Line #14 Literature/TheyCageTheAnimalsAtNight

Context Literature / TheyCageTheAnimalsAtNight

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1	[[quoteright:300:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/they_cage_the_animals_at_night.png]]
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3	''They Cage the Animals at Night'' is a 1984 autobiographical novel by Jennings Michael Burch. It tells of his experience at an orphanage, and later foster homes, in the late 1940s and early 1950s.
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5	Jennings' mother was forced to give him up for several years due to health issues. Jennings was not told of this and didn't know he was being left in an orphanage until after he was already put in the orphanage. She told him that she'd be "right back," but that wasn't true. Jennings shuffled around from foster home to foster home, some experiences good and some horrifying, until he was reunited with his family.
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7	!!This book provides examples of:
8	* DeniedFoodAsPunishment: On his first day at the orphanage, Jennings sits without being told to and as a result is denied breakfast.
9	* DoesntKnowTheirOwnBirthday: Jennings' friend Mark has lived in orphanages his entire life. He doesn't know his birthday or even his exact age.
10	* EarAche: Near the start, a nun yanks Jenning out of his chair by the ear.
11	* GenderedInsult: Due to the time period and the immature nature of kids, this occurs often. Due to his sensitivity being deemed effeminate, Jennings is bullied by other boys at the orphanage from the get-go.
12	* MaliciousMisnaming: Jennings' name gets turned into "Jenny" by bullies.
13	* MenDontCry: Several times Jennings is berated for crying.
14	* OrphanageOfFear: The orphanage Jennings gets sent to is less than pleasant, with strict nuns who slap the kids for misbehaving and worse.
15	* TakingTheHeat: When a new kid comes to the orphanage and spills his food, Jennings realizes that the nun in charge will go hard on him so he stands up and says he did it himself. The nun beats him to the point of unconsciousness. The new kid later comes to visit him in the infirmary and tearfully thanks him.
16	* WhoNamesTheirKidDude: Upon meeting the other kids at the orphanage, Jennings gets bullied for having a given name that sounds more like a surname. The older boy mock him even more by calling him "Jenny."
17	* WouldHarmAChild: Several of the nuns, and one foster family that takes Jennings in, are pretty abusive towards him.

Context Literature / TheyCageTheAnimalsAtNight