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Angela's Ashes Discussion Questions

Please be thinking about the following discussion questions for book club on Sunday.

I am looking forward to hearing your opinions and reactions to the novel.

Also, bring suggestions for the next novel. I think The Color Purple is a good choice (Danielle's pick), but I am open to other suggestions.

1. Countless memoirs have been published recently, yet Angela's Ashes stands out. What makes this memoir so unique and compelling?

2. 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?

3. Ever present in Angela's Ashes is the Catholic Church. 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?

4. McCourt writes: "I think my father is like the Holy Trinity with three people in him, the one in the morning with the paper, the one at night with the stories and prayers, and then the one who does the bad thing and comes home with the smell of whiskey and wants us to die for Ireland." Was this your impression of Frank McCourt's father? How can Frank write about his father without bitterness? What part did Malachy play in creating the person that Frank eventually became?

5. Women -- in particular mothers -- play a significant role in Angela's Ashes. Recall the scenes between Angela and her children; the MacNamara sisters (Delia and Philomena) and Malachy; Aunt Aggie and young Frank; Angela and her own mother. In what ways do these interactions reflect the roles of women within their families? Discuss the ways in which Angela struggles to keep her family together in the most desperate of circumstances.

6. McCourt titles his memoir Angela's Ashes, after his mother. What significance does the phrase "Angela's Ashes" acquire by the end of the book?

7. Despite the McCourts' horrid poverty, mind-numbing starvation, and devastating losses, Angela's Ashes is not a tragic memoir. In fact, it is uplifting, triumphant even. How does McCourt accomplish this?

8. Irish 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?

9. Frank spent the first four years of his life in the United States. How do his experiences in America affect Frank's years in Ireland?

Book Club Info

Our first book club will meet on Sunday, April 20th at 3pm at Gelateria on South Grand.

First Book: Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt

Gelateria Address: 3197 South Grand Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63118

MapQuest Link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&q=gelateria&safe=active&ie=UTF8&ll=38.600958,-90.244167&spn=0.008016,0.014505&z=16

Please be thinking about other books for May's selection.

Vocabulary Words-Part Two

You will have a vocabulary quiz on Thursday, March 27th. Please review the definitions and synonyms of the following words in preparation for this quiz. (And yes, you can record these in your reading journals.)

1. ostensible
2. ubiquitous
3. incorrigible
4. subvresion
5. diatribe
6. voracity
7. pernicious
8.emanation
9. ingenuity
10. prodigious

Gentle Reminder

This is a gentle reminder to those of you that have not sent me anything regarding your paper.

Please, for the love of your grade and our class, send me your final drafts via email: pharris1020@gmail.com

Not only will this make me a happier teacher (because I won't be rushing to grade the papers right up til grades are due), but then the paper will be out of your hair.

See you Monday . . . please email me if you have an questions.

Anyone Interested in a 5th Hour Book Club?

Hello!

As we discussed briefly on Friday, I would interested in moderating a book club for our 5th hour class, even though, I will not be your teacher anymore (sniffle, tear).

Please let me know as soon as possible so I can start thinking about times and places for us to meet.

We could either meet directly after school or on Sundays, and I think we should try to read one book a month and meet twice a month.

Coffee shops seem to be the best place to go, depending on the size of our group.

Email me if you are interested: pharris1020@gmail.com

Enjoy your break-you deserve it. Just don't forget to your work!

Ms. Harris

Writing Prompt #2

Short Essay #2 Writing Prompt

Pick ONE of the prompts to write a two page (500-700 word) essay:

1. Gender—What different types of women and women are distinguishable in the novel? What characteristics do the men share? What characteristics do the women share?

(HINT: Choose EITHER men OR women to discuss in this essay)

2. Sexuality—How is sexuality represented in the novel and why is sexuality important? Give examples of how Marquez uses sexuality to help the characters grow.

3. Power—What conclusions can you make about Marquez’s opinion of war? More specifically, how does war affect men, their families and the community as a whole?

Rough Draft DUE: Tuesday, March 25
Revised Draft DUE: Tuesday, April 1

The same scoring guide posted on this blog is what I will be using to grade this assignment as well.