They Cage the Animals at Night

Consider the title of the book They Cage the Animals at Night. To what does the title refer? Describe the moment in the book to which the title refers. Then explore the deeper meaning behind the title. What potential meaning(s) does “cage” have? What group(s) do the “animals” represent? Also, explain how the title of the book fits into broader motifs in the book.

Teaching Suggestion: It may be beneficial for students to explore the text’s larger motif of prisons and zoos in small group discussion before responding to the prompt. For Jennings, zoos and prison—though they are imperfect and potentially dangerous—are often associated with the concept of “home.” The title of the book refers to a moment in Chapter 4 when Sister Clair at the Home of the Angels orphanage tells Jennings that they must “cage” the stuffed animals at night (the nuns must lock up the stuffed animals at night for safekeeping). On a deeper level, the stuffed animals become a metaphor for the children who stay at the Home of the Angels, St. Teresa’s, and other places for children, representing their lack of freedom and control. Sister Clair furthers this metaphor when she directly compares the stuffed animals to the children.