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Short Essay on Pigeon in English for Students and Children

300 word essay on pigeon.

The pigeon is a beautiful bird which is commonly found as a pet bird in the world. In other words, they are domestic birds. Pigeon is of many kinds and colors. It is found in almost every country of the world. Some are white, some are brown, and some are multi-colored with their beautiful fan-tail.

They build their nests with sticks. Pigeons eat pears, seeds, fruits, and insects etc. Generally, pigeons live in groups and move together in large groups with other pigeons. Pigeons are one of the most beautiful creations of God. People admire them for their beautiful and gentle nature.

Pigeons hardly disturb other birds or human beings. They are often kept as pets by many people. Millions of people in the world breed pigeons. The ones who breed them are called as Fanciers.

Pigeons are believed to be very intelligent birds. It is said that they can sense any kind of natural calamities like storms and earthquakes from far distant by their strong and extraordinary power of hearing. They can also identify themselves in the mirror.

Pigeons’ visual memory is too sharp and powerful that it can save more than two hundred objects indefinitely. They have a strong power to identify the place where they stay. They can go up to miles of distance and return to their place easily. It is said that in ancient times, Kings and warriors used to train pigeons as their messengers who used to carry messages to far places.

There are many famous places where different kinds of pigeons are found. People visit those places and feed them anything to watch them closely. They look beautiful when they live, move and fly together in groups.

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What is a Pigeon?

Pigeon is a French word taken from the Latin pipio, which means "peeping" chick. Pigeon bird is short-necked and stout-bodied birds carrying short slender bills which feature fleshy ceres in certain species. They feed mainly on seeds, herbs, and fruits. The family of such birds exists worldwide, but in the Indomalayan and Australasian realms, the greatest diversity is observed. Columbidae is a family of birds that includes doves and pigeons. It is the only family found in the Columbiformes Order.

Approximately, 250 species of pigeon bird are reported amongst which two-thirds are found in Australia, tropical Southeast Asia, and the western Pacific islands. Further, in Africa and South America, the family has several other members, and some in North America and temperate Eurasia. Instead of sipping and swallowing like other birds, all the species of this family suck liquids, as well as all pigeon parents serve their little 'pigeon's milk,' the sloughed-off lining of the seed. The development of pigeon's milk is induced by the hormone named prolactin. Through poking the bill down the parent's throat, the nestling acquires this "milk".

Pigeon Lifespan:

The average pigeon lifespan is observed to be six years. Depending on many factors, like human intervention and natural predation, it ranges widely such that it might lie up to 3-5 years or may reach 15 years.

Types of Pigeons:

Different types of pigeons are mentioned below:

Domestic Pigeons

A variety of pigeon breeds, for sport, hobby and food, are bred domestically. While these domestic pigeons are born in the wild inadvertently or purposely, they could not care for themselves in the way a wild pigeon can. Domestic pigeons are the pigeons that we most frequently rescue and end up taking in at Paloma.

King Pigeons: King Pigeons are produced for food (squab). They are bigger than both wild and homing pigeons. With pink beaks, they are pure white. Such pigeons are often purchased by some individuals and they simply release them from live animal markets. This task is done to protect them and save them. Unfortunately, they do not have adequate flight or survival skills, hence the King Pigeons often get attacked by the predators. 

Racing and Homing Pigeons: Homing pigeons may have several colours, yet are usually blue or white (just as the wild pigeons). Such pigeons are competitively raced, included in "doves" for weddings and other activities, or served as pets. Racing pigeons are muscular and efficient flyers along with powerful homing instincts. After a race or case, they are conditioned to return to their lofts.

Fancy Pigeons: Fancy Pigeons are unique breeds maintained by hobbyists and fanciers of pigeons. In competitions, some hobbyists exhibit their pigeons, like dog shows. Just like personal birds, people keep fancy pigeons too. There are several fancy pigeon breeds, namely Pouters, Owls, and Tumblers.

Feral Pigeons

In suburban or urban settings, the majority of the pigeons you'll find are feral rock pigeons. And those are the popular blue type of pigeons that nest in specific regions of the buildings and forage the public plazas for food. Moreover, they also nest in outbuildings in the countryside or around bridges or the natural mountain areas.

