Father and Son- Themes and Techniques

Question 1

Division

Answer 1

In their household- household is a microcosm of the division during the troubles

Question 2

Family Relationships

Answer 2

abandonment and masculinity

Question 3

Death

Answer 3

Decay in the garden sense of community destroyed both results of mother death and symbolic of the violence destroying communities

Question 4

Lack of communication

Answer 4

• father and Son do not speak to each other.
• Only speak to each other with criticisms, verbal bullets
• Reflects the non communication of both sides during the troubles could of been solved with communication

Question 5

Isolation

Answer 5

-Desire to talk which is not acted upon
-Newspaper and doors used as physical barrier
- Father uses news as a way of ‘connecting’ with son
- Son stops any communication with father
- Father doest use garden, community destroyed

Question 6

Violence

Answer 6

-Son aggressive towards father (verbal bullets)
-Both live in fear
-Sounds of violence heard within and outwit house
-Gun describe as slug- destruction

Question 7

Characterisation

Answer 7

similarities/ parrallels, despite their differences. Much like the wider context of The Troubles

Question 8

Sound

Answer 8

Sibilance, plosive sounds, consonance, onomatopoeia. Sounds of violence have permeated their home.

Question 9

Setting

Answer 9

House is a microcosm for the society in which they live. The division taking place in their household represent the wider conflict and violence.

Question 10

Foreshadowing

Answer 10

Father feels he has pulled the son from death once before, father believes from radio description that son is dead

Question 11

Symbolism

Answer 11

-Fishing
-Blood-knot
-Garden
-Weeds
-Gun/Slug