Names: Dineke Bosgraaf, Oetsen v/d
Veen, Nienke ten Hoven and Femke Ilja
Peterson
Class: 4HV
Field: Englisch
Teacher: J.Granzier
Hand in date: 4 December
, Questions:
1.McCourt's memoir is his story seen through his perspective. How does this affect
the authenticity of his story? Should it even matter if he might have missed or
skipped or exaggerated a few episodes? Explain! I think he only uses the really
important stories for his book. Like how terrible school was. How the little
brothers and sister died. These memories are very important for his life. If he
would describe all of his memories in the book. I think the story would be really
boring.
2.Is the memoir truly a non-fiction genre if it springs from the memory of the writer? I
think that this story is neither a non-fiction or fiction story. The reader should
decide that. Because the writer wrote the story with his own realistic look. But
there is a chance that he overreacted a little bit for the story.
3.How might listening to his father's stories about Cuchulain have influenced
McCourt's development as a writer? His dream was traveling to America. I think
that he succeeded in that dream because of the stories of his dad.
4.The Irish writer Edna O’Brien said the following about Irish characters: "When
anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and
misshapen, but ferociously tenacious." Would you say this statement describes the
characters in McCourt's memoir? Yes, because there is a lot of bad stuff in his life
with bad things, not enough food and people who are dying. And McCourt is
just continues with his life. He survived the typhoid and became a strong men.
5.Music and storytelling are extremely important in the Irish culture. How do songs
and folktales affect the narrative of McCourt's memoir? Because of the faith they
have in God. They pray for the sins they made and hope that God will forgive
them.
6.Why do you think most memoirs are written about difficult lives or dysfunctional
families? Could it be interesting to read a memoir written by someone rich, happy,
beautiful, and loved? Explain what it takes to write a good/interesting story. It is
interesting if many things happen in a story. And that the storyline isn’t
predictable, then are people exciting and want to know the whole story.
Veen, Nienke ten Hoven and Femke Ilja
Peterson
Class: 4HV
Field: Englisch
Teacher: J.Granzier
Hand in date: 4 December
, Questions:
1.McCourt's memoir is his story seen through his perspective. How does this affect
the authenticity of his story? Should it even matter if he might have missed or
skipped or exaggerated a few episodes? Explain! I think he only uses the really
important stories for his book. Like how terrible school was. How the little
brothers and sister died. These memories are very important for his life. If he
would describe all of his memories in the book. I think the story would be really
boring.
2.Is the memoir truly a non-fiction genre if it springs from the memory of the writer? I
think that this story is neither a non-fiction or fiction story. The reader should
decide that. Because the writer wrote the story with his own realistic look. But
there is a chance that he overreacted a little bit for the story.
3.How might listening to his father's stories about Cuchulain have influenced
McCourt's development as a writer? His dream was traveling to America. I think
that he succeeded in that dream because of the stories of his dad.
4.The Irish writer Edna O’Brien said the following about Irish characters: "When
anyone asks me about the Irish character, I say look at the trees. Maimed, stark and
misshapen, but ferociously tenacious." Would you say this statement describes the
characters in McCourt's memoir? Yes, because there is a lot of bad stuff in his life
with bad things, not enough food and people who are dying. And McCourt is
just continues with his life. He survived the typhoid and became a strong men.
5.Music and storytelling are extremely important in the Irish culture. How do songs
and folktales affect the narrative of McCourt's memoir? Because of the faith they
have in God. They pray for the sins they made and hope that God will forgive
them.
6.Why do you think most memoirs are written about difficult lives or dysfunctional
families? Could it be interesting to read a memoir written by someone rich, happy,
beautiful, and loved? Explain what it takes to write a good/interesting story. It is
interesting if many things happen in a story. And that the storyline isn’t
predictable, then are people exciting and want to know the whole story.
