Angela’s Ashes Writer’s Notebook
Table of Contents
Reading Schedule Calendar / 1 ptIreland map and web quest / 4 pts
Short answer chapter questions / 20pts
Chapter 4 Theme Analysis/Writing / 10 pts
“The Man from the North” questions and discussion / 5 pts
Close Readings 19-21 / 6 pts
Close Readings 34-39 / 6 pts
Close Readings 127-131 / 6 pts
Reading Journal for each chapter / 18 pts
Quickwrite in the voice of your younger self / 2 pts
“Typhoid Fever” on Voice and Style with graphic organizer / 8 pts
“Typhoid Fever” voice and style Assertion worksheet / 11 pts
Final Writing Task / 28 pts
Total 125 pts
Slang and Irish words worksheet Extra credit 2 pts
Symbolism worksheet Extra credit 2 pts
Examples
84 pts = 67/D
95 pts= 76/C
110 pts= 88/B
118 pts= 94/A
In case you are trying to do the math, the highest possible score you could make without the Final Writing Task is a C.
Ireland map and web quest
As we read Frank McCourt’s memoir of Angela’s Ashes, we will need some background information on Irish people, geography, and culture, as well as Ireland’s tumultuous past.
Directions: To complete this web quest you will follow the directions for each link. Every member of the group is responsible for recording all of the answers. I will randomly collect one from each group and you will be graded as a group from that one person’s responses.
1. Complete a Google search of maps of Ireland and clearly label the following locations:
a. Limerick
b. River Shannon
c. Dublin
d. Belfast
e. Color Northern Ireland orange
f. Color South Ireland green
g. Trace the River Shannon in blue
2. Take a look at this website and answer the following questions. http://www.enchantedlearning.com/europe/ireland/flag.shtml
a. In the Irish flag, what color is placed nearest the flagpole?
b. What color represents the native people of Ireland?
c. What does the color orange represent on this flag?
d. What does the color white represent?
3. Look at the following link which depicts the Limerick of Angela’s Ashes. http://homepages.iol.ie/~avondoyl/angelas1.htm Open up the map and keep it open in a separate window.
a. What are the symbols on the map and what do they represent?
b. Who is the champion pint drinker?
c. Look at the tab Roden Street, where was baby Alphie born?
d. Take a look at the pictures of both Roden Street and First Jobs, how would you describe the area? Remember to use adjectives in your description.
4. Looking at this link answer the following http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Irish_Republican_Army:
a. Who is the IRA?
b. What was the Easter Rising of 1916?
c. Who is Michael Collins?
5. Look at the following links: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xTF0sNFHBRYand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nxlNcSv5ypQ.
a. Who is Kevin Barry? What is important to know about him?
b. Listen to the song, Roddy McCorley. What happened to Roddy? Where and how did he die?
6. Cuchulain is mentioned often in the story. Look at this link and explain how Setanta became Cuchulain. http://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/myths_legends/northern_ireland/ni_7/video_1.shtml
7. Frank is named after St. Francis of Assisi; visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francis_of_Assisi and answer the following:
a. Who is St Francis?
b. What was he the patron saint of?
Short Answer Chapter Questions
Directions: Answer each question with the appropriate short response.
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 1
1. Where were both of Frank's parents born?
2. Frank's father, Malachy, originally comes to America for what reason?
3. Where does Malachy meet Angela?
4. Why is Angela and Malachy's first born son not named after his father?
5. Philomena urges Angela to make sure she doesn't have anymore children. Why?
6. What happens to Frank's brother Malachy on the playground?
7. When Malachy gets a job, what happens the third week he is supposed to bring home the wages?
8. Why does Angela go to Malachy's job?
9. Why does Malachy believe he lost his job?
10. Why does Angela slide into a deep depression?
11. What does Tommy Flynn say happened to Margaret's body?
12. Why do Philomena, Delia, Mrs. Leibowitz, and Minnie write to Angela's mother?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 2
