Themes

Question 1

Name the five main themes in the play:

Answer 1

Isolation 
Communication 
Translation 
Colonisation 
Identification

Question 2

Examples of translation:

Answer 2

Loss of culture and meaning: place names

Loss of identity: Owen’s wrong name

Question 3

Examples of Communication:

Answer 3

The need to understand culture: Yolland’s hesitancy and disappointment.
Communication in relationships: Maire and Yolland’s mirrored exchange after the party.

Question 4

Examples of Colonisation

Answer 4

The loss of culture and tradition: new national school.
Conflict between locals and the army: Yolland’s disappearance, Doalty’s tampering.
The arrival of the British: Lancey’s superiority.

Question 5

Examples of Isolation

Answer 5

Inability to communicate and connect: Yolland’s adoration of Ireland and struggle with language.
Isolation through education: Jimmy Jack’s lack of relationships due to Classical education

Question 6

Examples of Identification:

Answer 6

The importance of naming: Sarah’s struggle
Loss of identity with colonisation: local reluctance to use English place names
Different attitudes to identity: Owen’s mistaken name.

Question 7

Examples of Love:

Answer 7

Romance: Yolland and Maire’s coupling
For a language: Hugh and Jimmy Jack’s love for the classics
Unrequited love: Manus and Maire, Sarah and Manus