Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing Essay Questions

How is Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing a coming-of-age story?

Although Peter is still a nine-year-old kid at the end of the book, he has matured significantly throughout these ten chapters and learned important lessons about being a young adult and the responsibility that comes with it. He has learned how to better control his emotions when Fudge causes trouble, how to set a good example as an elder brother, and how to handle the various responsibilities in his life. His parents give him a dog at the end of the book to acknowledge how he has "come of age," or learned to handle disappointments in a mature and adult-like way that shows he is ready for more responsibility.

What is a "fourth grade nothing," and why does Peter want to avoid this fate?

Peter uses the phrase "fourth grade nothing" to describe himself when he feels plain, boring, and ignored. One of the things he desires most in his life is attention, praise, and recognition from others, and over the last three years, he has felt more and more invisible as people fawn over his cute little brother, Fudge. He wants to stand out and be remembered, but Fudge is constantly taking the spotlight, even going so far as to being featured in a commercial on TV. Peter does not want to live in the shadow of his brother forever, but he cannot figure out how to get the attention he deserves.

Why is it so important to Peter to have boundaries from Fudge, such as a lock on his door?

Peter's desire to keep Fudge away from his things is not only about keeping them from getting ruined. His brother is so prevalent in all parts of his life—apart from just tormenting Peter on his own, Fudge gets in the way of his relationships with his parents, friends, and many other people who interact with the Hatchers. Having boundaries means that Peter gets to protect his privacy and his own personal identity, making sure he has a separate life that exists away from his brother. He has things that belong only to him, not things that he has to share, and he wants Fudge to understand and respect this distinction.

Why does Peter's mother always seem to take Fudge's side, instead of his?

People always say that the youngest child, or the "baby" of the family, is favored, and in some cases that seems to be the case in the Hatcher family. Fudge is only a toddler and is a lot of work to look out for, while Peter is a relatively easygoing older child. This means that a lot of Fudge's misbehavior gets excused, as he learns which behaviors are right and wrong. It is likely, though, that Mrs. Hatcher is also tougher on Peter because she wants him to develop a sense of responsibility and encourage him to set a good example. As Fudge's older brother, he has a lot of work cut out for him, so she wants to make sure he can handle this important role.

How does the setting, New York City, play a role in this story?

The Hatchers live in New York City, where so many things are happening every day. On a typical day out in NYC, the Hatchers must interact with a huge number of people, which provides many opportunities for Fudge to misbehave, act out, and create amusing situations. The city setting is also important for Peter's development as a character. Living in a city, Peter must learn the important responsibility of looking out for himself at an early age. This also means that he develops more independence, because there are more places for him to go without being escorted by his parents. Finally, the city provides Peter with an escape whenever living with Fudge is getting to be too much; he can go to a friend's apartment, or even walk to Central Park on his own to spend time hanging out on his favorite rocks.