Angela's Ashes Analysis

Speaker: The author is Frank McCourt, a young Irish Catholic boy.

Occasion: The author wrote this, to relive his experiences as a young boy living in Limerick, Ireland. Specifically the day his brother and he returned home from school to find an empty and wet living room and kitchen. The heavy rains flooded downstairs and forced his parents to "move in" upstairs.

Audience: The intended audience is anyone who purchased his memoir "Angela's Ashes" and is seeking to learn more about his life.

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to bring to light one of McCourt's most "miserable" and "painful" experiences in his childhood while living in Limerick, Ireland.

Subject: The idea that is being displayed throughout this article is to make the

best out of a terrible situation. In this case, although the bottom of the McCourt's house was flooded and damaged, Frank's parents tried to make the upstairs be more "nice and warm" and thought of that experience as a vacation.

Tone: The tone of the article shifts from depressive and gloomy to optimistic and hopeful.

The heavy rains and the bare house give off a gloomy vibe in the beginning and towards the end, the idea of vacations in Italy and the warm fire give off a more hopeful vibe.

Diction: Something that caught my attention was McCourt's use of the word "fire" in the story. The first time fire is used he says "the fire is dead" this is a very blunt statement that gives off a negative atmosphere to the story. The second time he mentions fire is "with a blazing fire" this is a much more positive statement, that adds a sense of hopefulness to the story.

Imagery: Some of the images that most stood out to me were when McCourt mentions his father, "Dad reading The Irish Press and smoking a cigarette" I can picture his father just there reading the newspaper so nonchalant and carefree as if his house weren't half destroyed. Also when they mention Italy, a very beautiful place that contrasts greatly with the current state of his house.

Details: Some details that have been clearly displayed were the reactions and actions of McCourt's parents. He also adds enough details for the reader to picture the conditions of his house. However, he seems to have omitted details as to how they managed to live upstairs in his house and for how long they spent living up there. He also never gives a reason as to why he's moved around a

lot.

Language: The author uses informal and simple language. This allows for the reader to fully understand what he is saying. He does not us big scholarly words but still uses descriptive words.

Syntax: The sentences are mixed between long and medium length. The use of long sentences and very descriptive words allows for the author to clearly display the image of his flooded and destroyed home. The use of short sentences allows for the author to emphasis that statement.