Feral pigeons often undergo the process of cross-breeding with domestic pigeons, carrying on differences in colour and plumage over generations. Cities, rural areas and suburbs are well suited to the Feral pigeons. Wild pigeons should usually be left alone to let them live as wild birds, except if you encounter a wounded feral pigeon or an abandoned infant.

Band-Tailed Pigeons

Wild pigeons local to the Pacific Coast and North America are the Band-tailed Pigeons. As the name speaks, they are elongated, with grey banded tails. Additionally, they carry a white band along with an iridescent patch at the neck's nape. Such pigeons have bright yellow beaks and feet and are between 14 to 18 inches in length. The Band-tailed pigeons show no kind of variations in colour as rock pigeons. Such pigeons reside on the outskirts of the forest and in forests, both coniferous and deciduous. They tend to spend a great amount of time in the woods. One of their favourite foods is acorns. However, based on the environment and time of year, they often scavenge for grains, berries, mast-producing plants as well as other available resources.

Pigeon Food Habits

The main component of the pigeon food habits is seeds, and it also varies greatly between the species. Many types of ground feeding (granivorous species) consume fruit, insects and other worms. The Atoll Fruit Dove, one species, has adapted to the capture of insects and small reptiles.

Characteristics of Pigeon

The characteristics of pigeon are as follows:

Pigeons can fly at higher altitudes of limit up to 6000 feet or above.

Pigeons can fly up to 77.6 mph at average speeds, but flying at 92.5 mph has been observed.

In a single day, pigeons could travel about 600 and 700 miles, with the highest single flight taking 55 days between Africa and England in the 19th century and covering 7000 miles.

Through experiencing the magnetic field of the earth and then using the sun for guidance, pigeons are believed to navigate. In an attempt to discover their way back home, other hypotheses include the use of roads and sometimes even low-frequency seismic waves.

Pigeons (and all the family of Columbidae) drink water using their beaks like straws. The majority of birds drink water and throw their head right in place to swallow.

Like humans, pigeons can see colour. Moreover, they can also see ultraviolet light, another section of the spectrum that humans could not see. As a consequence, because of this unique feeling coupled with exceptional all-around objectives, pigeons have been used in search and rescue operations at sea.

It was found that pigeons passed the 'mirror test,' the ability to recognize in a mirror their image. The pigeon is one of those few species to have such an ability.

Pigeons are incredibly smart and can identify and conceptualize all 26 letters of the alphabet. In a single photograph, pigeons can distinguish between photos and even two separate human beings.

The Pigeon as a Messenger:

The pigeon is potentially the best intended to manage the return from long distances to 'home' and it has now been used widely as a carrier or exchange for the messages throughout history, stretching back to 2500 BC and lasting into the 21st century.

According to the records, the first historical pigeon that was used to carry messages was in the city of Sumer in southern Mesopotamia in 2500 BC. Two doves were unveiled by the leader of the city to bear the information of the city's relief of its warring neighbours.

Since 772 BC, pigeons have been assumed to already be bred in China. Further, Salvador Bofarull notified that Indian and Arab merchants utilized carrier pigeons.

A few hundred years later, sources were provided to encourage the use of pigeons to deliver messages tied to their legs. Every athlete competing in the first Olympic Games, held in 776 BC, carried a homing pigeon from his town. If he achieved a medal in his event, then the bird would bring the news to his home.

Pigeon Breeds

There are other types of Columbidae family usually present in the UK - collared dove or ring-necked dove (Streptopelia decaocto), wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), stock dove (Columba oenas) and turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur).

Fancy Breeds of Pigeons:

It is assumed that pigeons or the production of pigeons to improve the size, form, colour, or behaviour began over 3000 years ago, but there is no historical evidence of early breeding. 

The classification of fancy breeds is complicated, but eight different headings can be loosely defined:

Utility Pigeons: Some breeds were bred specifically for meat. The example of the same may include 'French Mondain' and the 'King'.

Flying Tumblers and Highfliers: This category of fancy pigeons comprises birds bred for demonstration purposes, and that could also be used for their acrobatic ability in flying competitions. The 'Tumbler', the 'Tippler' and the 'Roller' are included in this category.

