Essay section I. Choose one of these topics for one essay:
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Page 18 ends with “You really can’t say we murdered him. Not murdered him.” In an essay of about 150 words, explain what you think (or what you thought) when you read that. What do (or did) you think that this statement foreshadowed? Did you have enough clues at that point of the book to be able to predict in detail? Defend your answer by looking carefully at the pages up to page 18.
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Chapter 6 draws your attention to cages. You will see cages later, also. Draw a picture and then write an explanation of how at least one of the
parents
in this novel lives symbolically in a cage.
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In chapters 5 and 6, John and Lorraine take money from Mr. Pignati by lying. John, of course, had lied earlier in the novel. Lorraine disapproves of this additional lie, but she goes along with it nonetheless. See if you can come up with two reasons for her doing this. Write about 150 words as you explore her motivation here.
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In chapters 4 and 5, Lorraine and John take false names as they speak with Mr. Pignati. At the start of chapter 7, on page 54, John refers to his and Lorraine’s taking false names and suggests that they did that to protect themselves from him. That is not the true reason, of course. What was that reason? Do you suppose that he really does not know his own reason? What does this tell you about him?
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Essay section III. Choose one of these topics for another essay:
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Something dreadful happens to Mr. Pignati on page 99. Surely your author could have invented other kinds of physical problems for Mr. Pignati (such as a car accident), but he uses a heart attack. Explain the symbolism of that issue in light of what is happening in the relationship among the three main characters.
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After the heart attack, John “needed two beers.” Why? Connect this to other scenes where he drinks. You will find some on pages 6, 9, 10, 27, 32–33, 55, and 82. What connection can you make between his drinking and his acting (or his lying, if you’d rather call it that)?
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Between pages 106 and 115, the relationship between John and Lorraine changes from the one earlier. What is happening with them now? Relate this change to their family lives. And then compare and contrast this situation with the relationship between Romeo and Juliet.
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Put into your own words the reason that John and Lorraine avoid going into the room “with the pigs in it.” (p. 115)
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On page 132, Lorraine says, “I didn’t do anything wrong.” Then she explains to her reader (that is, to you) why she says that. Compare and contrast what happened at the party with other things she has done that her mother would disapprove of. Using that comparison and contrast, show why you agree or disagree with her that she did nothing wrong. Write about 150 words.
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On pages 134–135, Lorraine describes the events at the party as playing. Think about other events — in your life or in a friend’s — that are also play. With another member of your class, put into writing whether you agree that this was merely play. Remember how this all turned out; use that in your answer.
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On page 147, John writes about responsibility, blaming Mr. Pignati: “He had no business fooling around with kids. . . . He had no right going backward. When you grow up, you’re not supposed to go back. Trespassing — that’s what he had done.” Is John accepting responsibility for his actions? Draw a diagram or story board showing
who
causes the events that lead to Mr. Pignati’s death. (You might find it interesting to look back at your answer to the second journal question for chapter 1. Do you see a connection with that question and answer?)
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On page 148, John accepts responsibility. What might he mean by writing “when [Mr. Pignati] died[,] something in us died as well”? Use 150 words to demonstrate what he means.
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