A Day No Pigs Would Die
ADNPWD: Chapter 1
Prediction: I think we will meet the characters and figure out the setting and plot of the book.
Imagine: Apron, the black and white cow that Robert helps give birth.
Imagine: A newly born calf born from Apron.
|
Imagine: The trousers that Robert takes off and ties them around the cows neck and a tree.
Use:
-Bullies: -Pregnancy: Clarify:
-Robert and his family are in the Shaker Religion. -Apron gave birth with the help of Robert. -Robert tried to help Apron breathe but she ended up biting and beating him. Try:
-Why did he take his pants off when helping the cow give birth? -Why did he beat the cow? |
Review and Summarize: Robert ran away from school because Edward Thatcher was bulling him. He was up on the ridge when he turned around and saw his neighbor's cow, Apron. Apron is having her calf and he didn't know what to do so he started beating the cow. Apron eventually gave birth and then started beating Robert. Apron bit and kicked him until Robert was bloody and beaten up just because Robert pulled out Apron's goiter to help her breathe.
ADNPWD: Chapter 2
Prediction: Robert will go home and get cleaned up by his parents and we figure out his family situation. Also we will learn more about his religion.
Imagine: A needle and thread. Robert had to get stitches on his arm from the cow biting and kicking him
Clarify:
-Robert's family lives on a farm. -Robert's mom knows how to treat wounds, she has medical knowledge. -Robert gets along well with his family. -Robert and his dad seem very close because of the talks they have. -If Robert skips school again he will get a punishment from his parents. |
Imagine: Succotash. Him and his family ate succotash for one of their dinners.
Try:
-Why does Aunt Carrie live with Robert and his parents? -How does his mom know how to give stitches? -Why does his dad smell like dead pigs? Use:
-Pain Crying: Robert was crying because of the pain he felt from the cow beating. I once sprained my ankle and cried because of the pain. My brother sprained or almost tore his ACL and didn't cry at all. Pain tolerance is different with everyone. |
Review and Summarize: Mr. Tanner, a neighbor, takes Robert home all bloody and beaten. His father takes him inside and his mother and aunt clean his wounds. They find goiter in his hand because he ripped it out of Apron's mouth to help her breathe. Robert's mother stiches up his bite on his arm which causes a lot of pain but Robert stays silent. Robert's dad is mad at him for skipping school and we figure out that Haven works as a pig butcher.
ADNPWD: Chapter 3
Prediction: Robert is going to heal up and we will meet his family and more. Also I feel that we will learn more about Robert and how pigs come into play in the book.
Imagine: Farm fences. Robert and his dad go to fix up a fence and also talk about how fences are a positive thing.
Clarify:
-Fences are a positive thing from the talk Robert and his dad had. -Robert was very, very excited that he got his own pig. -Papa wouldn't let Robert get a bike as its the sign of the devil. |
Imagine: Two black and white calves. Robert helped one these calves be born but he had no idea Apron was pregnant with two.
Try:
-Why wouldn't Papa let Robert keep the pig at first? -Do Shakers not use vehicles? Use:
Excited from a present. Robert got a little pig as a gift from his neighbor, Mr. Tanner because he helped Apron give birth. On Christmas I get so excited to open presents because I never know what I am going to get! |
Review and Summarize: Robert rests until he feels better and when he gets out of bed, his father and him go out to fix their fence. Haven and Robert have a conversation about fences and saying that they are a positive thing. Mr. Tanner comes up to them and Robert realizes that there are two calve not just one. Mr. Tanner introduces them to the two calves Bob and Bib, Bob names after Robert. As a gift, Mr. Tanner gives Robert a pig which Haven almost did not let Robert keep. Robert names the pig Pinky.
ADNPWD: Chapter 4
Prediction: He is going to spend time playing with his new pig and building Pinky's new crate that she would stay in for the night.
Imagine: Yoke and an ox. Robert and his dad were setting up the ox with the yoke because they wanted to move Pinky's crate away from the cows.
Clarify:
-Robert and his dad are going to have their ox, Solomon drag the pigs crate away from the cows with a yoke. -His dad can't read, write or vote. -Robert doesn't believe in some of the Shaker laws. |
Imagine: Vermont. Robert lives in Learning, Vermont.
