70 pages • 2 hours read
Lynda RutledgeWest with Giraffes
Fiction | Novel | YA | Published in 2021A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Symbols & Motifs
The Giraffes
The giraffes are literal animals in this story, but they symbolize important messages, one of which is emotional connection. Woodrow is mesmerized by the giraffes’ eyes and finds in their being a meaningful connection between souls. Red also experiences this when she falls asleep on Wild Boy, symbolizing that animals are a safe and gentle space. The giraffes are a metaphorical motivation. Though Woodrow’s job is to literally get them across the country, the metaphor behind this journey is about Woodrow’s self-discovery and growth.
Cross-Country Travel
A major element to the American ethos is the adventure of road trips. The romanticism of the road, of the ability to travel between states that are like different countries, is inherent in American culture. This ethos was first developed through Western Expansion and Manifest Destiny, ideas that encouraged the importance of forging new roads and settling new states. Historical events like the Great Migration and the Dust Bowl emphasized the value of hitting the road, in which the road symbolized the bright possibility for a new future. Similarly, in this novel, the literal road, the literal act of travel, is symbolic because it is fundamental to Woodrow’s character development.
Percival’s Circus
Percival’s circus is a symbol of human evil. His circus abuses animals and uses them for money and entertainment. This makes Percival a prime antagonist because he is portrayed as unusually cruel and dismissive of sentient life. The symbol of the circus as a space of evil is important because it directly juxtaposes the promise of the San Diego Zoo. In providing this juxtaposition, Rutledge heightens the important stakes of getting the giraffes safely into the zoo. Percival’s circus is also indicative of human greed because Percival sues money to steal, oppress, and imprison animals. He is above the law because of his money, tying him to a cycle of abuse that begets abuse.
