First Confession Questions and Answers
First Confession
What is the theme of "First Confession" by Frank O'Connor?
A theme of "First Confession" is that religion can be useful to children once it has been demystified. Jackie dreads making his first confession because his sister and Mrs. Ryan have both caused...
First Confession
What are some good thesis statements for First Confession?
This is a wonderfully humorous book about the horrors of the Roman Catholic Sacrament of Reconciliation from the viewpoint of a seven year old boy, Jackie. There are countless essays that could be...
First Confession
What are some examples of Irish dialect in "First Confession"? What do they add to the story?
In "First Confession," the author uses Irish dialect to set the characters in the particular culture in which the story takes place and also for humorous effect. For the story to have maximum...
First Confession
Why does the story "First Confession" have an ironic point of view and ending?
Irony is central to "First Confession," as the narrator portrays his younger self as probably sinful but certainly confused about the meaning of various Catholic sacraments and rites. At age seven,...
First Confession
What are examples of direct and indirect characterization in First Confession?
Direct characterization occurs when an author, through the narrator, directly states what a character is like. In the story, Jackie, the narrator, delivers direct characterization of his...
First Confession
According to Ms. Ryan in First Confession, what did it mean to make a bad confession?
As Jackie receives instruction from the old woman Ryan in preparation for his first confession and communion, it is clear that she is trying to impress upon him the need for full disclosure. She...
First Confession
What kind of story is it?
Hawthorne's story is a great example of an allegory. In an allegory, most of the items, characters and events carry real significance as well as symbolic significance. Another way to answer the...
First Confession
What does fire symbolize in the book?
Seven-year-old Jackie fears judgment even more than he fears the beatings he receives from his family. To emphasize this fear, author Frank O'Connor uses fire to symbolize the judgment of God....
First Confession
Does Mrs. Ryan do a good job of preparing the children to make their first confession?
To discuss whether Mrs. Ryan does a good job preparing the children for their first confession, it's important to understand why Catholics confess their sins to a priest. Relying on Scripture, they...
First Confession
What would be an illustrative essay for the story "First Confession" by Frank O'Connor?
If "illustrative essay" means one that gives a birds-eye view of a major cohesive point that determines the novel's texture, then one suggestion might be to discuss the structure of the novel....