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Frank McCourt
Critical Reputation
New York Times best
seller list NOS 1 for
52 weeks
The National Book
Critics Circle Award
The LA Times Award
Winner Pulitzer Prize
1999 (USA Only)
Background
Irish question
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The Irish Question is the phrase used for the internal
dispute in Britain concerning rational Irish nationalism
and calls for independence. This ended in the separation
of an independent republic, at first known as the Irish
Free State, now called Ireland, from Northern Ireland
which remained part of the United Kingdom. The Irish
Question is a term from the early nineteenth century, and
the height of the independence movement was from the
Easter Rising of 1916 and the Irish Civil War in 1921,
although independence has been a political aim of Irish
nationalists since the time of Wolfe Tone. Key nationalist
leaders include O'Connell, Parnell and de Valera. Many
British politicians tried to resolve "The Irish Question",
including Disraeli, Gladstone and Peel. However, it was
such a multi-faceted conundrum that conflict remained
prevalent throughout the nineteenth and twentieth
centuries.
The Red
Branch
The Ulster
Knights
Background
The Title Angelas Ashes
Ashes were often symbolic of mortality, mourning or penance.
Setting
Place
Ireland - Limerick
America- New York
Time
1934-1949
World war II
Social
Lower classes
Frank McCourt
McCourt writes his memoir in the present tense from the perspective of a young boy.
The memoir often distances Frank, the young boy who simply reports on events
without forming opinions, from McCourt, who offers the reader a deeper, more adult
perspective on those events. Frank is lively and streetwise, thoughtful and sensitive.
Though physically weak and prone to infection, he has emotional strength and a
survivor mentality. He is also a highly intelligent, diligent student and a quick thinker.
As the narrative progresses, Frank strives to reach beyond the limitations forced
upon him by poverty. He becomes determined to achieve success in life and to
provide for his family and, indeed, he is relieved to leave school at age fourteen in
order to get a job. Though he does not explicitly acknowledge it, Frank is burdened by
the necessity of acting as a father figure for his family.
As Frank matures, he starts to suffer from an overwhelming sense of guilt. He worries
that by sinning he has doomed himself and the people he loves. Frank channels the
disappointments of his difficult life into self-recrimination. Frank escapes his fears and
guilt by reading, watching movies, listening to the radio, and daydreaming. He also
thinks optimistically about the future, gradually focusing not just on what he wants to
do for his family, but on what he wants to achieve for himself. Frank reconciles
himself to the fact that in order to reach America, he will have to take risks, pass up
safe jobs, and perform ethically dubious tasks such as writing threatening letters for
Mrs. Finucane and delivering Protestant newspapers.
While his family suffers from crippling hunger, and his children
contract diseases caused by weakness and malnutrition, Malachy
drinks excessively and comes home roaring that his sons must be
ready to die for Ireland.
Malachy McCourt
Franks father drinks himself into a stupor partially to dull the pain of
the deaths of his twin sons and baby daughter. But McCourt
emphasizes that Malachys drinking is more than just a means of
coping with bereavement; it is an illness that constantly jeopardizes
the survival of his family. Despite the burdens that Malachys
alcoholism places on Franks shoulders, Frank almost always
remains loyal to his father. He treasures the times that he and
Malachy sit chatting and drinking tea in front of the fire and loves his
fathers way with words, his lively imagination, and his flair for
storytelling.
When Malachy goes to work in England, he uses his physical
distance to justify abandoning his family, leaving them without his
emotional or financial support.
Frank often reacts harshly to the measures Angela takes to help her
family, condemning her for begging outside a church and later for
sleeping with Laman Griffin. However, despite Franks hostility to
some of her decisions, it is clear that Angela is simply struggling to
cope under highly difficult and painful circumstances. McCourt
makes it clear that Angelas first priority is her sons welfare.
His Brothers
Malachy McCourt (Jr.) - Franks younger brother by
one year. Malachy is named after his father. He is more
physically attractive than Frank, and manages to charm
his way into the hearts of cantankerous people.
Oliver and Eugene McCourt - Franks younger twin
brothers. They die within several months of one another,
shortly after the McCourts arrive in Limerick. Their
deaths devastate Angela, who is already grieving over
the loss of her baby girl, Margaret.
Michael McCourt - Franks second youngest brother,
born in Limerick, whom Frank believes was left by an
angel on the seventh step of their house.
Alphie McCourt - Franks youngest brother.
His inspirations
Mr. OHalloran - Franks headmaster and teacher during his final year at
school. Hoppy encourages Frank to go to America and find good
employment rather than stay in a dead-end job in Ireland.
Patricia Madigan - A young diphtheria patient whom Frank meets in the
hospital while he is recovering from typhoid. Patricia reads poems to Frank
and jokes with him.
Seamus - The hospital janitor who helps Frank and Patricia communicate,
and who later recites poetry to Frank in the eye hospital.