1. When told there is no work in Ireland, Malachy decides to go to Dublin. Why?
2. When Malachy goes to the IRA office to claim his pension, what is he told?
3. Why does the man at the IRA office refuse to give Malachy money for the bus fare home?
4. Because they do not have bus fare home, where does the family sleep that night?
5. How do the McCourts get back to Angela's family?
6. Once the family rents a room, why are they unable to sleep that first night?
7. After receiving money from the Vincent de Paul society, why does Nora insist on going to the store with Angela?
8. Why is Frank so understanding when his father is telling Oliver stories about Cuchulain?
9. Why does Angela insist on going to the Labour Exchange with Malachy after Oliver's death?
10. In Chapter 2, why does Frank get in trouble with Mr. Benson at school?
11. After Eugene's death in Chapter 2, why does Frank get angry with his father in the pub?
12. How does Frank envision heaven at the end of Chapter 2?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 3
1. Why is the family receiving less money at the beginning of Chapter 3?
2. Why does the family move to Roden Lane?
3. Why does the family call the upstairs of their home Italy and the downstairs Ireland?
4. Why do Frank's classmates laugh at him as they leave the store before Christmas?
5. How does the family get coal for Christmas dinner?
6. What does the "Angel on the Seventh Step" bring the family?
7. When Michael is sick, how does Frank's father save him?
8. Why do the children at school tease Frank and his brother about their boots?
9. What does Frank's teacher tell the boys who teased Frank about his shoes?
10. What does Frank's father tell the officials from the St. Vincent de Paul Society about their lavatory?
11. Where does Frank get a job at the end of Chapter 3?
12. Why is Angela angry at the end of Chapter 3?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 4
1. Why does it seem that Nora Molloy enjoys being taken to the asylum?
2. Mikey tells Frank that the best part of the first communion is the collection. What is the collection?
3. What does Frank do with the raisin he finds in his pastry?
4. What kind of teacher is Mr. Benson?
5. What does Frank confess at his first confession?
6. What does Grandma mean when she says that she has "God in me backyard?"
7. Why does Frank miss his collection?
8. How is Frank able to attend the cinema at the end of Chapter 4?
9. How does Mr. Benson have the boys practice for communion?
10. What is Paddy's dream?
11. After confessing to the priest on his first communion, why does Margaret send Frank back into the confessional?
12. What does Frank most want to see at the cinema?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 5
1. Why is Frank's grandmother not speaking to Angela at the beginning of Chapter 5?
2. Why is Frank disappointed that his mother is not speaking to his grandmother in Chapter 5?
3. Why does Margaret get angry with Frank and make him take Galvin's food to the kiln for free?
4. Why does young Malachy have to visit Barrington's Hospital?
5. While at the hospital, what do the doctor's discover about Frank?
6. What kind of lessons does Angela decide Frank must take?
7. How does Frank spend his tuition money?
8. When Angela says that God has not been "seen lately in the lanes of Limerick," to what is she referring?
9. What is the Confraternity?
10. Why does Angela believe that Frank was not accepted as an altar boy?
11. What job does Frank take on for Margaret?
12. What is the poem Angela shares with Bridey, "The Man From the North," about?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 6