Homer Pigeons (Homing Pigeons): As the name suggests, this group of pigeons were bred for their homing abilities but also includes racing birds bred specifically for showing. The group includes the ‘English Carrier’, the ‘Dragoon’ and the ‘German Beauty Homer’.

Voice Pigeons and Asian Feather: This group was formed for extreme feathering and their tone of laughter or 'talking up'. The well-known 'Trumpeter', the 'Fantail' and the 'Jacobin' comprise the party.

Colour Pigeons: This category consists of several distinct fancy pigeon varieties selectively bred towards their colour and markings. The 'Swallow' 'Archangel', and 'Danish Suabian' are examples.

Exhibition Tumblers: Initially, several members of this group underwent the breeding process for their acrobatic skills, but they have been mated to such a degree that they are now known as merely display birds. The 'Nun', the 'Magpie' and the 'English Short Faced Tumbler' are included in this category.

Frills and Owls: With their stunted beaks and their remarkable chest feathers, this class of pigeons are bred. The 'Oriental Frill', 'Old German Owl', and the 'Aachen Lacquer Shield Owl' are involved in this category.

Pouters and Croppers: Exclusively for their potential to inflate their crop with air, this group of fancy pigeons are bred. The 'English Pouter', 'Pigmy Pouter' and ' Norwich Cropper' are included in the category.

Pigeon Facts:

Some of the pigeon facts have been stated below:

Pigeons have exceptional listening skills. At much lower frequencies, unlike humans, they can sense sounds and therefore hear distant storms and volcanoes.

Pigeons are generally very healthy and clean creatures, regarding the social stereotype of being filthy and disease-ridden, and there is very little evidence to indicate that they are major transmitters of disease.

Pigeons are extremely sociable creatures. In flocks of 20-30 birds, they can sometimes be seen.

Pigeons mate throughout their lifespan and also in all seasons. At the same time, they raise chicks.

Pigeons are extremely sophisticated and clever creatures. They are one of only a few species that can pass the mirror test,' which is a self-recognition test. They can also recognize each letter of the human alphabet, discriminate between images, and identify between various persons within a photograph.

Pigeons are well-known for their exceptional navigation skills. They employ a variety of techniques, such as utilizing the sun as a guide and an internal magnetic compass.' According to Oxford University research, they will also use landmarks as signposts and will drive along man-made roads and highways, even changing directions at intersections.

Pigeons can fly to altitudes of up to and beyond 6000 feet and at a speed of 77.6 miles per hour on average. The fastest recorded speed of a pigeon is 92.5 miles per hour.

For thousands of years, pigeons and humans have existed together. The first recordings of this date back to 3000bc in Mesopotamia, current Iraq.

How do Pigeons Sleep?

Pigeons, like humans, like power naps to recharge their batteries during the day. Furthermore, they sleep in an unusual manner. They just hide their heads inside the feathers of their necks and wings. They can accomplish this feat because they are extremely adaptable.

They might, however, be relaxing or partially asleep. As a result, you can not determine if the pigeon is sleeping or not. Here's an even more fascinating truth. Pigeons can sleep with one eye open. This is due to the way their brain operates. Their brain's two hemispheres have the power to shut down one side of their body while keeping the other attentive.

This sleeping style or pattern does have a name, and it is known as unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.

That is not all about pigeons and their sleeping skills. These birds practically never go without sleep. This is due to their ability to sleep deeper when necessary without really sleeping for a longer period of time.

Finally, a pigeon's talons may grip onto a perch or a branch as it sleeps. This is because they have an instinctive grasp reflex. These birds are certainly endowed with incredible sleeping abilities!'

We all know that pigeons are interesting creatures. The next time you see a pigeon with its head tucked in, remember that it is sleeping. Or it might be half-asleep and you would not know.

FAQs on Pigeon

1. Where do pigeon birds typically live?

Pigeons may be found throughout the world, except at the North and South Poles. They originated as pets but have developed into maybe the most widespread feral bird through accidental or intentional release. They prefer grain-carrying locations, such as farms, especially when these birds are adjacent to areas with ideal nesting grounds, such as cliffs or buildings.