Mr. Timoney - An old eccentric to whom Frank reads Jonathan Swifts
satirical essay A Modest Proposal. Mr. Timoney becomes a close friend of
Franks, in part because he respects Frank and treats him like an adult.
The Hannons - Bridey Hannon is Angelas neighbor in Roden Lane and
her favorite confidante. Bridey gives her friend much-needed support and
empathy. Brideys father is Mr. Hannon, whom Frank grows to love like a
father after the old man gives him his first job delivering coal.
The women
Grandma - Grandma helps the McCourts whenever she can,
although she remains suspicious of Malachy Sr.s northern Irish
roots and insists that Frank has inherited his fathers odd manner.
Aunt Aggie - Angelas sister and Franks miserly aunt. Aunt Aggie
initially resents the McCourt children. Although she never ceases to
be rude and unpleasant, she proves her loyalty to the family by
helping them through tough times. p283
The MacNamara sisters - Angelas cousins who live in New York.
The MacNamara sisters are bossy, burly women who keep their
husbands in check and interfere in everyone elses business.
Theresa Carmody - A seventeen-year-old consumptive girl with
whom Frank has a sexual relationship. Frank desperately worries
about the fate of Theresas immortal soul, which he thinks he is
jeopardizing by having premarital sex with her.p378..
Patricia Madigan - A young diphtheria patient whom Frank meets
in the hospital while he is recovering from typhoid. Patricia reads
poems to Frank and jokes with him.p219
The others
Pa Keating - Franks warm and caring uncle. Pa
Keating bolsters Franks confidence and encourages him
to follow his own instincts in adulthood.
Ab Sheehan - Angelas brother and Franks uncle.
Uncle Ab was dropped on his head as a child, which
damaged his brain. Frank moves in with Ab when he
fights with his mother and Laman
Laman Griffin - Angelas cousin and lover for a short
time. Frank has a fight with Laman that causes Frank to
move in with his Uncle Ab.
Peter Dooley - Franks hunchbacked friend who wants
to work for the BBC as a radio
Themes
Fear
Poverty
Religion
Social Injustice
Social inequality of women
Alcoholism
Family
Love and the lack of Love
Rite of Passage
Themes
Religion
In what ways does the Catholic Church of McCourt's Ireland hurt its members and
limit their experience?
How does the Church protect and nurture its followers?
What is Frank's attitude toward the Church?
Fear of sin
Its a sin to question whats sent Peter Dooley p 212.. The Dooley sisters
everytime I pass the graveyard I feel the sin growing in me like an abscess
and if I dont go to confession soon Il be nothing but an abscess riding around
on a bicycle with people pointing and telling each other, There he is, theres
Frankie McCourt, that dirty thing that sent Theresa Carmody to hell.
Fear of doom
Inhibition of demonstrative emotion
The role of the Priests and Nuns
Keeping the members of the church in ignorance p409
Theme
Poverty
Poverty makes things precious. It turns everything into jewellery (Interview for Pulitzer
Prize)
The stink of poverty
Shame
To ask for help
Angela begs Frank pretends he didnt see her
Misery
Concurrent with shame is anger
He hits his mother in anger for the shame of having to sleep with
Contrasts
The Clohessy p183
America and Ireland
The priests and nuns
If you waited for tips from priests and nuns you would die on their doorstep.
Theme
Alcoholism-
Theme
Rite of Passage
Growth socially
Family
School
work
Growth emotionally
Relationships
Family
Father
Mother
Extended family
Sexually
The Church
Theme
Persecution
Prejudice
Shame
Concurrent with shame is anger
Theme
Style
Autobiography
The first page
Discuss the originality and immediacy of Frank McCourt's
voice and the style he employs -- i.e., his sparing use of
commas, the absence of quotation marks.
How, through a child's voice and perspective, does McCourt
establish and maintain credibility?
Naivety
Voice Childlike Simple sentences
Grammar No punctuation
Syntax Running sentences
Example
The master says its a glorious thing to die for
the Faith and Dad says its a glorious thing to die
for Ireland and I wonder if theres anyone in the
world who would like us to live. My brothers are
dead and my sister is dead and I wonder if they
died for Ireland or the Faith. Dad says they were
too young to die for anything. Mam says it was
disease and starvation and him never having a
job. Dad says, Och, Angela, puts on his cap and
goes for a long walk.
Example
P 219
Conversation with Patricia Madigan
Childlike
Single word responses
Death is not an issue
Exploring what makes Frank and Patricia
important.
Humour.
You wont be able to stop marching and
saluting
Style
Story telling Irish tradition
Use of Irish Mythology
Cuchulain
Use of Irish songs and lyrics
Songs and lyrics are prominently featured in Angela's
Ashes.
How do these lyrics contribute to the unique voice of this
memoir?
How does music affect Frank's experiences?
How do you think it continues to influence his memories of
his childhood?
Style
Tone
Humour compassion
Mood
sombre
Conclusion
Anger
Sadness
Frustration
Absolution?
The denouement..
