Angela's Ashes Group

Question:

princesseliz
princesseliz
Student
High School - 12th Grade

In the memoir Angela's Ashes, why do you think sharing songs and stories is so threatening to Frankie?

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Posted by princesseliz on Tuesday April 21, 2009 at 8:40 PM and tagged with characters, frankie, songs, stories, themes.

Answers:


  1. charcunning Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Keep in mind that the McCourts literally have nothing--no material possessions. One could even argue that the children did not even have the love of their father seeing as how he chose alcohol over feeding for and caring for them on a daily basis.

    The songs and stories in this book are Frankie's way of having SOMETHING to hold on to, if only in the figurative sense. Those stories and songs represent private, quiet, one-on-one moments that Frankie was able to share with his father, moments that were few and far between.  They were truly the only thing that his father ever gave to him, and to have to share that would have been horrible.

    In a family where even the smallest and most meager items of food, clothing and space are shared, these stories are the one thing that Frankie has all to himself; they represent the love of his father.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/angelas-ashes/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/angelas-ashes/themes

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    Posted by charcunning on Friday June 26, 2009 at 8:41 PM