Pigeons, sometimes known as rock doves, live wherever there is enough food and water and are common in most cities and suburbs. Pigeons are commonly seen at stadiums, parks and bridges, fast-food restaurants, airports, and schools. Although feeding pigeons in the yard looks to be harmless, it undoubtedly contributes to the spread of urban pest epidemics. Pigeon predators (hawks, cats, and falcons) are few, allowing the birds to thrive and devastate various ecosystems.

2. What is a baby pigeon called?

A baby pigeon is referred to as a squab. In pigeon life, squab is a young domestic pigeon, generally under 4 weeks old, or its flesh. The beef is usually described as having a dark chicken flavour. The idiom might be of Scandinavian origin; "loose, fat flesh" is the squab in Swedish. Squab are meat pigeons and doves of game birds shot primarily for sport. Squabs have been widely made in North America since the early 1900s. In the United States and Canada, annual manufacturing capacity has been 1.5 million squabs since 1986.

3. What is the scientific name of a pigeon?

The scientific name of the pigeon is Columbidae. Columbidae is a family of birds which includes doves and pigeons. In the Order Columbiformes, this is the only family. These are all short-necked, stout-bodied species with small thin bills showing fleshy ceres in some species. They mainly feed on fruits, seeds, and plants.

4. Give the General Classification of Pigeon.

The general classification of pigeon is given below:

5.  What is a Pigeon?

Pigeons are short-necked, stout-bodied birds with short, narrow bills that, in some species, have fleshy ceres. They mostly eat seeds, herbs, and fruits. The family of such birds occurs all over the world, although the most variety is found in the Indo-Malayan and Australasian regions. Columbidae is a bird family that contains doves and pigeons. The Columbiformes Order has just one family.

Around 250 species of pigeon bird have been identified, with two-thirds of them located in Australia, tropical Southeast Asia, and the western Pacific islands. Furthermore, the family contains some members in Africa and South America, as well as several in North America and temperate Eurasia. Instead of drinking and swallowing liquids, all members of this family suck liquids, and all pigeon parents feed their chicks 'pigeon's milk,' the sloughed-off lining of the seed.

6. How many types of pigeons are there?

There are around 300 different species of wild pigeons and doves. (Dodos were pigeons. The biggest flocks ever recorded were of Passenger pigeons, both of which were driven to extinction by humans.) The Rock pigeon, Columba livia, is the most common species of pigeon with which we share our cities. Following are the types : 

1. Domestic Pigeon 

King Pigeon

Racing and Homing Pigeon

Fancy Pigeon

2. Feral Pigeon

3. Band-tailed Pigeon

7. Where can I find notes and questions on Pigeons?

Vedantu provides students with notes and questions on Pigeons.  This contains topics like the types of pigeons, their characteristics, the food they eat, the way they sleep, and many more. Teachers who are specialists in their subjects create the content on Vedantu. Furthermore, the information is organized in such a way that students will have an easier time understanding and remembering the topics. Vedantu also provides students in grades 1 through 12 with study materials and a range of competitive exams. Notes, important topics and questions, revision notes, and other material are included in the material. All of these resources are available for free on Vedantu. Students must first register on the Vedantu website to access any of these resources. You may also use the Vedantu smartphone app to sign up.

Pigeon English

37 pages • 1 hour read

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Summary and Study Guide

Stephen Kelman’s 2011 debut novel, Pigeon English , recounts eleven-year-old Harrison (Harri) Opoku’s move with his mother and older sister from Ghana to England, where they go to live in a working-class apartment complex in a London estate, a tough environment plagued by crime and violence. A coming-of-age narrative that explores the binary of innocence and experience, Harri’s narrative captures what it means to be a young boy in the modern era dealing with all of the trials and joys of childhood. The novel opens with Harri observing a local crime scene, where a young boy who Harri knows from the neighborhood had been murdered outside of Chicken Joe’s with no apparent motive. No one comes forward to the police with any helpful information regarding the details of the murder. Instead, Harri, who is in Year Seven at his school, joins up with his friend Dean Griffin to solve the case of who killed the dead boy. Together, Harri and Dean set out to discreetly interview potential suspects, gathering evidence and keeping sellotape on hand to lift any fingerprints while spying on the neighborhood gang, the Dell Farm Crew, who continually threatens them. Kelman, who grew up in the housing projects of Luton, England, is writing this novel in light of the surge of stabbings andknife violence happening in England. More particularly, he draws from a case where ten-year old Nigerian immigrant, Damilola Taylor, is stabbed to death by two other boys in a stairwell.

