IRA #2 Angela's Ashes

Angela's Ashes


New Characters Featuring:


Grandma and Grandpa McCourt- relatives of Malachy.
Aunt Aggie- Angela's aunt wants children, but feels terrible for her sister's loss.
Uncle Pat- Aggie's husband
Grandma Sheehan- Angela's grandmother and a very pious individual

Themes: Sorrow


Motif:  Story of Cuchulain, Religion


Terms from Ireland That I learned:

Guard- policeman
Fags (terrible name) - cigarettes 


Plot Summary: Chapter 2


The chapter starts out in Moville County, Donegal, Ireland where the family has moved. Malachy and his family go visit his family in Toome County, where his relatives tell him that finding a job in Ireland is as hard as finding a job in America during this time. The next morning, the family decides to take a train to Dublin where Malachy tries to find a job, but ends up convincing a bank to loan him money. They find out that they don't have enough money to go back, but luckily a policeman gives them a ride and provides them with food. Later, Angela, Malachy, and their family, take a train to Limerick to spend time with Angela's grandmother. Everyone finds out that there is very little room for them and there is very little food available. They all sleep on one bed, which they found out was covered with fleas. Times start to get bad, where they can't find food, and they have to find coal off the streets in order to stay warm. The kids start catholic school and find out that it is going to be a little hard to get to.

After a few weeks, Oliver started to get sick and they needed milk and onions in order to help him. After getting milk and an onion from a good Samaritan, they start to boil the milk and the onions for a cure. Unfortunately, Oliver didn't eat the onions, and eventually he passed away in his sleep, most likely from pneumonia and hunger. The entire family gathered for the funeral the next day. After a few months, Eugene starts to wonder the whereabouts of his twin brother. Then six months later, Eugene dies from hunger and pneumonia. There is another funeral and Angela is wondering why God has taken three children away from her. Malachy Sr. is handling his grief by abusing alcohol. While this is going on, Aunt Aggie is always moping around because she wants to get married and have a family.


Journal Friday January 13, 2011


I said I was going to find out a little more information on the author last week. Here is a little info his book. First of all if you didn't figure this out, this is a retelling of what he had to endure while growing up as a kid during the rough times of the depression. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to Irish Immigrants. At the age of nineteen he was drafted into the Korean War and went back to school thanks to the GI bill to pursue a degree in education, where he taught at the public school system in New York for many years. In 2009, he passed away. There were four million copies published in twenty-seven countries. There is another book called "Tis" that talks more about his later life.  There is also another book out called "Teacher Man".

Frank McCourt achievement.org  29 Jul. 29 2009. 13  January   2012.<http://www.achievement.org/autodoc/page/mcc1bio-1> 

Lets go to our theme. The major theme that I felt was used so much in this chapter was sorrow. I just feel so bad for this family having to move someplace different in hope of escaping their rough surroundings, to going to Ireland where it is worse. The McCourt family suffered so much. The inability to pay for necessities is just so terrible. When Oliver passes away because he does not have the right food and supplies to get through the night, it just makes me feel so sad. The little boy is about two years old and he has has to die because of the depression going on. The same for Eugene, being that little wondering where his brother is, and then several months later, your other baby boy is gone. I don't understand how the older children Francis and Malachy deal with this. It just seems like they are handling it easier than their parents. The mom is always barricaded in her room crying, and the father is dealing with his sadness by doing the only thing he knows how to do, get drunk. I felt that before the twin boys passed away, I was seeing a different side of Malachy Sr. He didn't drink at all, he helped Angela with the children, and he brought money back to his family. I 'd like to think that sorrow is the main trigger in this chapter.

The motifs that I would like to talk about are how religion plays a role and how the story of Cuchulain plays a role in this chapter.  First of all religion is very important in Ireland. you are most likely to be a Catholic or Protestant. When these kids were taken to Ireland, they were taken to someplace that is very pious in their religion.

"Good Morning Father, said Malachy   
Dad, Is he your father, said young Malachy
He is a priest (McCourt 48).

I picked this quote especially because it shows that these kids had no idea about their faith. Then when they hit their father and mother land, they learn they need to get on track with their religion. When I was little,  going to church with my parents,not knowing really what was going on, my mom said hello to the priest and called him  "Father" and I asked her the same question as young Malachy

Now for the second motif the story of Cuchulain. I know that Malachy tells this story to his sons, but I still have know idea what it is about.  I guess I will just have to research more on that subject. I know it has something to do with WWI.