Try:
-Why can't Robert's dad read? -Why does Robert's dad think that they are rich" Use:
Little house on the Prairie. This book reminds me of the little house on the prairie books and the TV show that I used to be in love with. |
Review and Summarize: Pinky is loved by Robert, his mom and Aunt Carrie. They figure out a good place for Pinky to sleep since it can't be by the cows. Haven sets up a capstan with their ox, Solomon, to move Pinky's bed. They are in the Shaker religion and they start talking about all the Shaker laws and baseball players. Solomon finishes moving Pinky's bed.
ADNPWD: Chapter 5
Prediction: Robert and Pinky will travel around and Robert will become closer with Pinky.
Imagine: Wagon with a ox pulling it. They get on a wagon when the family goes to the Shaker meeting pulled by Solomon.
Use:
Two animals meeting each other. Pinky meets a frog that she is scared of and eats it. My dogs have never met a frog but Tobi did meet a cat and got into a fight with it. |
Imagine: A butternut. When walking on the ridge Pinky found her first butternut.
Clarify:
-They have Shaker meetings every Sunday. Try:
-Why is he named after Robert Rodgers? |
Review and Summarize: Robert and his family go a Shaker meeting on Sunday. After, Robert and Pinky go on a walk to the ridge. Pinky finds a butternut which she loves to eat and Robert makes a flutterwheel. They continue on and Pinky finds frog which she eats. Another frog pops up which sticks on to her nose which Robert has to help get off. The makes Robert think of the conversation he had with his dad about how to catch frogs. Robert and Pinky go back and look onto Mr. Tanner's farm which he thinks is more well-off than his family's.
ADNPWD: Chapter 6
Prediction: Time goes by and he still has Pinky the pig. He takes good care of her and I think we will learn more about his mother, Aunt Carrie and maybe more of his family members.
Imagine: Green Meadow land. Robert was walking home through the soft green meadow.
Clarify:
-It has been 10 weeks and Pinky grew a ton. -Robert's mom and Aunt Carrie can hardly read since they couldn't read his D in English on his report card. -Robert is very religious about the Shakers and doesn't get the other religions. Try:
-Does Robert not like Aunt Matty? -Why did Robert get a D in English? -Are the Shakers not friendly towards other religions? |
Imagine: A white lace hanky. Aunt Matty took it out when tutoring Robert because he had to blow his nose.
Use:
-Dogs coming to greet you when you come home. When Robert came home from school, Pinky came to greet him. When I come home from school or when my parents come home from work, Tobi always comes to to door to greet us. My other dog is too lazy to get up.. -Baptized. Robert doesn't get the meaning or has been baptized. I was baptized when I was a little baby and our Pastor dips his finger in holy water and makes a cross on my forehead. |
Review and Summarize: In June, Robert comes home with his report card from school. His parents and his aunt can't read very well so all they notice is his A's not his one D. Aunt Matty drops by and looks at the report card. She see's the D and decides to tutor him in English. We learn that Aunt Matty is a Baptist and Robert is taught her first lesson. Matty says that Robert doesn't know how to diagram a sentence which troubles her. After the tutoring is done Aunt Matty says "Next time, I'll teach the pig." to Robert's mom.
ADNPWD: Chapter 7
Prediction: It is fall time and his pig continues to grow and live. School starts up again and I think he will get bullied again.
Imagine: Soybean meal.
Clarify:
-It is fall time. -The hawk which Robert was watching was hunting for food and ended up catching a rabbit. -His mom is a very good cook according to Robert. -Robert and his father go hunting often. -Robert doesn't want Pinky to be "pork". |
Imagine: A hawk.
Use:
Feeding pets. Robert has to feed Pinky just like I have to feed my two dogs. It's our responsibility to feed our pets so they stay alive. Try:
-Where are his other family members? -Why is he watching a hawk hunt food? |
Review and Summarize: Robert and Pinky go and lie down on the ridge. They watch a hawk fly over until it swooped in to catch a rabbit. Robert tries to chase it while it flies off but he couldn't catch up. Robert starts talking to Pinky about her first litter when Pinky runs away to chase a bee. They head home after they watch sundown.
