Dynamic Character Tracker

Directions: In order to determine whether John or Lorraine matured dur-

ing the course of the novel, use the adjectives below to fill in the following
chart. Each adjective may be used more than once. You may add any other
adjectives that you think are appropriate.

Truthful Intelligent Trusting Humorous

The Pigman
Deceitful Foolish Suspicious Serious
Friendly Destructive Compassionate Short-
tempered by Paul Zindel
Unfriendly Vulnerable Insensitive Patient
Trustworthy Disobedient Lonely Imaginative
Uncertain Inquisitive Confident Depressed Novel Activity Booklet
Character Beginning of Book End of Book

Name____________________

Period______________
John

Points Earned____________

Lorraine Grade_________
 More on Simile:
Chapter 1-3 Reading Guide Similes are figures of speech in which two unlike objects are com-
pared, using the words “like” or “as.” For example:
1. What reputation did John earn as a high school freshmen? Why? They just whisked Mr. Pignati away on a stretcher like an old sack of
potatoes.
2. How did his behavior change when he became a sophomore? Explain. What is being compared in the simile above?
__________________________to__________________________

3. Why are John and Lorraine writing the memorial epic?

What is the effect of this comparison?

4. How does Lorraine’s reason for writing about the Pigman differ from _____________________________________________________
John’s?

_____________________________________________________
5. What is John’s “source problem,” according to Lorraine?

What is being compared in the following simile:

A big plow came down Forest Avenue, scooping snow
6. How did Lorraine and John first meet? Describe this. right into the front of it and throwing it out the top
through this pipe contraption. It looked like a black
dragon devouring everything it touched.

7. What is John’s opinion about Lorraine’s mother? __________________________to__________________________

What is the effect of this comparison?

8. What is John’s opinion of his own father?
_____________________________________________________

9. Why does John describe the game he played with Lorraine, Dennis and
Norton as a “telephone marathon”? _____________________________________________________

10. What confession is made at the end of the chapter and who is being
blamed?
 The Pigman Figurative Language: Similes and Metaphors
Directions: Analyze the main characters from the novel, us-
Directions: Similes and metaphors are figures of speech that compare one
thing to another. For each of the sentences below, (a) write down what is
ing the methods of characterization.
being compared, and (b) explain the comparison.
Example: John thought of Dennis and Norton as two amoebae who
Method John Conlan Lorraine Jensen
were too insignificant to be considered good friends.
Dennis and Norton, amoebae
Their unimportance in John’s life Statement by
the Author
1. Lorraine had very interesting green eyes that scanned like nervous ra-
dar.
a. Character
Appearance
b.

2. Lorraine did not consider herself Miss America, but she felt that she
was not the abominable snow-woman either. Character’s
a. Thoughts

b.
Character’s
3. Mr. Pignati let out a tiny cry almost like a puppy that had been stepped
Actions
on by mistake.
a.

b. Reactions of
and to the
4. It seemed as if the monkeys knew something had happened because character
they started making noise and pulling against the bars. I thought they
were going to tear them out of the frames, and I wanted to put my hands
to ears to shut out the jungle that had surrounded us. Character
a.
Conversations

b.

5. Right in the bright sunlight you could see the flashing dome of the am- Reactions to
bulance going like crazy, pulsing like a heartbeat. the Setting
a.

b.
 Pigman: Symbolism
Chapter 4-6 Reading Guide Directions: A symbol is something that represents or stands for
something else. In The Pigman certain characters, places, objects come
1. How did Lorraine and John first make contact with the to represent ideas in the minds of Lorraine and John. Explain what
Pigman? those ideas are by answering the questions below.

1. What does Bobo symbolize to Mr. Pignati?

2. What excuse did for calling did Lorraine give the Pigman?
2. Reread the paragraph in Chapter 8, beginning, “The three monkey’s
were hugging each other desperately…”
3. Why does Lorraine think that John can’t really be blamed for a. The topic of the paragraph is a symbol. What is that
lying? symbol?

b. Which characters in the novel does Lorraine associate with

4. Why did John’s mother refuse to give him money when he asked this symbol? The last two sentences of Chapter 8 provide
for it? this information.

5. What argument did John use to persuade Lorraine to go to visit c. What ideas does the symbol and the people she associates
the Pigman? with it represent to Lorraine? Reread the paragraph in
Chapter 10, beginning, “John took extra long coming back…”
to find out.
6. What was John’s impression of Mr. Pignati when he and Lorraine
visited the Pignati house?
3. Reread the paragraph in Chapter 15, beginning, “Didn’t she know how
sick to my stomach it made be feel…”
7. How did Lorraine explain her late arrival home? Why? a. What do baboons stand for in John’s mind?

b. John refers again to baboons at the very end of the book.

8. What does Lorraine think of her mother? How does he relate this symbol to his decision to take re-
sponsibility for his life?

