Ms. Gotkurk
Trends in Lit
Planet of the Apes: An Exercise in Perspective (20 points)
THE SITUATION: Imagine yourself an animal in contact with humans (a pet, a zoo animal, a captured wild animal, etc.). You are able to think just as you do now, and you have a personality. Nevertheless, you are at the mercy of human actions. You are very frustrated by your position.
YOUR TASK: Write a narrative from this animal’s perspective. You desperately want to be understood and respected by humans. Unfortunately, it is a slow process.
In your first person or third person narrative, show:
1) setting
2) conflict: what is it specifically you want the human(s) to understand or do; what is the problem?
3) your actions and thoughts: how do you cope and/or try to get what you want. How does this leave you feeling?
4) dialogue of humans if needed
5) kind and cruel aspects of humanity
Ultimately, humans don’t understand you except in a primitive way. Show your emotional reaction to this.