ADNPWD: Chapter 8
Prediction: Robert will spend time with his family and Pinky. We will also meet new people in the story and see what their story is.
Imagine: Rain on a window. Robert was watching the rain outside drop onto his window.
Imagine: Flour Sack. A flour sack was used by Robert's mom to dry and wipe off Robert after he came inside from finding Mr. Hillman.
|
Imagine: Lantern. The lantern that Robert's dad made Robert get for them to see in the dark when they went to find Mr. Hillman.
Try:
-What is happening with Mrs. Hillman's husband? -Why does Robert's dad need to have a shotgun with him? -Why does Mr. Hillman have a baby coffin with him? Clarify:
-Robert is eavesdropping on his parents and Mrs. Hillmans conversation. -It is hard for Mr. Hillman to deal with death. -Mr. Hillman's daughter died and her body was in the baby coffin. Use:
Eavesdropping. Robert was eavesdropping on his parents conversation with Mrs. Hillman. I like to eavesdrop on my parents conversations and especially on other students conversations when they are around me. |
Review and Summarize: During the night, Robert is woken up by the storm outside. He hears his parents talking to someone so he decides to eavesdrop on them. His parents and Aunt Carrie are talking to Mrs. Hillman who is a neighbor. Mrs. Hillman says that her husband ran off to somewhere. Haven gets Robert and they go out to look for Mr. Hillman. They find him trying to dig up his daughters grave in Learning. They get Mr. Hillman onto the wagon with the baby coffin still in his hands. They arrive home and the Hillman's leave without anther word.
ADNPWD: Chapter 9
Prediction: Robert and Pinky will bond more.
-Robert will get asked to go to Rutland with Mr. Tanner, his neighbor.
-Robert will get asked to go to Rutland with Mr. Tanner, his neighbor.
Imagine: Strawberry Patch. The strawberry patch that Robert trespassed in Widow Bascom's garden.
Imagine: Gingersnap. The cookies that Widow Bascom made and Robert had some after he helped move her stuff.
|
Imagine: Muddy Pig. Pinky was very dirty and muddy so Robert had to wash him up.
Clarify:
-Clergy: Church and it's fellow religious leaders. -Quern: A simple handmill for grinding grain. Try:
-Why are Robert's mom and aunt talking about Widow Bascom and her new man? -Is Ira really just her hired man or something more? -Is Jacob Henry Robert's best friend? Use:
Trespassing. Robert trespassed into Widow Bascom' strawberry patch when walking home from school and she came out of the house to yell at him. I was trick or treating like five years ago with my neighbor and we ran over a person's lawn he came out and yelled at us and told us he would call the police on us if we walked on his lawn again. We never have to this day and we are still afraid of the person that lives in that house. |
Review and Summarize: Robert is outside washing all the mud and dirt off Pinky. He overhears a conversation between his mom and Aunt Carrie about Widow Bascom and her new hired man, Ira. After hearing this, Robert thinks of the one time he and Jacob ran through her strawberry patch. Widow Bascom came out with a broom shooing them away while yelling. Then another time, Robert was walking past her house when Widow Bascom asked Robert if he would help her move some stuff. He helps her and she asks about Bob and Bib. Robert figures out that the Tanner's are bringing them to the fair and Robert says that he has never been to the fair. Later that day Haven comes home and tells Robert that the Tanner's asked him if Robert could go to the fair with them. Robert is very excited.
ADNPWD: Chapter 10
Prediction: Robert will have a great time at the Rutland fair and Pink will get first place.
imagine: Merry Go Round.
Imagine: The cattle show area in fair.
|
Imagine: A big floppy flower hat.