9. What were Lorraine’s reactions to what she saw at the zoo? 4. Although the symbol is basically the same in each of the examples
just given, its meaning is different in the minds of John, Lorraine, and
Mr. Pignati. What do the varying interpretations of the symbol suggest
10. What was the Pigman’s reason for going to the zoo so often? to you about the personalities of these characters?
 Recalling Details
The names of four Franklin High School teachers are written in the boxes be-
Explain how example supports the theme low. Read each phrase in the list beneath the four boxes and write its letter in
the box of the teacher to whom it applies. Hint: Some of the phrases do not
In literature, the theme refers to the author’s message of the central ideas in a work. As you

relate to any of the four teachers.

MISS REILLEN MR. WEINER

read The Pigman, record allusions to each of the themes shown in the chart below.

MISS STEWART MISS KING

a. the Cricket j. wore tight clothes

b. caught the Bathroom Bomber k. teacher of a course called

Problems of American Democ-
racy
Page

c. an English teacher l. the school nurse

#

d. had a sick mother at home m. the school principal

e. may not have had money to buy n. the typing teacher

clothes, according to Lorraine
Text Example

f. called John a card o. a substitute teacher

g. gave John a higher mark than p. provided the typewriter used

by
Lorraine had been given John and Lorraine

h. the school librarian q. was resented by John for try-

ing to sound up-to-date
Theme:

i. wore stockings that made a r. taught the last class of John and
scratchy sound Lorraine’s school day
Responsibil-
with Death

Friendship

Relation-
Family &
Dealing
Theme

ships

ity
 The Pigman
Cause-Effect Relationships
Each of the incomplete sentences on the left-hand side states a cause. Choose
Explain how example supports the theme
the phrase (or effect) from the right-hand side that best completes the sentences.
Write its letter in the blank.
In literature, the theme refers to the author’s message of the central ideas in a work. As you

1. _____ Because Norton was teased about playing a. earned a tough reputation
with dolls, he by fighting and stealing
read The Pigman, record allusions to each of the themes shown in the chart below.

2. _____ Because Mr. Conlan seemed amused by b. confessed about the fake
John’s drinking, John charity

3. _____ Because the Pigman had been so good to c. continued the habit as a
John and Lorraine, they way of getting attention

4. _____ Because Mrs. Jensen had been betrayed by d. distrusted and seemed to
her husband, she hates all men

5. _____ Because John began combing his hair and e. got to go home rather than
using shaving lotion, Lorraine to the police station
Page
#

6. _____ Because John and Lorraine had never been f. sensed their relationship
able to return their friend’s hospitality, they was changing

7. _____ Because Melissa Dumas joined John in g. telephoned Mr. Pignati and
dancing on roller skates, Lorraine asked him to go to the zoo with them
Text Example

8. ____ Because Mr. Pignati had not pressed charges’ h. was pink with jealousy
John and Lorraine

9. _____ Because John and Lorraine felt extremely i. went overboard in asking
guilty about the damage done at the party, guests to the party
they
Theme:

10. _____ Because she could not look anyone in the j. wore Ben Franklin
eye after the party, Lorraine sunglasses to the zoo
Friendship
Maturing

Trusting
Others
Theme

Family
 Chapters 13-15 Reading Guide Literary Element: Point of View

1. How did John justify holding a party at the Pignati house? 1. What is unusual about the point of view in The Pigman?
___________________________________________

2. Who was not invited to the party? Why?

___________________________________________

3. In what ways did the party get out of hand? List specific examples.
___________________________________________

2. What are the advantages of this point of view?

___________________________________________
4. Who arrives at the party in a taxi?
___________________________________________
5. What was the reaction of Lorraine’s mother upon learning of her daugh-
ter’s involvement at the party? ___________________________________________

3. What are the limitations of this point of view?

6. Why did Lorraine decide that her mother could never really understand
___________________________________________
her?
___________________________________________

7. Why did the Pigman collapse at the zoo? ___________________________________________

8. How did Lorraine react to the Pigman’s collapse?

9. Does John care about Mr. Pignati?

10. How are Lorraine and John different after their involvement with the
Pigman? What did they learn from their experience?
 Character Traits
Chapter 7-9 Reading Guide Directions: Below is a list of traits that might be used to describe some of the char-
acters in The Pigman. Some of these traits refer to Lorraine, other to John, and
some refer to both. In the spaces provided, give an example of how the person
1. Why did John and Lorraine go to the cemetery with Dennis demonstrates each trait. The first one has been done for you.
and Norton after school?
Lorraine Trait John
interested in writing, in people ambitious for career interested in acting:
flair for drama in his
2. What did John like about the cemetery, and what was he trying to prove
pranks
by his visits there? anxiety about the future

3. What made John think that Conchetta Pignati was not really away on compassion for others
vacation, as the Pigman had explained?
feelings of guilt

