Pigeon English

by

Stephen Kelman

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X-Fire Character Analysis

X-Fire is a student at Harri’s school and the leader of the Dell Farm Crew. He is the leader because he has the best at basketball, has stolen the most things, and has stabbed the most people. At first X-Fire is kinder to Harri than the other members of the Dell Farm Crew, nicknaming him “Ghana” and telling him he’s “alright.” However, after Harri repeatedly fails to complete the dangerous and illegal “jobs” X-Fire sets for him, X-Fire becomes increasingly irritated and cruel to Harri. X-Fire also has a dog named Harvey, who scares Harri.
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X-Fire Character Timeline in Pigeon English

The timeline below shows where the character X-Fire appears in Pigeon English. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
March
Home and the Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
Pluralism vs. Prejudice Theme Icon
...a penis.” Harri likes to stand on his balcony and watch the helicopters. He sees X-Fire paint his name on the wall of the next tower block, Stockholm House. He wonders... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
X-Fire demonstrates how to stab someone using his fingers. Harri is “the dead boy.” X-Fire explains... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Harri is frightened by X-Fire’s dog, Harvey, but likes Terry Takeaway’s dog, Asbo, who is “funny and friendly.” Terry got... (full context)
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...Year elevens are allowed to sit there, but only if they are personally invited by X-Fire. The Dell Farm Crew is named after the Dell Farm Estate. X-Fire is the leader... (full context)
Home and the Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Pluralism vs. Prejudice Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...the Dell Farm Crew take Harri’s bag and threaten to throw it on the roof. X-Fire asks where Harri is from, and when Clipz teases him about Ghana, X-Fire tells him... (full context)
April
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Pluralism vs. Prejudice Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...is a crime to set the fire alarm off if there isn’t a real fire, X-Fire asks Harri to do just that. Harri reasons that if he joins the Dell Farm... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Pluralism vs. Prejudice Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...waits for a group of people to pass and then hits the fire alarm while X-Fire and Dizzy wait nearby. Harri tries his hardest, but the fire alarm glass does not... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Pluralism vs. Prejudice Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...block their way, calling them “pussy boys.” Clipz mentions that Harri “failed the test,” but X-Fire assures him he’ll think of something easier next time. The crew force Dean to hand... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...Lydia had been bleaching were “boy’s clothes,” and that they were red—the shade of blood. X-Fire approaches them and asks Lydia if anyone saw her. She replies that no one did,... (full context)
Home and the Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
...is “quite grumpy.” Harri asks for “cornrolls.” Lydia suggests that Harri only wants them because X-Fire has them, but Harri denies this. Harri finds it hilarious that low hair is called... (full context)
May
Home and the Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
Harri observes that there are security cameras everywhere in London. He, X-Fire, Dizzy, and Killa are trying to rob someone; the other boys are going to bump... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...over the floor, and the boys are now stamping on it. Mr. Frimpong looks terrified. X-Fire approaches him and demands his wallet. Harri is horrified, and runs away as fast as... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
At school, X-Fire makes the gun sign at Harri, and Dizzy says that the Dell Farm Crew “ain’t... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...Asbo is just picking up on all the other things that he’s done wrong. After X-Fire and the boys leave, Terry offers a kettle to Dean and Harri for six pounds.... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...of breath from trying to catch him. Harri rejoices that he’s won, but then sees X-Fire, who says: “I’ll f—ing kill you!”. Harri keeps running and jumps on the chair car... (full context)
June
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...sneak into the Youth Club to play with the pool tables, checking to see if X-Fire is in there first. Outside, Miquita and Killa sit together on the wall, and Miquita... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Pluralism vs. Prejudice Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
Harri walks past the church with Dean and Connor when X-Fire and Dizzy stop them. Harri keeps both feet inside the church grounds because he thinks... (full context)
July
Home and the Immigrant Experience Theme Icon
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
...remembers how good the dead boy was at basketball, and how he would never let X-Fire and Killa push him around. The dead boy “wasn’t scared of anything.” Harri remembers a... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Language, Culture, and Norms Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
X-Fire and Dizzy approach Dean and Harri and ask what they are doing. Killa and Miquita... (full context)
Innocence vs. Guilt Theme Icon
Masculinity, Violence, and Death Theme Icon
Dizzy and X-Fire corner Harri and Dean. X-Fire reaches into his pants, and Harri knows he is retrieving... (full context)