Kelman captures the voice and internal logic of an eleven-year old boy and Harri’s narrative is sincere, comical, and heartfelt. More often than not, it is Harri’s naiveté that lands him in compromising situations, as he places too much trust in the world around him. His pigeon, which he covertly tries to feed and converse with during its frequent visits to his windowsill, functions like a guardian angel of sorts (if only in his own mind). The pigeon takes over the narrative on occasion, which provides a more somber, adult-like viewpoint of Harri’s world.

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Harri’s younger sister, father, and grandmother are still over in Ghana preparing to eventually make the move to England once finances are in order. Harri’s mother is in a precarious situation, having made a deal with a man Julius who sells black-market visas and engages in other fraudulent activity, brutally strong-arming his clients. In this non-linear narrative, Harri includes memories of his life in Ghana, which seem to emphasize a past life of pure innocence, morality and simplicity in contrast to his London life, which continues to threaten to corrupt that innocence and good will. Harri’s church at The Jubilee Center and the associated community stand as a sanctuary that is somehow simultaneously a part of and separate from this new urban life, acting like a moral tether to his Ghanaian roots. When a revered, older member of his church is attacked by the Dell Farm Crew with Harri as an accomplice, he is ridden with guilt and takes a renewed stance to avoid any more evil and unjust temptations. This also reinvigorates his pursuit of the killer and the narrative comes to a saturation point with him and his older sister, Lydia, confronting the killer and his girlfriend.

School life becomes increasingly stressful for Harri with all of the bullying and violence, especially because of the forbidden knowledge he holds, though it is still peppered with youthful fun and games that he describes excitedly. He makes it to the end of the school year, full of love for his girlfriend Poppy Morgan and sheer childlike joy for the start of summer, only to be ambushed by the killer in the lobby of his apartment complex and left to bleed out and die, with his last thoughts those of his baby sister in Ghana.  

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Pigeon English

Stephen kelman, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Home and the Immigrant Experience

When the novel begins, Harri , Mamma , and Lydia have just moved to London from Ghana. As a result, Harri is still in the process of adjusting to life in the UK. This is reflected in his idiosyncratic use of English and his observations about British customs, some of which he finds very strange. Harri tries to settle into his new home, but this task is difficult for several reasons—chief among them is the…

Innocence vs. Guilt

The novel begins with the death of an unnamed character known only as “ the dead boy .” Harri becomes obsessed with finding the boy’s killer, and he teams up with Dean on a “personal mission” to solve the case. This leads Harri to reflect on the nature of innocence versus guilt as he surveys his community for signs of the killer. At the same time, the novel’s exploration of innocence and guilt extends beyond…

Language, Culture, and Norms

The title Pigeon English immediately emphasizes that the novel is concerned with questions of linguistic and cultural hybridity. The word “pidgin” refers to a hybrid language developed so people who speak different languages can communicate with one another—usually in a colonial context. Pidgin English, therefore, refers to languages that hybridize English with another language. The title of this book, Pigeon English , is a play on words, echoing Harri ’s idiosyncratic use of language, as…

Pluralism vs. Prejudice

Harri lives in the midst of a highly multicultural community. Alongside people with English heritage, Harri encounters other Ghanaian immigrants, Somalis, Pakistanis, Latvians, and others. In some ways, his community represents the ideal of multicultural pluralism, meaning a state in which multiple different groups of people with different backgrounds and belief systems live harmoniously alongside one another. Although Harri is occasionally made to feel different as a recent immigrant—for example, when X-Fire insists on nicknaming…

Masculinity, Violence, and Death

Pigeon English is a coming-of-age novel, but it also specifically deals with the challenges of being a boy—and particularly a young black boy living in a tough, violent community. Although Harri does not have a personal inclination toward violence, throughout the novel he faces pressure from the Dell Farm Crew to prove himself as a man by harming others. To X-Fire and his gang, inflicting violence is a cool, boast-worthy pursuit. This is made clear…

Pigeon English

By stephen kelman, pigeon english summary and analysis of march.