4. In what way did Lorraine wish that her mother were more like the
Pigman? ravenous appetite

indifference to school work

5. Why was Lorraine especially delighted by the Pigman’s buying spree in
the fancy food department?
leadership

6. Why did Lorraine agree to roller skate out of Beekman’s with John? love of fun

outgoing nature
7. According to John, why had Norton become such a tough person?

poor self-image
8. Describe Norton. What threat does he make? How is this an example of
foreshadowing?
rebellious nature

9. How does John explain the origins of his beer drinking? tendency to lie

sense of humor
10. In what ways did John find his parents different from the Pigman?

unhappiness with home life

 Characterization
Chapters 10-12 Reading Guide
Directions: You can often learn a lot about a character by what they say.
1. How does Lorraine explain the reason for her mother’s atti- Identify the characters who made each of the following statements. Write his
tude toward men? or her name and then explain what the statement tells you about the character.

1. “Actually, I hate school, but then again most of the time I hate everything.”
Character:
2. What did John and Lorraine confess to the Pigman, and what did he ad-
mit to them in return? Explanation:

3. What change did Lorraine notice in the Pigman as he got to know his 2. “I didn’t want anyone really to take advantage of the old man. Some people
young friends better? Why does he begin to change? might think that’s what I was doing, but not the way Norton would have.”
Character:

Explanation:
4. What example of onomatopoeia occurs at the end of chapter 10?

5. Why was John uneasy during the hospital visit? 3. “Sometimes it’s just the way I say one word that gets her going, and she’s
so quick with her hand it’s hard to think of her being gentle to sick people.”
Character:

Explanation:
6. What abrupt change of mood did Lorraine and John experience during
the evening of the spaghetti dinner?
4. “One part of me was saying ‘Don’t let this nice old man waste his money,’
and the other half was saying ‘Enjoy it, enjoy doing something absolutely ab-
surd – something that let me be a child in a way I could never be with my
7. What changes in John did Lorraine notice after that evening? mother, something just silly and absurd and …beautiful.”
Character:

Explanation:
8. How does Lorraine and John’s relationship change?

5. “We loved each other. We didn’t need anyone else. She did everything for
9. How did Lorraine interpret her dream about the room in which Mr. Pig-
me. We were each other’s life…” (Ch. 10)
nati kept his pig collection? Character:

Explanation:
10. What is John’s idea? Make a prediction about this idea.
 The Pigman: Cause and Effect
Relationships _____7. A peacock backed Lorraine against a fence at the zoo.
a. Lorraine decided that the peacock was a second bad omen.
b. Lorraine never returned to the zoo.
Choose the phrase that tells what happened
c. Mr. Pignati introduced her to Bobo as a distraction.
as a result of each incident below. Write the letter of that phrase
in the blank next to the sentence number.
_____8. John imitated the gorilla’s noises.
a. The floorwalker told him to stop.
______1. John was impressed by the substitute teacher’s enthusiasm b. Mr. Pignati was afraid that Bobo would be upset.
about commemorative stamps. c. His two companions joined him in creating a din in the
a. Many students began to collect stamps. monkey house.
b. There was no supercolassal fruit roll that day.
c. Lorraine call John a lunatic. _____9. Mr. Conlan had taken John to the see the Coffee Exchange.
a. John did not want to work there.
______2. No one spoke to Lorraine when she first moved into John’s b. John became jealous of Kenneth’s success in business.
neighborhood. c. John gave up drinking coffee.
a. She joined the Latin Club.
b. She deliberately annoyed John on the bus. ____10. John explored the second floor of the Pignati house.
c. She was depressed and lonely. a. He discovered the Pignati pig collection.
b. He found the papers from the funeral director.
_____3. John talked too much on the Conlan family telephone. c. He decided that Mr. Pignati was a rich man.
a. Lorraine was unable to phone John from her house.
b. Mr. Conlan had a lock put on the telephone. Complete each of the following statements, using details from the
c. Mrs. Conlan wanted to have the phone disconnected. novel.

_____4. Norton was caught stealing in the supermarket. 1. John earned the reputation of a practical joker at school because
a. He was nicknamed the Marshmallow Kid.
b. He served a sentence in the reformatory.
c. Lorraine felt sorry for him. 2. Lorraine interpreted John’s behavior in psychological terms because

_____5. Mr. Pignati donated ten dollars to the L and J Fund.

a. John and Lorraine spent the money as soon as they could. 3. John resented his brother Kenneth because
b. John decided that he and Lorraine should accept Mr. Pig-
nati’s invitation for an outing to the zoo.
c. John and Lorraine plotted to get more money from him. 4. Lorraine did not enjoy visiting the zoo with Mr. Pignati and John
because
_____6. Lorraine’s mother believed that her employers underpaid her.
a. She yelled at Lorraine for spending too much money.
b. She quit her job in protest. 5. John and Lorraine began to feel at home in Mr. Pignati’s house
c. She felt no guilt after taking food from their refrigerator. because