small things like these Flashcards
Q: Who is the author of Small Things Like These?
“A: Claire Keegan.”
Q: In what year is Small Things Like These set?
“A: 1985.”
Q: Where is Small Things Like These set?
“A: A small Irish town.”
Q: Who is the main character in Small Things Like These?
“A: Bill Furlong.”
Q: What is Bill Furlong’s occupation?
“A: He is a coal and timber merchant.”
Q: What does Bill discover in the convent?
“A: A young girl locked in a coal shed.”
Q: What theme does the convent represent in the novel?
“A: The abuse of power and moral corruption.”
Q: What does Bill’s discovery symbolize?
“A: The hidden suffering in society.”
Q: Who says, ‘If you stayed quiet, you stayed out of trouble’?
“A: Bill Furlong.”
Q: How does Bill feel about the convent’s treatment of the girl?
“A: He is disturbed and morally conflicted.”
Q: What theme does Bill’s character primarily explore?
“A: Moral courage and compassion.”
Q: What does Bill’s background as an illegitimate child signify?
“A: It gives him empathy for the marginalized.”
Q: How does Bill’s wife Eileen feel about his concerns?
“A: She is practical and cautious
Q: What role does the winter setting play in the novel?
“A: It symbolizes coldness
Q: What literary device does Keegan use to reflect the atmosphere of the town?
“A: Imagery of bleak
Q: What does the title Small Things Like These refer to?
“A: Acts of kindness and small gestures that bring meaning.”
Q: Who says, ‘It’d be a fine thing if everyone minded their own business’?
“A: Eileen Furlong.”
Q: How does Keegan portray the townspeople’s attitude towards the convent?
“A: As complicit and indifferent.”
Q: What theme does the Christmas season highlight?
“A: Hypocrisy
Q: What does the Magdalen Laundries represent?
“A: The exploitation of vulnerable women by the Church.”
Q: Who in the novel represents moral integrity?
“A: Bill Furlong
Q: What does Bill’s mother symbolize?
“A: Resilience and sacrifice for her son’s future.”
Q: How does Keegan explore the theme of family?
“A: Through Bill’s relationship with his wife and daughters.”
Q: What does Bill’s act of kindness towards the girl signify?
“A: The power of individual action in the face of injustice.”
Q: Who says, ‘Sure, what could you do?’?
“A: Eileen
Q: What does the recurring cold and darkness symbolize?
“A: The emotional and moral coldness in society.”
Q: How does Keegan use symbolism with coal and timber?
“A: They represent warmth
Q: What is the theme of courage in Small Things Like These?
“A: It’s shown through Bill’s decision to stand up against wrongdoing.”
Q: How does Bill’s memory of his mother influence him?
“A: It inspires empathy and a desire to help those suffering.”
Q: What theme is represented by Bill’s family life?
“A: Stability
Q: Who says, ‘Some things are best left alone’?
“A: A nun at the convent
Q: What is the significance of the Christmas season in the novel?
“A: It contrasts with the cruelty hidden in the convent.”
Q: How does Keegan portray the Church’s role in Irish society?
“A: As both powerful and morally questionable.”
Q: What does Bill’s kindness to the girl ultimately cost him?
“A: It risks his reputation and business but strengthens his integrity.”
Q: How does Bill’s upbringing affect his character?
“A: Growing up with a single mother gives him compassion for the vulnerable.”
Q: How is the convent portrayed in Small Things Like These?
“A: As a place of hypocrisy and cruelty.”
Q: What technique does Keegan use to convey Bill’s inner struggle?
“A: Stream of consciousness and introspective narration.”
Q: What does the convent’s secrecy symbolize?
“A: The silence around abuses in society.”
Q: Who says, ‘A man who wants to do good will find plenty to trouble him’?
“A: A reflection of Bill’s moral dilemma.”
Q: What theme does the Christmas setting underscore?
“A: The contrast between the holiday’s spirit of kindness and societal cruelty.”
Q: What is Bill’s relationship with his children like?
“A: Loving and attentive
Q: What is Bill Furlong’s primary moral conflict?
“A: Whether to help the girl and risk his own security.”
Q: How does Keegan use Bill’s memories of his mother?
“A: To show his empathy and respect for strong women.”
Q: How does Small Things Like These critique society?
“A: By showing the silence and complicity surrounding injustices.”
Q: What does Bill’s interaction with the girl at the convent signify?
“A: A pivotal moment where he confronts moral decay.”
Q: How does Eileen’s practical advice affect Bill?