Clarify:
-A food basket is just like a lunch box. -Robert didn't know what a public bathroom look like and was. -Tribulation: cause of suffering or great trouble. -Robert spent all his 10 cents on soap for washing Pinky. Use:
Manners. Robert's dad always says "Manners" to Robert when dropping him off somewhere. My parents use to say the exact same thing to me when getting dropped off at a friends house. The fear to blink. Robert was scared to blink because he didn't want to miss all the action going on at the fair. That is how I feel when I'm watching my favorite movie and going somewhere that I love, like Chicago. Try:
-Are the Tanner's Quakers? -What really was the "snow shovel" that went off? -Who is Becky Tate? Does Robert have a crush n her? |
Review and Summarize: It is the day that Robert is going to Rutland. His mom packs him a lunch basket and his Aunt Carrie slips him 10 cents. The Tanners come to get him and Pinky and they head out to the fair. Robert is very fond of the business of the fair when they arrive. It turns out Robert doesn't know what a restroom is, he thinks it is really for resting. After, it is time to show Bob and Bib. After he shows them they hurry to get Pinky ready. Pinky has rolled in something so Robert his to use his 10 cents for some soap to wash her off. They get to the show pin and Robert feels sick. He see's them awarding Pinky a blue ribbon but he starts to feel dizzy, throws up and passes out.
ADNPWD: Chapter 11
Prediction: Robert's family will be proud of Pinky's first place and he will spend more time with Pinky.
-The dog is going to die in the weasel fight.
-The dog is going to die in the weasel fight.
Imagine: A blue ribbon. Pinky won first place so she got a blue ribbon.
Imagine: Blackberry pie. When Robert got home from the fair, the whole family sat down and talked about the fair while eating blackberry pie.
|
Imagine: A terrier dog. Hussy the dog had to fight a weasel.
Clarify:
-Beholding: to see or observe. -Robert's mom and Aunt Carrie would worry about Robert if he told them hat he got sick. -At night Robert woke up to rustling in the coop and later we figure out he woke to the weasel fighting the hens. Try:
-Why does Robert's dad make Robert pay him back for the gum and chores? -Why doesn't he tell his parents about him getting sick? -Why would anyone put up a small dog to a weasel? Use:
Money. Robert didn't tell Aunt Carrie what he did with her 10 cents because he spent all of it on a bar of cattle soap so he was scared. When my parents give me money and I spend it on something stupid I usually don't tell them I spent it because I get scared on what they are going to say. Good neighbors. The Peck family says all the time that the Tanners are very good neighbors. My family really gets along with the neighbors across the street and we love them. |
Review and Summarize: Robert sleeps on the way home from the fair and wakes up right when they arrive home. Robert goes inside and tells his family that Pinky won first place and showed them his blue ribbon. They sit at table talking about the fair and eating blackberry pie staying up late into the night. The next day they find a weasel in the hen coop. They get Ira and his terrier dog, Hussy. to fight the weasel. They put them both in the barrel and they listen to the fight. When all the sound and rustling stop they open the barrel up and see the dead weasel. But what's worse is what condition the dog is in, she is all bloody and looks like she's about to die. They end up shooting her.
ADNPWD: Chapter 12
Prediction: Robert will realize that his dad has to kill Pinky and they spend their last days together.
Imagine: Hickory trees. When Robert was hunting for a squirrel he went past some hickory trees.
Try:
-Why does his mom need Robert to hunt for a squirrel? -Why don't they speak about Robert's other brothers and sisters? Use:
Looking up to my parents. Robert wants to be just like his dad and he looks up to him as a role model. I look up to my mom and grandma just like he does with his dad. |
Imagine: Fire in a fireplace. Robert was staring into the fireplace after the talk that he had with his dad.
Clarify:
-Robert's dad doesn't answer Roberts Pinky question so I figure Pinky is going to die soon. -Ailing: poor health. -Aunt Matty can't have children. -Robert's mom needed the squirrel for the chewed up nutmeats from its stomach. -Robert messed up on the apple crop so they won't have apples this year. -Robert has brothers and sisters that don't get talked about a lot. -Robert's dad is going to die soon. |
Review and Summarize: Pinky is back and Robert shows her the blue ribbon. Haven arrives home from work and Robert asks him 0if Pinky will have a good litter. Haven doesn't answer but ends up telling him that she probably is barren because she hasn't been in heat yet. Robert is shocked and very upset about it. His mother calls him to go hunt for a squirrel. Robert goes out, finds and kills a squirrel. He brings it back and figures out he messed up the apple crop this year. They have a conversation after dinner that ends up in Haven telling Robert that he is going to die soon.
ADNPWD: Chapter 13
Prediction: Robert will see if Pinky is barren or not, if she is barren then Robert's dad will kill her but if she's not then she will get pregnant.
