Structure
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Beginning
Bret Easton Ellis’ text “Killing Child at Zoo” begins with a narrative hook, as readers might be intrigued by the narrator’s description of his restless state of mind: “During the nights I’ve been sleeping in twenty-minute intervals. I feel aimless, things look cloudy, my homicidal compulsion, which surfaces, disappears, surfaces, leaves again…” (p. 178, ll. 1-3). The narrator openly mentioning his homicidal compulsion might hook readers in particular and foreshadows him killing the boy at the zoo. Similarly, Patrick's habit of carrying razor blades in his wallet (p. 178, ll. 9-10) also serves to foreshadow his violent intentions.
As the exposition continues, Patrick describes his physical appearance and mentions having a lunch that appears expensive. He then goes to the zoo in Central …
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Middle
In the rising action, there is a tension point as Patrick insults an African-American custodian, and threatens him with a knife (p. 179, ll. 4-7). The knife is another foreshadowing element for Patrick killing the boy, as this is the weapon he uses to commit the murder. Patrick then notices a mother breastfeeding, and the sig…