Read Roses for Me by Sean O'Casey

Activity 1: Who is Sean O'Casey? What marks him as a great writer?

Activity 2: Introduction to the Main characters

HW #1

Look up the words in the Glossary:

  1. dilapidated
  2. crockery
  3. transverse
  4. tubular
  5. sumptuous
  6. baldric
  7. baritone
  8. circumspect
  9. mackintosh

Answer the Question based on reading :

  1. How is the setting described? What is the setting?
  2. How are the  main characters introduced?
  3. What is the initial exposure of the conflict?
  4. How is Ayamonn described as an idealist?
  1. dilapidated                   
  2. crockery                      
  3. transverse                    
  4. geranium                      
  5. musk                           
  6. tubular                         
  7. arumlilies                     
  8. crimson                       
  9. fifty
  10. patches
  11. padded
  12. baldric
  13. scabbard
  14. hobnailed
  15. baritone
  16. sumptuous
  17. tatthers
  18. traversed
  19. castellated
  20. circumspect
  21. irritably
  22. SHEILA
  23. graceful
  24. sturdiness
  25. mackintosh
  26. jovial
  27. mac
  28. melodeon
  29. circumvent
  30. ensconced
  31. clefs
  32. crotchets
  33. jib
  34. frilled
  35. homespurt
  36. trench
  37. coon
  38. Kaffir
  39. indignantly
  40. allegory
  41. MULLCANNY
  42. rakishly
  43. hippodhrome
  44. eminence’s
  45. snipe’s

 

 

 
  1. mid-spring day
  2. ragged cloth
  3. he isn’t a miser
  4. king Henry
  5. Oul’ Brennan
  6. seventy-six
  7. They are all lovely, and my life needs them all.
  8. sorryful strike
  9. Minstrel Show
  10. What have you got against the girl?
  11. Roman Catholic
  12. Passive acceptance of the Pope’s pronouncement
  13. Totem pole
  14. A man’s way with a maid must be regulated by his faith an’ hers,
  15. Show her off to all men
  16. Wended
  17. Honour to
  18. Mother, a dim shape now, in a gold canoe, dipping over a far horizon.
  19. When it was dark, you always carried the sun in your hand for me;
  20. Stiff and masklike
  21. More or less furrows
  22. Expressionless stare out on life
  23. Sadly soiled
  24. Grime of the
  25. More of other homes than
  26. No harm to use an idle hour to help another in need.
  27. Sympathetic brown eyes
  28. A cloud of timidity
  29. Tailor-made
  30. Rich brown tweed, golden-brown blouse
  31. Timidity with
  32. Little stiffness out of her greeting
  33. Need to give
  34. A neighbour
  35. Coming down in
  36. Stylish-dressed
  37. Disturbance
  38. Spin joy into every moment of tomorrow’s day
  39. Saint Frigid
  40. Sinner Ayamonn
  41. red-lined warnings
  42. black-bordered
  43. drowsiness and sends them
  44. gleaming scarlet
  45. threatened strike
  46. a thicket of throns- safe from a scratch if she doesn’t stir, but unable to get to the green grass or the open road unless she risks the tears the thorns can give.
  47. time’s grey finger
  48. crimson rose of youth
  49. frosty prayer
  50. dread the joy of love
  51. lead your life through too many paths instead of treading the one way of making it possible for us to live together.
  52. paler blossoms
  53. shall be where the redder roses grow
  54. sharp and piercing
  55. burns a song into the heart of a poet
  56. joy shine
  57. be afraid of love is to be afraid for ever
  58. it is but the careless murmur of the rushy brook transfigured to a torrent.
  59. a bonnie rose, delectable
  60. makes the moon a golden berry in a hidden tree
  61. sound of the silver bell
  62. Snowy-breasted Dublin doves
  63. Dewy problems
  64. Dancin’ feet
  65. Bank of Ireland
  66. Cares nothing for money
  67. Anything money can buy
  68. tiptoes back to
  69. St. Peter
  1. warm an’dhry
  1. shy as a kid wearing the first pair of pants
  2. shy as a field-mouse

  3. pale and mask-like in its expression of resignation to the

  4. white cut-away coat, shaped like

  5.  extravagant in shyness

  6.  stout middle-aged man

  7. Minsthrel Show

  8.  Sword of Light

  9. excavate the shyness out of your system an’

  10.  Touch’d by th’ sun and th’ salt spray

  11.  young, lusty, and restless

  12.  fine tweeds

  13. that God is dead

  14. jewel’d desire in a bosom, most pearly

  15. sthripping the gayest rose of its petals in search of a beetle

 

HW #2 Review of Act I

  1. Who are the main characters? Describe them.

  2. What conflicts are revealed in Act One?

  3. What dies the ending of Act One foreshadow?

  4. Use some of the expressions ( 10 minimum) listed above to write a paragraph describing a person imaginary or real. Underline the expressions you use.

HW#3 Act II

  1. Select ten statements that are about religion.

  2. Select 10 statements that are about science.

  3. In what ways does Ayammon speak to Sheila? Provide 5 examples and explain his purpose of speaking in such a style.

  4. In what ways is the real Shelia different from Ayammon's idealized image of her?

  5. Respond to the speech by Ayammon," ...If we give no room to men of our time to question many things, all things, ay, life itself, then freedom's but a paper flower, a star of tinsel, a dead lass with gay ribbons at her breast an' a gold comb in her hair...."

  6.  Discuss how Ayammon and Sheila drifted away from each other.

  7. Though Ayammon may seem to be harsh in his relationship with Sheila, he is described as an open-minded person to new ideas. How is he portrayed as a person who embraces new ideas? Find evidence in the play to support the statement.

  8. Write a monologue from Ayammon's point of view expressing his reflections on what's going on in his life.

HW #4 Act III

  1. Make a sketch based on the stage directions in the beginning of Act III.

  2. Find five metaphors that symbolize the deplorable situations the characters are in. Explain the meaning of each metaphor.

  3. Find five examples  that describe the glory of Dublin.

  4. Look up the new vocabulary words

  5. Describe the changes reflected in Finnoola, Eeada and Dympna after Ayamonn's encouragement as reflected in his speech on page 319," ...We pray too much and work too little. Meaness, spite, and common patterns are woven thick through her glory; but her glory's there for open eyes to see."

  6. Interpret the following statements:

HW# 5 Act IV

  1. Glossary
  2. Answer the Questions:
  3. Use the tragedy definitions provided in this site (http://litstudies.org/Fall05/notesontragedy.htm).Write an essay discussing in what ways Ayammon fits in any of the definitions of tragic hero( a combination of definitions).
  4. Make a list of the main characters in the play ( at least five but exclude Ayammon)) and write a paragraph to describe each of them.
  5. From the entire play( four acts especially Act 3 ), select 10 examples of  figures of speech ( personification, imagery, simile, metaphor, symbolism, etc). Provide interpretations.
  6. What does the title "Red Red Rose for Me" of the play mean?