Characters
Name (3) things you have learned about John so far.
Smokes, drinks, lies, pranks, arrogant, poor relationship with parents
Although John & Lorraine haven't referred specifically to the time setting of their story, it seems clear that the story is taking place at about the same time the novel was published. Name the year of publication.
1968
Why is this story considered a “memorial epic”?
It is a piece written to remember and honor someone, and this case, it's Mr. Pignati.
Why did Mr. Pignati lie to Lorraine and John about his wife?
He can't accept his wife's death.
"Don't give the INGRATE anything."
An ungrateful person
Name (3) things you have learned about Lorraine so far.
Self-conscious, compassionate, paranoid, poor relationship with mom, doesn't have many friends
According to Lorraine, why doesn't she have good conversation with her mother?
Lorraine says that her mother criticizes her.
Aside from family and friendship, name (2) examples of theme so far.
Loneliness, deception, death, guilt, responsibility
What seems to upset Mr. Pignati at Beckman's toy store?
When the clerk thought Lorraine was his daughter, she said that she wasn't. He may have felt rejected.
You have to know how DEMENTED Dennis and Norton are to understand that when I told them Angelo Pignati caught on Lorraine was a phony and hung up, they believed it.
Unbalanced; disturbed
What are John & Lorraine's dreams for the future?
John wants to be an actor and Lorraine wants to be a writer.
Choose from the following types of conflict for each of the statements below. (statements may have more than one conflict)
*Character vs. Character
*Character vs. Self
*Character vs. Society
*Character vs. Nature
A) Mr. Pignati doesn’t want to admit that his wife is dead.
B) While Lorraine pities her mother, she also resents her mother’s criticisms and nagging.
C) John wants to be an individual, not a phony in the crowd.
D) Lorraine longs to accept Mr. Pignati’s offer to buy her roller skates, but she doesn’t feel it is right.
(A) - Character vs. Self (B) - Character vs. Character, Character vs. Self (C) - Character vs. Self, Character vs. Society (D) - Character vs. Self
Why are John and Lorraine so much alike?
They both come from families that do not appreciate them.
In chapter Lorraine says: "And John lies to his mother and father. He told them one time that he was hearing voices from outer space, and he thought creatures were going to come for him some night, so if they heard any strange noises coming from his room would they please call the police.
"Don't be silly," his mother told him and laughed it off with just the slightest bit of discomfort. His parents don't know quite what to make of him because neither of them has the imagination he has, and in a way they sort of respect it. Actually, I think they're a little frightened of it."
What does this passage say about John and his lies?
John tries to disturb adults with his lying. His mother doesn't believe that creatures from outer space are coming for John, but may be afraid that he believes it, or is just upset that he lies to her all the time.
“Be yourself! Be INDIVIDUALISTIC!" he called out after me.
Unique; original
Describe Mr. Pignati. Use information Jon gave us in Chapter 5 to support your answer.
Mr. Pignati is vulnerable; always smiling and seems very happy. He loves telling jokes and enjoys John and Lorraine’s company. Mr. Pignati shows John and Lorraine the “pig” room and explains why the pigs are there. When he first met his wife, he gave her a pig to remind her of him. From then on she collected pigs.
John, Lorraine, and the Pigman go to the pet department at Beekman’s Toy Store. What comparison is made at the end of the chapter with the three monkeys [clinging to each other]?
At the end of the chapter, the three little monkeys are compared to John, Lorraine, and the Pigman because they are clinging to each other for friendship and companionship.
John discovers the truth about Conchetta by finding her funeral bill. Why do you think Mr. Pignati said his wife was in California?
Mr. Pignati does not want to face the painful reality of his wife’s death.
What is implied about Lorraine's mother when she says: "I heard Berdeen's Funeral Parlor is slipping twenty under the table, so maybe I'll give them a little business when the next one croaks."
She seems callous or heartless about her patients' deaths.
"I felt sorry for the old man because people just don’t go around smiling like that all the time unless they’re mentally unbalanced or harboring extreme ANXIETY."
Worry, nervousness, uneasiness
Who is Bobo, and what does it reveal about Mr. Pignati?
Bobo is a big baboon at the zoo. It shows that Mr. Pignati is lonely.
How does John feel about cemeteries?
He feels they are one of the loveliest places. He wonders what will happen to him when he dies. He hopes to see ghosts to prove that when he does die, he will be doing something a little more exciting than decaying.
Why are John and Lorraine becoming friends with Mr. Pignati? What do you think Mr. Pignati adds to their lives?
Adventure, fun times, laughter, love, respect
What is being implied by Lorraine when she says: The analysts would call his family the source problem or say he drinks and smokes to assert his independence.
John's family may be responsible for his behavior.
It’s sort of spooky how when you’re caught talking to God nowadays everybody thinks you’re nuts. They used to call you a PROPHET.
Forecaster, visionary, oracle