A Day No Pigs Would Die

Grade Levels

Excerpt

Chapter 1

• Who is the narrator of the novel?

• How old is the narrator at the beginning of the novel?

• What is the setting of the novel?

• Why does Rob run away from school?

• What does Rob’s response to number 4 tell us about his character (the type of person he is)?

• Describe how Rob saves the cow and calves?

• Why does Rob risk his life to save the cow and calves?

• On the back of this paper, write a summary of the chapter. (5 sentence minimum).

Chapter 2

• What is Rob’s father’s name?

• What relative lives with Rob besides his parents?

• What is the name of the Pecks’ neighbor?

• How does Rob’s mother respond to Rob’s injuries? How does his father respond?

• How does Rob act while Mama is working on him?

• What do Papa and Rob discuss in Rob’s room?

• What does Papa do to help Rob feel better? How does this gift affect Rob?

• How does Rob feel about the way his father smells?

• On the back of this paper, write a summary of the chapter. (5 sentence minimum).

Chapter 3

• How long does Rob stay in bed with his injuries?

• What task does Rob’s father ask Rob to help him with once he’s out of bed?

• What does it mean on page 19 when Papa says, “a fence sets men together, not apart?”

• What is the “odd parade” that Rob and Papa saw coming down the ridge toward their house?

• What are the names of Mr. Tanner’s two new bull calves?

• What does Mr. Tanner give to Robert for helping Apron with here calves?

• Why doesn’t Papa want Robert to keep Mr. Tanner’s gift?

• What does Robert decide to name his gift?

• What are Rob’s responsibilities for caring for his gift?

• How does Papa explain to Robert why a person can’t keep pigs and cows in the same living space?

• Write a summary of this chapter below. (5 sentence minimum).

Chapter 4

• What does Rob make for Pinky to eat? How does he get her to like it?

• What is Papa’s plan to help Solomon move the corn crib away from the cow barn?

• How does Papa know the Shaker Laws? Why does he learn them this way?

• What Shaker Law does Rob especially dislike?

• Who does Rob think that Ethan Allen is?

• What was the question that Rob missed on his Vermont History test? What answer had he put?

• Why can’t Papa vote?

• What does Papa mean in regard to number 7 when he says, “When a man cannot do these things, people think his head is weak. Even when he’s proved his back is strong?”

• In your own words, based on Papa and Rob’s discussion about missions, what is a “mission?”

• Write a summary of the chapter below. (5 sentence minimum).

About

Study Questions for the Novel by Peck by chapter.