Teaching The Zoo Story

Instructions for You

Objective: Stay with us here: what if Peter and Jerry aren't two people at all? Maybe they're just one. Perhaps Jerry is part of Peter's subconscious, and Edward Albee has fooled us all from the very beginning.

Woah.

Now that the theory is out there, maybe it's not so shocking. This is the Theater of the Absurd after all, where we're not expecting logic and meaning—but rather mystery, enigmas, and a whole lot of I-don't-know-what's-going-on. That's why in this hour-long activity, the students will theorize that Jerry is the part of Peter dying to get out, representing all those desires and wishes that he suppresses.

Materials Needed: The BBC's article "Your subconscious is smarter than you might think," a copy of the text, and/or our Shmoop summary page

Step 1: Split the students into groups of four to five and give each a copy of the BBC's article to read. They have approximately ten minutes to read and pick a statement from the article that they think best sums up the concept of "the subconscious." Each group should share when they're finished reading.

Step 2: We want to get the students thinking about how Jerry could be analyzed as part of Peter's subconscious. Before they get to writing in their groups, present them with the following ideas:

• Peter's suppressed. He has various things he'd love to do but can't do them, and what results is a depressed mindset.
• This is represented by his moping around on the bench.
• Jerry comes along and is quite the opposite. He's all action, responding to events rather than moping around like Peter
• This allows for the theory that Jerry is part of Peter's subconscious. He acts as Peter would want to, not worrying about anything else but simply doing as he wishes.
• This represents the subconscious as there are no limitations on thoughts or desires, as opposed to the conscious or real life where you can't run around doing whatever you wish.

Before allowing the students' minds to run free, you can also link this theory to the conventions of the Theater of the Absurd. Remind them of the following:

• The Theater of the Absurd was created in response to the post-WWII moment, as playwrights responded to the devastated and ruined world caused by wars in the space of 25 years.
• The playwrights who composed plays in this genre saw the post-war world as lacking meaning and sense.
• As a result, these individuals created dramas that had little to no logic or reality.
• This makes it very possible that Jerry is part of Peter's subconscious in the drama, rather than a person himself.

Step 3: Get the students to return to their groups, where they will now expand on the idea of Jerry being part of Peter's subconscious. They're going to create three outlines based on the following:

• Describe a moment in the play where Peter has some desire, including a quote that shows this.
• Describe how this desire is unfulfilled, again using a quote.
• Detail how Jerry can be seen to fulfill this desire, once again making use of a quote.

They should do this for three instances in the play. Here's an example for them to follow:

• Peter wants to step outside of his normal routine, made clear with his embarrassment at his job, which is centered on rules and order: "We… uh… we publish textbooks."
• But he isn't able to, as Jerry identifies when claiming that Peter tried to force him to experience a similarly confined existence, proof that the latter can't consider an alternative way of living: "What were you trying to do? Make sense out of things? Bring order? The old pigeonhole bit?"
• On the other hand, Jerry does what he pleases rather than thinking about rules and order (evidence of the subconscious), such as when he decides to randomly push Peter off the bench as he feels like it: "I can't move over any more, and stop hitting me. What's the matter with you?"

Give the groups 20 minutes or so to write down three instances where Jerry could be understood to be representative of Peter's subconscious.

Step 4: Homework. We want them to apply these ideas to the end of the play and write a 250-word piece that answers the following questions:

• Is Peter actually horrified that Jerry has died? Or, if we continue with the theory that Jerry is part of his subconscious, does this represent something else?
• Is Jerry's death damaging to Peter's subconscious?
• Or is this a breakthrough of sorts, and Peter is now more attuned than ever to his subconscious?

Pretty heavy stuff, but we know they can handle it.

Instructions for Your Students

Stay with us here: what if Peter and Jerry aren't two people at all? Maybe they're just one. Perhaps Jerry is part of Peter's subconscious, and Edward Albee has fooled us all from the very beginning.

Woah.

Now that the theory is out there, maybe it's not so shocking. This is the Theater of the Absurd after all, where we're not expecting logic and meaning, but rather mystery, enigmas, and a whole lot of I-don't-know-what's-going-on.

Today you're going to work in groups to take on the perspective that Jerry is the part of Peter dying to get out, representing all those desires and wishes that he suppresses. Basically, we're applying the theory of the subconscious to the play in order to deepen understanding. Pretty neat.

Step 1: Split into groups of four to five and read the BBC's article that your teacher hands out. You have approximately ten minutes to read and pick a statement from the article that you think best sums up the concept of "the subconscious." Each group should share when they're finished reading.

Step 2: We want you to get thinking about how Jerry could be analyzed as part of Peter's subconscious. Before you get to writing in your groups, your teacher will present you with the following ideas:

• Peter's suppressed. He has various things he'd love to do but can't do them, and what results is a depressed mindset.
• This is represented by his moping around on the bench.
• Jerry comes along and is quite the opposite. He's all action, responding to events rather than moping around like Peter
• This allows for the theory that Jerry is part of Peter's subconscious. He acts as Peter would want to, not worrying about anything else but simply doing as he wishes.
• This represents the subconscious as there are no limitations on thoughts or desires, as opposed to the conscious or real life where you can't run around doing whatever you wish.

Your teacher will also link this theory to the conventions of the Theater of the Absurd. Think about the following:

• The Theater of the Absurd was created in response to the post-WWII moment, as playwrights responded to the devastated and ruined world caused by wars in the space of 25 years.
• The playwrights who composed plays in this genre saw the post-war world as lacking meaning and sense.
• As a result, these individuals created dramas that had little to no logic or reality.
• This makes it very possible that Jerry is part of Peter's subconscious in the drama, rather than a person himself.

Step 3: In your group, you'll now expand on the idea of Jerry being part of Peter's subconscious. You're going to create three outlines based on the following:

• Describe a moment in the play where Peter has some desire, including a quote that shows this.
• Describe how this desire is unfulfilled, again using a quote.
• Detail how Jerry can be seen to fulfill this desire, once again making use of a quote.

Your group should do this for three instances in the play. Here's an example to follow:

• Peter wants to step outside of his normal routine, made clear with his embarrassment at his job, which is centered on rules and order: "We… uh… we publish textbooks."
• But he isn't able to, as Jerry identifies when claiming that Peter tried to force him to experience a similarly confined existence, proof that the latter can't consider an alternative way of living: "What were you trying to do? Make sense out of things? Bring order? The old pigeonhole bit?"
• On the other hand, Jerry does what he pleases rather than thinking about rules and order (evidence of the subconscious), such as when he decides to randomly push Peter off the bench as he feels like it: "I can't move over any more, and stop hitting me. What's the matter with you?"

You have 20 minutes or so to write down three instances where Jerry could be understood to be representative of Peter's subconscious.

Step 4: Homework. We want you to apply these ideas to the end of the play and write a 250-word piece that answers the following questions:

• Is Peter actually horrified that Jerry has died? Or, if we continue with the theory that Jerry is part of his subconscious, does this represent something else?
• Is Jerry's death damaging to Peter's subconscious?
• Or is this a breakthrough of sorts, and Peter is now more attuned than ever to his subconscious?

Pretty heavy stuff, but we know you can handle it.