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Copywork
About This Passage
Kate DiCamillo gives Mercy real joy in the moment Eugenia thinks she is winning. The chase is the same event for both characters — but two different events at the level of feeling. Notice how the author lets the pig 'love' to chase, granting Mercy a personality piece we have not seen before.
There was going to be a chase. Mercy loved to chase. She let Eugenia get very close to her. 'Oink!' said Mercy, dashing away. She ran in circles. She kicked up her heels.
Full copywork activity with handwriting lines available in the complete study guide.
Discussion Questions
Narration Prompt
Tell the chapter in your own words. What is the most surprising line, and why?
Discussion Questions
- Eugenia is chasing Mercy because she is angry. Mercy thinks it is a game. The same event has two opposite meanings for the two characters. What does this tell us about how feelings about an event are not the same as the event itself?
- The firemen Ned and Lorenzo say 'You never know with this job.' Look back at chapter 5 — they were called by Eugenia about a 'monster.' Now in chapter 7 they arrive to find a chase. How are the firemen feeling about this neighborhood by now? What does Kate DiCamillo want us to notice about their patience?
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Vocabulary Builder
Item 1
running quickly and lightly
Item 2
a pursuit, often turned into a game by the one being pursued
Item 3
the back parts of the feet; 'kick up your heels' = play freely
+ 6 more vocabulary words in the complete study guide
Critical Thinking
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