Frank O'Connor, "First Confession," Traveller's Samples (1951)

Glossary

porter

flaking: beating

heart-scalded: disgusted

half-crown: a coin worth two shillings and sixpence; no longer used

caffler

biretta: a stiff, square cap with three or four upright projecting ridges

begor: short for begorrah; wow; Irish form of the English exclamation begad, or "by God"

bullseyes: round, hard candy

 

Review Sheet

Characters

Jackie

Nora

Grandmother - also called Gran

Mrs. Ryan

Priest

Mother

Father - also called Dadda

Setting

 

Plot

 

Discussion

point of view

voice

 

character

foil

personality

direct presentation of character

indirect presentation of character

show v. tell

consistency in character behavior

motivation

plausibility of character: is the character credible? convincing?

flat character

round character, multidimensional character

static character

developing character

direct methods of revealing character:

 

plot

beginning, middle, end

scene

chance, coincidence

double plot

subplot, underplot

deus ex machina

disclosure, discovery

story

conflict, internal conflict, external conflict, clash of actions, clash of ideas, clash of desires, clash of wills

protagonist

antagonist

suspense

mystery

dilemma

surprise

ending

artistic unity

time sequence

exposition

complication

rising action, falling action

crisis

climax

conclusion

resolution

denouement

flashback, retrospect

foreshadowing

 

Frank O'Connor

 

Other books by O'Connor at Chula Library:

My Father's Son.  New York: Knopf, 1969. (CL 92 O18M)

A Short History of Irish Literature: A Backward Look.  New York: Putnam, 1967. (Arts PB1306 O18S)

 

 


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Last updated July 20, 2007