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

Overview of Slideshow Frank McCourt Bio Historical Background Main Characters/themes Genre This unit

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

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

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

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 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

Key Themes Coping with adversity – poverty, bereavement, hunger, 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

In this unit… You need to have read book by week 2 Close analysis of passages Journal writing – responses Background / context study Chapter summaries Watch the film of Angela’s Ashes Analysis of major characters, setting Group presentation on theme and symbols Essay writing practice Further resources on wiki www.msgrahams12english.pbwiki.com