Pigs From Home By Hop Dac

Pigs from Home by Hop Dac

1. How does the author start this story which is in direct contrast to the title of the story? What effect does this have on the reader and their expectations of the story?

The author starts the story by talking about pigs which relates back to the title pigs from home. It changes what we think is going to happen in the chapter and are thoughts on the author's story. 

2. What core Vietnamese value is instilled in the author?

That any good Vietnamese family was a self sustaining one.

3. What is humorous about the mother’s ‘flair for natural medicine’ in regards to her personality?

As she is a hypochondriac and is afraid of being unhealthy and has an obsession with her house being filled with healthy and vitamin giving plants. 

4. How does the description of the killing of pigeons continue the style utilised in the introduction of the story?

It relates back to the author's hate of pigs and slaughtering them. 

5. What is the author’s opinion of pigs? Give two quotes to support your conclusion.

The author hates pigs and this is supported by these two quotes ''Pigs are by far the worst smelling'' and ''No pig has ever been a friend of mine.''

6. In the paragraph on pgs 53-54, give two examples of alliteration employed by the author.

''Blowing raspberries on the bellies of babies'' and ''Feeding frenzy.''

7. On pg 54 what simile is used to describe pigs? How does this simile work for the situation it is used?

A big is like the ocean don't turn your back on it. This works for the situation needed as the author is saying not to trust pigs cause you don't know what they will do or in the case of the ocean you don't know whats coming next.

8. What simile does the author use to describe her mother sunning herself? How does this relate to the 

core focus of the story?

''The only reason she would leave the house was to sun herself by standing in the driveway and turning herself slowly like a rotisserie chicken.'' The idea of a roasting chicken links back to the animals and the hate for some of them such as pigs. 

9. What does the author describe as ‘the divide between the old world and the new’? What do you think is meant by this statement?

The part where the authors grandma killed a duck by banging it onto the ground, then de-feathered it and made congee out if it. This would be normal many years ago but now it is considered as animal cruelty and no one kills animals like this in this day and age. Which relates back to the difference between now and back many years ago.

10. What is the author’s reaction to the slaughter of the pig at night? What statement does the author make about the neighbours which displays the way he feels about the whole experience? What is important about including this statement?

The author was very upset in the way the pig was killed and by the blood gushing from its throat. The statement the author makes about the neighbors is ''I thought about our neighbors, the girls that caught the school bus with us and wondered if they had heard the commotion. It is important as these men aren't feeling about the pain they are causing to the pig but the author is thinking that if she felt this bad about the screeching of the pig how would the neighbours feel if they hear this. 

11. Why don’t the parents have pigs anymore? How does this relate to the description of the burial of the last pig they owned?

As they have a friend called Reg who gives them all the pork they need. Tam and the author helped him bury the pig and used their T-shirts to tie around their faces to cover up the smell.

12. How would you characterise the description of the mother’s treatment of the pig’s blood? Is it appetising?

As she adds all of these very tasty ingredients to the pig and stops the blood flowing by putting salt on it. This hardens the blood making it eatable. No it isn't appetising unless you like pigs blood. 

13. What is ironic about the way the author has a popular Vietnamese dish? What is it about the way the author describes the experience of having pigs that makes it ironic?

The author hates pigs and thinks they are smelly and disgusting creatures but enjoy's eating them and their blood. The author describes the way the pig is killed as very gruesome, the author hates the appearance and smell of the pig but loves eating it and thinks it is really tasty. 

14. How does this story relate to the title Pigs from Home?

The whole story is about the Pigs that her family used to slaughter and kill for food for various parties or dinners. This reminds him of the cooking done by his mother back at home.

15. Why do you think this story is in the Battlers section of the book?

As the story relates back to situation's where the pig has to battle for its life or the author has to battle when seeing the pig being slaughtered or the duck being killed and gutted.