“A: It reinforces his sense of duty but conflicts with his compassion.”
Q: What does the character of the Mother Superior represent?
“A: Authority and denial of accountability.”
Q: Who says, ‘There’s no shortage of suffering in this world’?
“A: Bill Furlong
Q: What does Bill’s act of kindness toward the girl show about him?
“A: His willingness to stand up for what’s right.”
Q: How does Small Things Like These depict the impact of small actions?
“A: By showing how Bill’s kindness challenges societal norms.”
Q: What is the tone of Small Things Like These?
“A: Reflective and somber
Q: How does Keegan portray women in the novel?
“A: As resilient but often oppressed by society.”
Q: What is the role of community in Small Things Like These?
“A: It’s both supportive and complicit in wrongdoing.”
Q: What does the coal delivery symbolize?
“A: Warmth and Bill’s role as a provider of both physical and moral warmth.”
Q: Who says, ‘Not everyone is cut out to be a saint’?
“A: A neighbor
Q: How does Keegan use imagery of coldness?
“A: To reflect the emotional detachment in the community.”
Q: What technique does Keegan use to highlight the cruelty of the convent?
“A: Descriptive and stark language.”
Q: What is Bill’s ultimate decision at the end of the novel?
“A: He chooses to help the girl
Q: How does the setting of 1985 affect the story?
“A: It highlights societal norms and the influence of the Church.”
Q: What role does religion play in the novel?
“A: It’s shown as both oppressive and hypocritical.”
Q: What does Bill’s refusal to ignore the girl’s plight show?
“A: His empathy and unwillingness to conform to silence.”
Q: How does Small Things Like These address complicity?
“A: By illustrating how society often ignores suffering.”
Q: What does Bill’s relationship with his daughters signify?
“A: His dedication to family and compassion.”
Q: How is kindness portrayed in the novel?
“A: As a powerful but rare quality in a harsh society.”
Q: What does the convent’s secrecy reveal about society?
“A: Its tendency to hide uncomfortable truths.”
Q: How does Keegan use the theme of isolation?
“A: To reflect the emotional and social separation in the town.”
Q: What is Bill’s primary internal struggle?
“A: Choosing between personal safety and helping the oppressed.”
Q: What role does poverty play in Small Things Like These?
“A: It affects characters’ choices and vulnerability.”
Q: How does Keegan critique the Church’s power?
“A: By depicting its abuse of authority over vulnerable women.”
Q: Who is the girl Bill finds in the coal shed?
“A: An unnamed young girl trapped by the convent.”
Q: What theme is reflected in Bill’s compassion for the girl?
“A: Humanity and empathy in the face of indifference.”
Q: How does Bill’s experience with the convent change him?
“A: It strengthens his resolve to act against injustice.”
Q: What does the bleak landscape symbolize?
“A: The harsh reality and moral coldness of society.”
Q: What technique does Keegan use to portray the community’s silence?
“A: Subdued dialogue and limited direct confrontation.”
Q: How does Bill’s background influence his view on suffering?
“A: He understands hardship from his own upbringing.”
Q: What does the coal shed symbolize in the novel?
“A: The confinement and oppression faced by the girl.”
Q: How does Eileen’s character contrast with Bill’s?
“A: She embodies practicality
Q: What is the significance of Bill’s mother’s influence?
“A: It shapes his empathy and understanding of suffering.”
Q: How does Keegan illustrate the theme of moral responsibility?
“A: Through Bill’s actions and decisions regarding the girl.”
Q: What does Bill’s refusal to conform signify?
“A: A challenge to societal norms and expectations.”
Q: How does the ending of Small Things Like These resonate?
“A: It emphasizes the importance of small acts of kindness.”
Q: How does Keegan use foreshadowing in the novel?
“A: To hint at the moral dilemmas Bill will face.”
Q: What does the character of the girl represent?
“A: The innocence and vulnerability exploited by society.”
Q: What is the primary conflict in the novel?
“A: Bill’s internal struggle between complicity and moral action.”
Q: What is the overall message of Small Things Like These?
“A: The importance of individual actions in combating societal wrongs.”
Q: How does Keegan depict the emotional landscape of the characters?
“A: Through rich imagery and introspective narration.”
Q: What does Bill’s business represent in the town?
“A: Stability and a connection to the community.”
Q: How is the theme of kindness explored?
“A: Through Bill’s interactions and his decision to help the girl.”
Q: What is the significance of the title Small Things Like These?
“A: It highlights the value of small acts of kindness in making a difference.”
