, a party area
Animals at the Zoo: tigers, elephants, lions, hippos, rhinos, camels, sloths, gorillas, howler and spider monkeys, chimps, hyenas, pandas, lynxes, porcupines, giraffes, bighorn sheep, antelope, zebras, kangaroos, warthogs, otters, wolves, bears (black, grizzly and polar), sea lions, leopards, alligators, turtles, snakes, flamingos, vultures, peacocks, bats, hawks, falcons, ostriches and emus, scorpions, spiders and insects
SOUNDS
People talking, laughter, children asking questions or whining, babies crying, running feet, leaves crunching, stroller wheels rattling over leaves and twigs, wind in the trees, insects buzzing, birds chirping and calling, the flap of bird wings, animals vocalizing, animals splashing in water, personnel giving informative speeches over a microphone or to small groups, food orders being called out at a café, kids’ sneakers and sandals scraping the paved walkways, food wrappers crinkling, money jingling in pockets, voices echoing in indoor animal enclosures and stations, doors opening and closing, ambient noise coming from hidden speakers (insects buzzing, birds calling, rain pattering), kids knocking on glass enclosures, parents losing their tempers, viewers ooh-ing and aah-ing, kids shrieking when an animal comes into view, sprinklers coming on
SMELLS
Manure, wet or oily animal hide, algae smells in water enclosures or manmade ponds, garbage, rain, concession food, mosquito repellent, sunblock, perfumes, body odor, diapers that need to be changed, mud, wildflowers, fresh grass or hay, rotting fruit, the stink of an indoor enclosure (such as the reptile or monkey house)
TASTES
Bottled water, soda, concession stand food, sweat, an accidental spray of mosquito repellent, ice cream, chewing tobacco, gum, mints, food from a restaurant or concession (hamburgers, pizza, hot dogs, chicken nuggets, fries, popcorn, cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, ice cream, chips, etc.)
TEXTURES AND SENSATIONS
Uneven wooden walkways, cracked sidewalks, fallen leaves underfoot, heat rising from the asphalt, the sun beating down, a cool breeze, drizzling rain, sweaty clothes sticking to the skin, noses pressed against plastic or glass enclosures, the frigid air of the penguin house, soda bottles dripping condensation, fence boards beneath one’s fingers, gritty bird seed in one’s palm, soft or coarse fur at the petting zoo, the tickle of snouts as animals eat from one’s hand, greasy sunblock or mosquito repellent, the pull of a jacket around one’s waist, bodies nudging as people cram closer to see the animals, ice cream dripping on one’s arm, a camera strap pulling at one’s neck, a heavy backpack, scratchy sunburn, the weight of a tired child in one’s arms
POSSIBLE SOURCES OF CONFLICT
Animals escaping their enclosures
Diseases spreading among the animals or from animals to people
Picketers and protestors
Budget cuts that keep a zoo from getting the supplies it needs
Cruel or inhumane handlers, a handler being attacked by an animal
Bureaucratic administrators who know nothing about animal care
Children getting lost
Inner conflict over wanting to see the animals and not wanting them to be caged
The death of a beloved animal
PEOPLE COMMONLY FOUND HERE
Animal handlers, carpenters, concession workers, families, janitors, maintenance workers, students and teachers on a field trip, veterinarians
RELATED SETTINGS THAT MAY TIE IN WITH THIS ONE
SETTING NOTES AND TIPS
Zoos are a hot-topic issue for many people. While they provide the opportunity for many (especially children) to see animals they wouldn’t otherwise get to see, some people are conflicted about the morality of the zoo model. Should animals be kept in cages for humanity’s viewing pleasure? Is it humane regardless of the level of treatment and care? Human beings are complicated; some will question the ethics and morality of situations, places, and possibilities that may not bother others at all. Including a setting that creates a moral dilemma for your hero is a great way to bring conflict and depth to your story.
SETTING DESCRIPTION EXAMPLE
I stood at the glass, stretching up on my toes so I could find a spot not smudged by kids’ fingers. To see a lion up close at last! I scanned the fallen logs, the grassy hill, under the bower of a poplar tree, searching for the king of the jungle. Finally I found him walking along a dirt path that spanned the fence line. As the great creature paced back and forth, over and over, my excitement faded and my heart began to hurt. It didn’t belong here, caged by wire and fed rations of meat. It needed a place without barriers or borders. It deserved a life free of people. I pulled back from the glass and someone claimed the space, gasping in awe of its massive body and silky mane. I decided I’d had enough of the zoo and headed for the exit.
Techniques and Devices Used: Multisensory descriptions
Resulting Effects: Reinforcing emotion