An introduction to Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir By Frank McCourt

Frank McCourt Born in NYC in 1930 NYC to Ireland, back to NYC @ 19 High School English teacher Pulitzer Prize 1997 for Angela’s Ashes Narrator of Angela’s Ashes He died in 2009

Frank McCourt’s books Angela’s Ashes -1996 T’is - 1999 Teacher Man – 2005 Brother Malachy McCourt also wrote book A Monk Swimming

A Brief history of Irish/British conflict 1500s Britain conquered Ireland Years of discrimination against Catholics, Irish Landowners lost land. 1916 - Easter Rising 1919-1921 Armed Rebellion by IRA 1922 - Irish Civil War

A Brief history of Irish/British conflict Civil War begun after Michael Collins accepts British terms Ireland split - Northern Protestant and Southern Catholic

Setting Brooklyn, New York Limerick, Ireland Strong Catholic history 1934 - depths of The Great Depression

Key Themes Coping with adversity – poverty, bereavement (sadness caused by the loss of a loved one), hunger, and an alcoholic father Class and religious prejudice Guilt The power of stories and storytelling

Genre Angela’s Ashes: A Memoir Non-fiction. i.e. NOT a novel! A memoir = type of autobiography where author records events and people that shaped his life This memoir focuses on Frank McCourt’s childhood in 1930s-40s Ireland

McCourt Family Angela, Malachy Frank Malachy Jr. Eugene, Oliver, Margaret, Michael, Alphie

Frank’s mother Angela The book is named after her action of staring into the ashes She is from Limerick Sacrificial and loving mother who does all she can to provide for her family

Frank’s father Malachy From County Antrim, Ulster, Northern Ireland. Majority are Presbyterian as it had links to Scotland Malachy was a member of IRA Nationalist Often sang of Roddy McCorley, a protestant nationalist who also came from County Antrim. Alcoholic Had a ‘peculiar manner’ A storyteller

Frank’s father will reference these heroes throughout the memoir. Irish Heroes Frank’s father will reference these heroes throughout the memoir.

Kevin Barry Kevin Barry was born in Dublin, Ireland in 1902. In 1920, while attending college, he took part in a raid, which ended badly. Three British soldiers were killed, and Barry was tortured and hanged in the Mountjoy jail at the age of eighteen. Barry refused to name his comrades under torture.

Roddy McCorley McCorley was a participant in the Irish rebellion of 1798. After hiding for nearly a year, he attempted to flee to the United States. However, he was betrayed and captured by British soldiers. He was executed on February 28, 1800 in the town of Toomebridge "near the bridge of Toome."

Oliver Cromwell Frank says that the masters at the Catholic school he attends are often extremely harsh on the students. He comments, “If you ever say anything good about Oliver Cromwell they’ll all hit you.” Cromwell was an English military leader and politician. He was also the leader of Irish movements and took measures against Irish Catholics that were viewed by many as genocidal. For these acts, he is generally hated in Ireland.