Robert Newton Peck's novel A Day No Pigs Would Die is
semi-autobiographical, and the protagonist is modeled after himself. There are at least
two good reasons why these "misunderstandings" add humor to the
story.
First, there is a need for levity (humor) in this
novel because the major events of the story, though sometimes lighthearted, are fairly
serious. There are several life-and-death incidents, culminating in his father's (Haven
Peck's) death. Even small misunderstandings help lighten the mood of the
story.
Second, a young and generally innocent narrator is
going to make mistakes in understanding which are seen as humorous by a more mature and
experienced readership. (A classic example of this is Scout in To Kill a
Mockingbird.) In this case, Robert has lived a fairly sheltered life, and it
is through his "misunderstandings" that we realize key truths of the
novel.
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