As a young Shaker boy, Robert lived with his mother Lucy, father Haven, and his aunt carrie. The novel begins with a vivid scene in which he helps bring a calf into the world up on the ridge above their farm. The mother seemed to have been posessed by some force of the underworld, causing her, her calf, and Rob a great deal of pain. Robert learns at an early age the value of a simple life, hard work,

If one was going to be a farmer, as the boy was destined to be in this story, than that is all he will get out of his life. The theme of A Day No Pigs Would Die is that of hard farm life; a life that when things are bad one can not stop to grieve or vomit; a life that most people choose not to live anymore; a life that some feel is dangerous and laborious; a life that may be hard, laborious, and even dangerous but then again, someone had to live it. I now appreciate the hardships that rural life brings.

Robert's father becomes ill with a lung disease, and does all he can to help his son be ready to be the head of their household. Haven develops a cough, and eventually has to start sleeping out in the barn with the animals since it is warmer there, and he is worrie

Some common words found in the essay are:
Robert Peck, Pigs Die, day pigs die, life hard, Day Pigs, day pigs, pigs die,
Approximate Word count = 519
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)