Name ____________________________ Date _______________________
Usually in the first chapter of any novel the author introduces the reader to some of the main characters in the story. In Babe, the first two characters we meet who seem to be of some importance are Mr. and Mrs. Hogget. They seem to live in the South because Mrs. Hogget speaks with a Southern dialect. For example, she says “’tis” for “it is” and “’twon’t” for “it won’t”.
However, we get another glimpse at “who” Mr. and Mrs. Hogget are by comparing their personalities. On page 11 Mrs. Hogget is described as someone who does things at “great length”.
Mrs. Hogget nodded a great many times. Everything that she did was done at great length, whether it was speaking or simply nodding her head. Farmer Hogget, on the other hand, never wasted his energies on his words.
Babe – page 11
When authors use the phrase “on the other hand,” they are comparing a common characteristic of two different things. Using the excerpt above, explain how the author wants you to “see” Mr. and Mrs. Hogget.
Farmer Hogget listened. From the usually quiet valley below the farm came a medley of sounds: the oompah oompah of a brass band, the shouts of children, the rattle and thump of a skittle alley, and every now and then a very high, very loud, very angry-sounding squealing lasting about ten seconds.
Babe – page 9
o Using the context, define the word “medley”.
o Using a dictionary, define the word “medley”.
o Now that you understand the meaning of the word “medley,” use it in your own sentence.
