Genre
Young Adult Fiction
Setting and Context
Staten Island, New York, at the time of the book being written (1968)
Narrator and Point of View
The narration is given by both John and Lorraine, who narrate alternate chapters. Each narrates from his or her own perspective and point of view.
Tone and Mood
The tone and mood of the novel depends on which of the characters is narrating. John's narration is given with humor, and is almost bitterly satirical. Lorraine's is more genuine and sensitive.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Mr Pignati is the protagonist. Initially, John and Lorraine are the antagonists. Later, Norton is the antagonist.
Major Conflict
There is conflict all the time in both John's and Lorraine's family homes, between them and their parents.
Climax
Mr Pignati dies of a heart attack at the end of the novel, while John cries out that they have murdered him.
Foreshadowing
The smashing of Mr Pignati's ceramic pig collection foreshadows his physical and emotional demise.
Understatement
Lorraine is constantly understating John's negative personality traits. She sees him as troubled and his father volatile which is an understatement because John is deeply disturbed by his inability to "be himself" and his father is explosive and a bully.
Allusions
John alludes to the classic "Johnny Tremain", a novel written in the nineteen forties by Esther Forbes, in his creative writing project entitled "The Dog Ate My Homework".
Imagery
The author describes the site that would have greeted Mr Pignati when he arrived back at his house in the middle of a huge party; we are able to imagine the overwhelming noise, the smell of beer and cigarettes, and also the sight of the ceramic pigs shattered all over the floor, and to identify with the shock that this must have caused him.
Paradox
Lorraine's mother steals food from the hospice where she works, but Lorraine observes that she would be furious and react very badly if she ever found out Lorraine had stolen anything.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between John's home life and abrasive relationship with his father and Lorraine's home life and abusive relationship with her mother.
Metonymy and Synecdoche
No specific examples
Personification
The ceramic pigs are the personification of the love between Mr Pignati and his wife.