Imagine: A big boar. Samson is Mr. Tanner's boar that they put in Pinky's pen to see if she really is barren.
Try:
-Why would Robert put Pinky in this situation when his dad already told that she is barren? -Why are Robert and Mr. Tanner fearing Christmas? |
Imagine: Three cats. While Robert and Mr. Tanner are talking they see three of Miss Sarah's cats run out of the barn.
Clarify:
-Estrus: a recurring period of fertility in female mammals, in heat. -Robert and Mr. Tanner are trying to see if Pinky can bear children. -The Tanners are Baptists. |
Review and Summarize: It's November now and Robert calls over Mr. Tanner and his boar to really see if Pinky is barren or not. Tanner brings over Sampson and puts him and Pinky into a pen together. She doesn't seem to like Sampson but he tries her anyways. After, she is bleeding and bruised. Robert hates Sampson for forcing him upon her. They have a conversation after that talking about Haven and his work. Turns out the Tanner's are Baptists and Robert ays that he was wrong about the Baptists.
ADNPWD: Chapter 14
Prediction: Robert's dad kills Pinky and Robert gets very upset and sad.
Imagine: Snow. It was the first snowfall of the season.
Use:
Your pet dying. Robert was very sad and started to cry when they had to kill Pinky because that was his best friend and pet. We had to put down my dog Jari because he was getting old and he had cancer. I was very, very upset and started to cry because I loved him. |
Imagine: Oatmeal. Robert had to eat oatmeal for breakfast and couldn't swallow it because of the taste.
Clarify:
-They are running out of food to stock up for the winter time. -They have to kill Pinky for food and because she is barren. Try:
-Why did Robert have to help in Pinky's death? |
Review and Summarize: Winter is arriving soon and the Peck family are having some trouble with the food situation. Since Pinky is for sure barren, they have to kill her for some food. Robert is very, very upset but he has to help. He gets one last hug out of her and then closes his eyes as Haven kills her. Robert has to help hold on to her legs to keep her from squirming and he starts to cry once she is dead. Haven starts wiping away Robert's tears and Haven is even crying himself.
ADNPWD: Chapter 15
Prediction: This time Robert's dad is going to pass away and now Robert has to be the man of the family and take care of his mom and Aunt Carrie.
Imagine: Old cigar box. When Robert was looking at his dad's tools he found an old cigar box of his dads.
Try:
-Why is Robert not showing his sadness that his dad died? Use:
Funerals. Robert had to set up and be at his dad's funeral. I hate funerals, I have been to two of them and they were both very sad and made me cry. |
Imagine: Coffin. They put Haven in a coffin to get buried.
Clarify:
-Robert and his family are setting up his dad's funeral. -Robert's dad was learning how to write his name out. -Mrs. Bascom got married to Ira. -"A day no pigs would die" Since Haven died, all his workers and boss came to the funeral so they didn't butch any pigs that day. |
Review and Summarize: Haven has died in his sleep in the spring. Robert finds him in the barn "sleeping" and starts to do his chores. He goes up to the house and tells his mom and Aunt Carrie that Haven will not be coming up to breakfast ever again and they start to plan his funeral. He digs the grave, gets dressed and does other chores to waste time. Robert stops by the neighbors houses on his way into town to tell them and at 12 they have his funeral. All his neighbors, Aunt Matty, Ira and Bascom, Jacob Henry and all of Haven's co-workers and boss arrive. Since they were not working it was a day that no pigs would die. For the rest of the day he does more chores and after dinner he goes to bed. Robert could not fall asleep so he went outside to Haven's grave and talks to him.
Plot Line
A.
- Robert Peck and his family live in Learning, Vermont. They live on a farm and it's in an old time period.
B.
- Robert cuts school because he is getting bullied.
- Robert goes over and helps out Apron, his neighbors cow.
- Robert helps Apron give birth and pulls her goiter out.
- Robert is bitten and beaten up by the cow while being dragged along.
- Mr. Tanner carries him to his house all bloody and beaten.
- Robert's mom cleans and stiches him up.
- A week later he finally feels better so he helps out Haven with the fence.
- Mr. Tanner comes over and gives Robert a pig as a gift for helping Apron give birth to two calves.
- Robert names his pig Pinky.
