2. The Author’s Context
In this lesson, we will examine the context of the novel - The Irish Famine.
This book is set in the late 1840s in Ireland.

3. Homes in Ireland
In 1845, over eight million people (about twice as many as today) lived in Ireland. More than half the population lived in small mud cabins.
Can you find any text in Chapter 2 that describes the family's home?
How many beds do you think are in the home? What makes you think this?
How do they family heat their home?
How has the famine impacted on this?

4. Socialising Read Chapter 2.
Can you find any evidence of what people did to enjoy themselves?
How did the famine impact on this?

5. Landlords
In the 1800s Ireland had many small farms. People (tenants) rented their land from landlords.
Landlords often lived in large estates.
Sometimes people had no land but earned their money by working as labourers.
During the famine it became increasingly difficult for tenants to pay their rent. While some landlords excused their tenant rent, most evicted their tenants.
Can you find any reference of the tenant-landlord relationship in the novel?

6. Black 1847
1847 was the worst year for the famine in Ireland. Diseases such as scurvy, typhus and cholera spread throughout the country.
In the novel, does the author refer to any diseases?
Who is impacted by disease?

7. Food
In the 1840s potatoes were the staple of most Irish people’s diet.
What references to food can you find in the novel?
What food is eaten?
Where do people get food?

8. Famine Roads
During the famine, the Irish Board of Works created employment for the Irish poor by hiring men to create new roads.
These roads usually led nowhere and were built on poor, boggy land.
The work was extremely hard and the men were often incredibly weak.
Many of these roads survive today and can be seen across the rural Irish landscape.
What references to famine roads are in the novel?

9. Food Exports
During the famine, Ireland continued to export food to Britain.
Irish people angrily witnessed boatloads of Irish-grown oats and grain leave and be shipped to England.
There were food riots in ports such as Youghal and Dungarvan. People tried to confiscate the oats and at Dungarvan, British troops were hit with stones and fired shots into the crowd, killing two Irish people and wounding several others.
As the famine worsened, the British continually sent in more troops.
Can you make a connection with the novel about food riots?

10. Workhouses
Workhouses were built in the 1830s and 1840s in Ireland. The purpose of the workhouses was to support people who could not support themselves.
Conditions were very poor and disease was rife.
Men and women were housed separately and worked long hours.
Men broke rocks for the roads and women knitted, cleaned and cared for the sick.
What references to the workhouse are in the novel?

11. Soup Kitchens
Soup kitchens were established by the Quakers (The Society of Friends).
While the soup costed one penny, those who could not afford it were still fed.
By August 1847 the Quakers were feeding 3 million people a day.
‘Soupers’ was a negative term attributed to people who converted to Quakerism for food.
Can you find any evidence of negative attitudes towards Quakers and the soup kitchens in Chapter seven?

12. The Catholic Church
At this time in Ireland, the majority of people were Roman Catholic.
The Catholic Church was very powerful at the time.
What references can you find relating to The Church and God?

13. Emigration
Huge amounts of Irish people emigrated because of the famine. From , one and a half million people left Ireland.
People went to countries like England, Canada, America and Australia.
People boarded ‘coffin ships’ to emigrate. The name came from the high mortality rate on board. One in every six people did not survive the journey.
Which character in the novel emigrated?