High School Academics

1. ““THE STUDYTHE STUDY
OF HISTORY”OF HISTORY”

2.  Frank O'ConnorFrank O'Connor
was born Michaelwas born Michael
O'Donovan inO'Donovan in
Douglas Street,Douglas Street,
Cork, in 1903.Cork, in 1903.
 He fought forHe fought for
IrishIrish
independenceindependence

3.  He published hundreds of shortHe published hundreds of short
stories, translations of Irish poetry,stories, translations of Irish poetry,
novels, plays, criticisms, a biographynovels, plays, criticisms, a biography
and an autobiography.and an autobiography.
 Frank O'Connor was a superbFrank O'Connor was a superb
craftsman, a master of the short storycraftsman, a master of the short story
and a brilliant translator of Irishand a brilliant translator of Irish
poetry. He died in 1966.poetry. He died in 1966.

4. Frank O'Connor grew upFrank O'Connor grew up
in a troubled,in a troubled,
impoverished home, butimpoverished home, but
he found refuge in thehe found refuge in the
imaginary world ofimaginary world of
literature.literature.

5.  He was an avid reader as aHe was an avid reader as a
young boy and by the time heyoung boy and by the time he
was 12 had already begun towas 12 had already begun to
pursue his life's work as apursue his life's work as a
writer, creating an anthologywriter, creating an anthology
of his own biographies,of his own biographies,
poems, and essays on Irishpoems, and essays on Irish
historyhistory..

6.  For many years, O'ConnorFor many years, O'Connor
worked as a librarian in Cork andworked as a librarian in Cork and
in Dublin, his occupation beingin Dublin, his occupation being
one that gave him time to write.one that gave him time to write.
Eventually he became one ofEventually he became one of
Ireland's most influential literaryIreland's most influential literary
figures, producing everythingfigures, producing everything
from poetry to novels, travelfrom poetry to novels, travel
books to literary criticism.books to literary criticism.

7.  His passion for writing isHis passion for writing is
evident not only in hisevident not only in his
work but also in his writingwork but also in his writing
habits: he was known tohabits: he was known to
revise his stories over andrevise his stories over and
over again.over again.

8.  Making inferences is “readingMaking inferences is “reading
between the lines,” or makingbetween the lines,” or making
logical guesses based onlogical guesses based on
information in the text andinformation in the text and
common sense.common sense.
 Readers combine clues in the textReaders combine clues in the text
with what they already know fromwith what they already know from
their experience to figure outtheir experience to figure out
what is not directly stated.what is not directly stated.

9.  CharacterizationCharacterization - Method the- Method the
author uses to bring hisauthor uses to bring his
characters to life.characters to life.
 Four basic methods includeFour basic methods include
physical description; thephysical description; the
character’s speech, thoughts,character’s speech, thoughts,
feelings, or actions; and thefeelings, or actions; and the
speech, thoughts, feelings andspeech, thoughts, feelings and
actions of other charactersactions of other characters

10.  Confronting what he mightConfronting what he might
have been if his parents hadhave been if his parents had
married other people, a youngmarried other people, a young
boy begins to appreciate theboy begins to appreciate the
power of heritage when hepower of heritage when he
sees how his parents havesees how his parents have
affected his lifestyle andaffected his lifestyle and
identity.identity.

11.  What would your life haveWhat would your life have
been like if your ancestorsbeen like if your ancestors
had made different decisionshad made different decisions
before you were born?before you were born?
 For example, what if yourFor example, what if your
family had decided to settle infamily had decided to settle in
a different country?a different country?

12.  What if your mother hadWhat if your mother had
chosen a different mate?chosen a different mate?
 Imagine a different set ofImagine a different set of
circumstances in your familycircumstances in your family
background.background.
 Would your life end up beingWould your life end up being
better or worse?better or worse?