1. Why does Quigley seem to annoy his teachers?
2. Why is Mr. O'Neill called "Dotty?"
3. What is Mr. O'Neill particularly enthusiastic about teaching?
4. Why does Mr. O'Halloran yell at Mr. O'Neill?
5. In Chapter 6, where do Paddy and Frank go when they skip school?
6. Why are Angela and Malachy angry with Frank in Chapter 6?
7. What is wrong with Paddy's father in Chapter 6?
8. Why is Frank afraid to go home in Chapter 6?
9. What do Paddy and Frank eat when they go to Finlan's for lunch?
10. Why does Paddy get into trouble with his mother in Chapter 6?
11. What does Paddy's father tell Frank about his mother in Chapter 6?
12. Why does Angela cry on the way home from Paddy's home?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 7
1. In Chapter 7, what does Malachy make his children promise when he gets them out of bed late at night after drinking?
2. How does Frank earn money from Mr. Timoney?
3. What job does Frank do with Pat Sheehan?
4. Why is Declan upset with Frank in Chapter 7?
5. What happens to Macushla in Chapter 7?
6. What does Frank read to Mr. Timoney?
7. Why does Angela think Mr. Timoney lost his cleaning woman?
8. Why is Frank concerned for Mickey's soul?
9. Why does Mickey die?
10. Why does Frank stop working for Mr. Timoney?
11. What does Frank think of the new baby's name?
12. What does Grandpa McCourt send for the new baby?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 8
1. What does Peter Dooley want to do when he grows up?
2. For what does Peter Dooley charge Frank?
3. Why is Frank hospitalized?
4. What does Seamus bring Frank in the hospital?
5. For what religious event is Frank preparing for in Chapter 9?
6. What is wrong with Patricia Madigan?
7. Where does Frank's transfused blood come from?
8. What is Peter's punishment when he gets into trouble with his money?
9. How does Mikey get hurt?
10. What does Malachy believe is wrong with Frank in Chapter 8?
11. What does Angela bring Frank in the hospital?
12. What is unusual about Mr. O'Halloran?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 9
1. Why does Frank envy the children whose fathers are in England?
2. What does the quote "We don't care about England or France, all we want is the German advance" mean?
3. Why does Angela tell her children to stay inside at the beginning of Chapter 9?
4. Why doesn't the telegram boy bring a telegram to the family?
5. Why is the Meagher family too ashamed to go out?
6. What does Grandma think will help Frank's eyes?
7. Why does Malachy agree to go work in England?
8. Why is Frank hospitalized for a second time in Chapter 9?
9. Who is Frank excited to see when he is hospitalized the second time?
10. What is Angela's last resort for feeding the children in Chapter 9?
11. Why does Mr. Downes return to Ireland?
12. Why does Mr. Downes believe Malachy may be sent back to Ireland in Chapter 9?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 10
1. Why do the children go to live with Aunt Agnes for awhile in Chapter 10?
2. Why do the McCourt children laugh at Aunt Agnes while they are staying with her in Chapter 10?
3. Who is able to visit Angela in the hospital when she is ill in Chapter 10?
4. How does Agnes treat the children when they stay with her?
5. Why does young Malachy run away from Aunt Agnes's home in Chapter 10?
6. What is wrong with Angela's health in Chapter 10?
7. How does Frank provide food in Chapter 10?
8. How do Frank and young Malachy get coal in Chapter 10?
9. Why does Alphie get so upset in Chapter 10?
10. Where does Malachy run away to in Chapter 10?
11. Why is Frank ashamed of Angela at the end of Chapter 10?
12. When does Pa Keating feed the children in Chapter 10?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 11
1. Why does Mr. Hannon need Frank's help at work?
2. What does Mr. Hannon do for a living?
3. Why is Frank shown more respect by his classmates in Chapter 11?
4. Why does Mr. Hannon encourage Frank to stay in school?
5. Why does Angela want Frank to quit his job in Chapter 11?
6. Why is Frank called Blinky at school?
7. What great change occurs in Mikey's father in Chapter 11?
8. Why does Mikey call Frank a bastard in Chapter 11?
9. Why does Frank want Angela's red flapper dress?
10. Why is Frank at the pub celebrating with Mikey?
11. When Mr. Hannon goes to the hospital, what do the doctors say he is in danger of?
12. What does Bridey tell Frank about his relationship with Mr. Hannon?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 12
1. What does Malachy's letter say to Angela in Chapter 12?
2. What happens when the family waits for Malachy at the train station?
3. What does Malachy look like when he arrives home from England in Chapter 12?
4. What does Malachy bring Angela as a gift for Christmas in Chapter 12?
5. What type of music do Frank and Mrs. Purcell listen to?
6. Where does the family stay when they are evicted in Chapter 12?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 13
1. Where does Frank plan on getting a bike for his school trip in Chapter 13?
2. Why does Mrs. O'Riordan write a note to Angela about Frank?
3. In Chapter 13, where does Mr. O'Halloran tell Frank to go?
4. Why do Frank and Laman fight in Chapter 13?
5. Where does Frank go to stay in Chapter 13?
6. In Chapter 13, where does Frank plan to work when he turns fourteen?
Short Answer Questions - Chapter 14