Harri, an eleven-year-old Ghanaian immigrant, observes a teenage boy's murder scene outside Chicken Joe's, a fast-food restaurant. Harri and his friend Jason describe the scene, not understanding the gravity of the boy's death. Though Harri does not know the murder victim personally and cannot fully grasp mortality, the boy's death impacts him severely.

Harri lives with his mother and sister, Lydia , while his father and baby sister, Agnes, remain in Ghana until they can save enough money to immigrate to London. While talking to his father on the phone, Harri relates how a pigeon flew into the apartment. Harri feels a special connection with the bird and studies it so he can recognize it in the future. He believes the bird is so special he doesn't wash his hands after handling it, because it "doesn't have any germs."

Harri, Lydia, and Harri's mother visit the outdoor market to go grocery shopping and buy a "pigeon net." Though the market is freezing compared to markets in his native Ghana, Harri is excited by the variety of candy and toys he can see. Harri prays his mother does not find a pigeon net, as Harri wants to domesticate the pigeon. While at the market, Harri watches Dizzy, X-Fire, and Jordan steal a woman's phone but doesn't say anything because his mother will refuse to let him play with Jordan if she knows he is a criminal. Harri remarks that Jordan gets "cigarettes or one week of freedom where they don't try to kill him" as payment for helping X-Fire and Dizzy steal.

While his mother and Lydia sleep, Harri attempts to entice the pigeon back to his apartment. While waiting for the pigeon, Harri sees a man remove a knife from a hiding spot under a trash can and run away toward the river. Harri focuses on the man's odd way of running, betting he is "faster than him." The narrative then briefly switches to the pigeon's perspective, rendered in italics. The pigeon pities human beings and observes that the dead boy "was not his," confirming that Harri and the pigeon have a special connection.

Lydia's friends, Miquita and Chanelle, come to the apartment to watch Hollyoaks, a British soap opera. Miquita sexually harasses Harri, sitting on his hand and promising to kiss him, though he does not want her to. Miquita refuses to go to the dead boy's funeral because it was "his own fault" he got killed. Harri does not understand that the dead boy was a gang member and argues that murderers killed him to steal his fast food. At the dead boy's funeral, Harri sneaks off with Dean to observe the crowd for "suspicious activity" because Dean believes "the killer comes back to watch the funeral," like in a crime drama. After Dean and Harry shake the guests' hands, a boy called Killa rides by on his bike and falls off, nearly being hit by the funeral procession.

At school, members of the Dell Farm Crew pretend to stab Harri. The boys claim to have stabbed and shanked people and speak authoritatively about how to do it. Harri does not understand if they are playing or are actually murderers. Later, X-Fire, leader of The Dell Farm Crew, steals Harri's backpack and offers Harri a job with the crew. Harri, confused, says he doesn't need a job. X-Fire returns Harri's bag, advising him to tell the gang if anyone gives him trouble.

Harri's Aunt Sonia, a well-traveled woman, visits London, though she plans to leave England soon. Harri's mother explains that a pregnant woman called her a racial slur while at work and requested a different midwife. Harri visits his friend, Jordan, who was expelled for kicking a teacher. Then, Harri and Dean search the river for the murder weapon, pretending to be detectives.

Harri narrates Pigeon English using the first-person perspective. The text simulates a child's voice, using incorrect words, disjointed sentences, and seemingly random observations, making moments of violence and cruelty more impactful through contrast. The text renders dialogue between characters in script format: the speaking character's name, followed by a colon, and then their dialogue. When Harri relates anecdotes about his classmates, such as Connor Green and Kofi Allotey, he does not give any context. Like many young children, Harri innocently assumes people relevant to his life are universally known. By mimicking a child's storytelling style, the text poignantly investigates how violence impacts children emotionally and psychologically.

The text also uses illustrations, like the "No Climbing" and "Turn it off" signs outside of Harri's school and the sign by the river warning that the watercress is "unfit for human consumption." By visually representing these signs, the text adds another layer to the theme of pidgin language and culture. These signs visually convey meaning to Harri in a way spoken language cannot, contributing to his "pidgin" understanding of London.

