Consequence Of Events In First Confession
I have included some ideas for discussion points for most questions. Please add your own.
*Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) for background information.
*Review the sequence of events in “First Confession” with the group. This will ensure that everyone is familiar with the story.
Jackie is a seven-year Catholic boy who must make his first confession before he can take his first communion. He is embarrassed by his grandmother who has just moved in with his parents because she drinks porter beer and eats her potatoes with her fingers, and favors his sister Norma. Jackie is prepared for his first confession by Mrs. Ryan.
Jackie is afraid to make his first confession because he is worried that the priest will …show more content…
Different themes are present in “First Confession” such as fear and understanding as well as honesty and hypoocrisy.
Fear and Understanding
After hearing Mrs. Ryan’s visions of burning in hell, Jackie exclaims: “I was scared to death of confession.” Jackie is ready to run from the church instead of going to it.
On the other hand, the priest’s understanding and patience causes Jackie to willingly to listen and talk about his sins with the priest in the confessional booth. Jackie changes from a naïve young boy who was scared of confession to having an understanding of confession
What effect is gained by the author’s description (contrast) of these characters? Ask the group for their answers.
Note Foil: Usually a character who points ups the characteristics of another character. For instance, a foolish character shows up the character of wise character in a differnt light. Source: NCT’s Dictionary of Literary Terms. I could not find “foil” in Abrams.
What other character foil exists in the story? Jackie and
*Read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5, 6, and 7) for background information.
*Review the sequence of events in “First Confession” with the group. This will ensure that everyone is familiar with the story.
Jackie is a seven-year Catholic boy who must make his first confession before he can take his first communion. He is embarrassed by his grandmother who has just moved in with his parents because she drinks porter beer and eats her potatoes with her fingers, and favors his sister Norma. Jackie is prepared for his first confession by Mrs. Ryan.
Jackie is afraid to make his first confession because he is worried that the priest will …show more content…
Different themes are present in “First Confession” such as fear and understanding as well as honesty and hypoocrisy.
Fear and Understanding
After hearing Mrs. Ryan’s visions of burning in hell, Jackie exclaims: “I was scared to death of confession.” Jackie is ready to run from the church instead of going to it.
On the other hand, the priest’s understanding and patience causes Jackie to willingly to listen and talk about his sins with the priest in the confessional booth. Jackie changes from a naïve young boy who was scared of confession to having an understanding of confession
What effect is gained by the author’s description (contrast) of these characters? Ask the group for their answers.
Note Foil: Usually a character who points ups the characteristics of another character. For instance, a foolish character shows up the character of wise character in a differnt light. Source: NCT’s Dictionary of Literary Terms. I could not find “foil” in Abrams.
What other character foil exists in the story? Jackie and