Study Questions &
Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Why does Frank
rarely blame his father for the suffering that his alcoholism inflicts
upon the family? How does this lack of censure affect the moral
tone of McCourt's memoir?
2. What role do
women play in McCourt's memoir? Is it fair to describe their characterization
as stereotypical?
3. What is Frank's
relationship to Catholicism, and does this relationship change as
the memoir progresses?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. In what ways does McCourt
use his infancy in New York to foreshadow his experiences in Limerick?
2. What role do Frank's and his
friends' escapades play in establishing a sense of fun and vitality
within the memoir?
3. What do you think McCourt's
primary motivation was for writing his memoir? To earn the sympathy
of his readers? To teach them something? Explain.
4. Does Frank's relationship
with Ireland change during his childhood? If so, how does this affect
his subsequent return to the United States?