Harri and Jordan refer to the murdered teenager simply as "the dead boy." This epithet is doubly significant. First, Harri and Jordan never learn the boy's name, demonstrating that the boy's identity is irrelevant to their day-to-day life, though Harri becomes obsessed with solving the murder and considers the dead boy his "friend even if he didn't know about it." Secondly, the boy's anonymity, and Harri's casual reaction to seeing his body, suggest that Harri lives in an environment desensitized to crime, violence, and death, which he does not fully understand.

Harri speaks a combination of British slang ("proper, "dope-fine"), Ghanaian vocabulary ("Asweh," "hutious"), and mispronunciations and errors typical of young children ("most deadliest"). Harri's complicated lexicon demonstrates the theme of pidgin. Harri combines different parts of his identity to make sense of and navigate his new environment. Though Harri is innocent and does not yet feel elements of his identity in conflict, his "pidgin" leads to misunderstandings. To make himself understood, Harri uses frequent similes and comparisons to describe his world. For example, his mother and Lydia snore "like crazy pigs," the apartments look like "a hell of snakes," and the mentally unwell people "look just like real people."

Harri describes criminals in his neighborhood, like Terry Takeaway , as more annoying than sinister. Harri does not recognize danger and often exaggerates his abilities and position in life. For example, he claims to own multiple cars when in actuality, his neighbors have four cars he likes. Harri uses hyperbole, describing "a million dogs" and the police's "acid spray" that "only makes people go blind but it kills dogs in five seconds." He believes wild stories, such as "Fag Ash Lil killed her husband and ate him in a pie," and the river "is acid, if you fell in all your skin would burn off." Harri's skewed understanding of himself and his neighbors indicates that he is an unreliable narrator who does not notice or understand information relevant to the murder.

Harri incorporates death and violence into his creative play. For example, during recess, Harri likes to play "suicide bomber or zombies." In his art class, Harri tries to replicate the color of the dead boy's blood. Though Harri doesn't fully understand the boy's murder, he fixates on it.

Harri experiences racism and discrimination without realizing it. For example, a classmate named Vilis ran away from Harri, claiming that African people's germs are "the most deadliest." Harri also prefers female police officers because "they just talk to you instead of hitting you all the time." This understatement suggests that Harri has experienced or witnessed police brutality frequently enough that he considers it commonplace and annoying rather than a significant abuse of power. Similarly, Harri's family tries to hide the reality of discrimination and crime from him. For example, when Harri's mother speaks to Aunt Sonia about being called a racial slur at work, she lies to Harri, making up an alternate, child-appropriate definition for the slur, saying it is a reference to new nurses.

Harri's developing relationship with faith and religion informs his worldview. He attributes his successes to his prayers, crediting himself for ensuring the plane from Cairo to England did not crash and preventing his mother from finding a pigeon net at the market. Harri's religion is superficial and rules-based, though the rules he identifies are slightly strange. For example, he believes "you only get to be righteous if you can sing every church song without looking at the words" and babies who die get to grow up in heaven.

Pigeon English Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Pigeon English is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

How does Kelman present ideas of control and power in Pigeon English?

All of the characters are forced to uphold the masculine traits like power and control or toughness and ruthlessness in order to protect themselves. This culture of violence means that life is treated as disposable and death is ever-present.

how does the writer present the struggles of childhood in pigeon english

The setting of this British town is quite a dangerous place, especially for the children. As readers learn almost from the outset, a boy from Harrison's school was murdered and left for dead in the street recently. Harrison learns firsthand how...

How does Stephan Kelman present Harri as a vulnerable character in the novel

Being from Ghana and still a child, Hari is vulnerable to the world of a child near teen as well as the world of a visible immigrant. The protagonist/narrator is an eleven-year-old schoolboy newly arrived in London from Ghana. He is a good kid...

Study Guide for Pigeon English

Pigeon English study guide contains a biography of Stephen Kelman, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Pigeon English
• Pigeon English Summary
• Character List

Lesson Plan for Pigeon English

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Introduction to Pigeon English
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Pigeon English Bibliography