- He becomes very close with the pig and learns that taking care of a pig is hard work.
- They use Solomon to move Pinky's pen away from the cows.
- Aunt Matty comes to visit when school ends.
- Robert takes out his report card and shows everyone. He got all A's and a D in English.
- Aunt Matty starts to tutor him and it ends up to be a bad idea. He doesn't understand grammar.
- Robert is woken up from the storm outside and goes to eavesdrop on his parents conversation.
- Robert's dad and him go to look for Mr. Hillman.
- They find Mr. Hillman at the graveyard digging up his daughters grave.
- The arrive home with Mr. Hillman's daughters coffin in his hands.
- Robert thinks back on when and Jacob Henry ran through Widow Bascom's strawberry patch.
- Robert then thinks back on when he helped Widow Bascom move stuff.
- Widow Bascom told the Tanner's that they should take Robert to the Rutland fair.
- The Tanner's ask Robert to go to Rutland and he says yes.
- Robert and the Tanner's arrive at Rutland and get started with the showings.
- Robert shows Bob and Bib.
- Robert spends all of his 10 cents on soap to clean up Pinky.
- Robert shows Pinky, becomes dizzy and throws up. He ends up passing out.
- Pinky won 1st place.
- Haven catches a weasel in the hen pen and puts it up against Ira's dog, Hussy. The weasel dies, they end up having to shoot Hussy because of the shape she was in.
- Haven tells Robert that he believes Pinky is barren because she hasn't gone into the heat yet.
- Robert calls Mr. Tanner over with his boar, Sampson, to see if Pinky is barren. He forces upon her and she ends up all bloody.
- Haven tells Robert that he doesn't have much time yet to live.
- Haven tells Robert that he has to kill Pinky because they are low on food and she is barren.
C.
- Haven kills Pinky. Robert is upset but realizes that its what they have to do.
D.
- Haven dies.
- They throw a funeral with family and friends.
- Robert goes on with chores to keep him busy.
- Robert talks to Haven's grave because he couldn't sleep.
Characterization
Haven Peck:
-Father of Robert and Husband of Lucy. -Shaker, farmer and is a pig slaughter. -Wise, can't read or write, kind and looks after his family. - Wants Robert to be a very nice and educated man. -Round because he is already developed in the story. |
Robert Peck:
-Narrator, Shaker, student. -12 to 13 -Curious, helpful, animal lover, family man and kind. -Over time he learns to be a man. -Takes care of and best friends with Pinky. -Dynamic because he evolves over the course of the book. He learns how to man. |
Pinky:
-Pet pig of Robert. -Only at the Peck's for a year. -Playful, likes to eat, loves Robert, barren and obedient. -Dies because the Peck's need food to survive over the winter and she can't have a litter. |
Themes and Motifs
Themes:
Coming of Age. -Robert had problems to deal with when transitioning into a man. When they have to kill Pinky, Robert sucks it up and acts like a man and realizes that they had to do it to survive. Also when Haven dies, Robert took on a lot of responsibilities around the farm and providing for his family. Acceptance. -Robert had to accept Pinky dying and his farther dying to move on and help out his family. He accepted that some things in life are inevitable. Just carry on just as if it was another day of chores. |
Motifs:
Death. -Death kept recurring in this book. Pinky dies, Haven dies, the rabbit and squirrel die and his brothers are dead. But after death you have to continue on with life as this book shows. Birth and Reproduction. -At the beginning Robert helped out Apron give birth, Miss Sarah the cat gave birth and Robert tried to make Pinky have a litter but she is barren. With death there is birth along with it. |
Symbols, Tone and Mood
Symbol:
Pinky. -Pinky was a symbol of Robert's manhood. When Pinky was killed, Robert realized that he had to man up because it was for the rest of the family. Robert understands that some things in life are inevitable. |
Tone:
Sadness. -The tone is sad because of the deaths that happen and the somber way Robert carries on with his life. It's very emotional but Robert doesn't show his emotion. The author shows us that we don't need to feel sorry for Robert because he just goes on with his life. |
Mood:
Serious. -I think the mood was serious because of the deaths and how the book played out. How Robert had to move on from Pinky's and Haven' death. But is was also light hearted with the jokes and conversations Robert had with Haven. |