Franks arrival in America at the conclusion of Angelas Ashes is
presented as a dream sequence. The narrators surreal perceptions
of American lifemen dressed in top hats and accompanied by
beautiful womenare more poignant than ridiculous, for they show
how Frank has come to idealize the country of his birth.
We assume that Franks vision will be tainted once he gets off the
boat, but a few pages later, he actually does go home to bed with a
gorgeous woman, and we begin to have hope that his life in America
will be more successful than even he ever dreamed.
The church in the from of the priest can not make him feel any
shame for the act of sex with a married woman America is the
land of hope
Tis.
Ten Commandments
BACK
Holy Matrimony
Banns of Marriage
Betrothal
Civil Marriage
Divorce (in Moral Theology)
Divorce (in Civil Jurisprudence)
History of Marriage
Mixed Marriage
Moral and Canonical Aspect of Marriage
Ritual of Marriage
Putative Marriage
Sacrament of Marriage
Validation of Marriage
Holy Orders
Anglican Orders
Bishop
Deaconesses
Deacons
Holy Orders
Minor Orders
Priest
Priesthood
Penance
Absolution
Attrition
Contrition
Reserved Cases
Sacrament of Penance
Seal of Confession
Vice
Lust (undesired love)
Gluttony (overindulgence)
Greed (avarice)
Sloth (laziness)
Wrath (anger)
Envy (jealousy)
Pride (vanity)
Virtue
Chastity (purity)
Moderation (self-restraint)
Generosity (vigilance)
Labor (zeal/integrity)
Meekness (composure)
Charity (giving)
Modesty (humbleness)
BACK
Punishments
Sin
Pride
Envy
Wrath
Sloth
Greed
Gluttony
Lust
Punishment in Hell
Broken on the Wheel.
Placed in freezing water.
Dismembered Alive.
Thrown in Snake Pits.
Put in pots of boiling oil.
Forced to eat rats, toads, and
snakes.
Smothered in Fire and
Brimstone.
BACK
BACK
Chuculain
Red Branch
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
In the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology the Red Branch was the name of two of the three royal houses of the king of
Ulster, Conchobar mac Nessa, at his capital Emain Macha (Navan Fort, near Armagh), later used as a name of an
order of warriors, the Red Branch Knights. The name is thought by some to derive from the practice of cutting off
their enemy's heads and displaying them on the branches of trees.
The names of two of Conchobar's houses can be translated as "Red Branch", as Old Irish had two words for "red".
The Creb Ruad or Craoibh Ruadh ("dull red branch") was where the king sat; its name has survived as the
townland of Creeveroe in County Armagh. There is a small debate over whether the name was, in fact, Red
Branch or Royal Branch, with at least one historian[citation needed] pointing out that a scribe could have mistranscribed riadh ("royal") as ruadh. The Creb Derg or Craoibh Dearg ("bright red branch") was where the
severed heads and other trophies of battle were kept. His third house was called the Tite Brec or "speckled
hoard", where the heroes' weapons were stored.
In later stories the Red Branch was taken to be the name of the order of warriors, known as the Red Branch
Knights, who fought for and protected Conchobar. Cchulainn was said to be their greatest warrior. The stories of
the Red Branch Knights and the Ulster court at Emain Macha are aristocratic in nature - the warriors being high
born and in some cases semi-divine, or nemed in Old Irish. Tales of their combat, particularly in the Tin B
Cailnge, describe how the Red Branch warriors were driven to battle in chariots and fought either mounted or
dismounted with spears and swords. A major feature of their warfare was the description of single combat, where
a champion such as Cchulainn fought a nominated champion of the opposing army to decide the outcome of a
battle.
The stories of the Red Branch Knights, though centred around Emain Macha in Ulster, take place all around
Ireland and even further afield. For instance, the hero Cuchulain gets his warrior training from a woman named
Scathach in the Western Isles of Scotland.
The legends of the Red Branch Knights were originally part of a Gaelic bardic or oral tradition. With the coming of
Christianity and Literacy to Ireland in around the fifth century AD they were written down by Christian monks. The
oldest written account of the stories are in the Book of the Dun Cow, composed in the monastery at
Clonmacnoise. Another early account appears in the Book of Leinster. Although written by Christian monks, the
essentially pagan character of the myths seem to have been preserved, complete with traditional Irish deities.
Modern usage
Both Irish nationalists and Irish Unionists have found the stories of the Red Branch Knights appealing in modern
times. Nationalists because they believed that the stories encapsulated a "pure" Gaelic Irish culture before English
or British influence, unionists because they liked the imagery of warriors defending Ulster from the rest of Ireland.
The name Red Branch Knights was used by a loyalist paramilitary group from Northern Ireland in September 1992
to claim responsibility for incendiary devices and a blast bomb left in a Dublin- based bank in Newtownabbey.
Statements were sent to the media threatening action against anyone with political or economic links with the
Republic of Ireland. They are not known to have been responsible for any casualties during the Troubles.