Korea - John McGahern Flashcards
Context
Irish writer, lived through Irish civil war (1922-1923) and then the Korean war (1950-1953), between North and South Korea.
‘You saw an execution then too, didn’t you?’
The reader is thrown into the story immediately, setting a tone for the story, introducing theme of death/war.
‘The boy tore at his tunic over the heart, as if to pluck out the bullets, and the buttons of his tunic began to fly into the air.’
Boy dismisses death, due to his age he is unacceptive. This exemplifies his fear/denial.
‘When the officer shouted the boy clicked to attention, but the man stayed as he was.’
This shows to the reader the difference in the characters, the boy is submissive to the officers, possibly trying to change their mind and avoid death, but the man is uncaring and acceptive of his impending state.
‘The way the burst in all directions seemed shocking like the buttons when he started to tear at his tunic.’ (furze pods)
Linking back to the anecdote previous in the story, adding to the motif of death, and it’s lasting effect of those who witness it. The reader is subjected to the idea that the narrator’s father suffers with PTSD.
‘threshing of fish on the line beaded with running drops of water … the river was dead silent, except for the occasional lowing of cattle on the banks.’
Imagery: contrasts the topic of death/war/the anecdote described by the narrator’s father.
‘They got ten thousand dollars when Luke was killed.’
Leading to turning point, the narrator hears the shocking news, The mention of ‘Luke’ shows the reader this an underlying event in their lives, and has been known by the Father.
‘Splintering of self-esteem.’
Sibilance building tension, a turning point within the story as the narrator grows up, the reality of his relationship with is father/future becomes real.
‘I knew my youth had ended.’
Narrator states to the reader the pivotal moment in which the story, and his life, shifted.
‘His fingers baiting each single hook so beautifully.’
The narrator describes his father fishing, but it acts as a metaphor for him almost luring his son into the army, to have the gain eventually for himself (money).
‘He asked, without lifting his eyes from the hooks and box of worms.’
This creates tension as the characters are interacting awkwardly. This can be seen as a metaphor him focusing singularly on his plan, helping himself, ignoring his sons needs/wants for his future.
‘You won’t be able to say I didn’t give you the chance when you come to nothing in this fool of a country. It’ll be your own funeral.’
The father implies that staying in the country will lead to his own death, yet there is the same possibility if he goes to America. The desperation is clear, in the bitter tone used.
‘The shock I felt was the shock I was to feel later.’
Repetition, stresses the narrator’s feelings to the reader.
‘Talking about the execution disturbed me no end, those cursed buttons bursting into the air.’
Cyclical structure, the repeated idea of the buttons/trauma, showing the scale of the impact it made on the father.
‘Let the fool of a country defend itself, I’d be better off today.’
Father describes his opinion post-war, which is Irony as it contrasts his advice to his own son.
