Formative Moment Analysis Questions- “Typhoid Fever” and “The Education of Frank McCourt”
Directions: After reading both "Typhoid Fever" and "The Education of Frank McCourt," please answer the
following questions to be turned in the next class. Please post them onto your personal wiki page and also
bring in a hard copy.
"Typhoid Fever"
1. What was the saddest or most shocking episode in "Typhoid Fever"?
The saddest or most shocking episode in “Typhoid Fever” would be the scene when Patricia and Frank were
separated. It seemed to me that even though Patricia was dead due to diphtheria, it was more important that
the separation of Patricia and Frank was the saddest. Patricia, Frank, and Seamus were having fun
memorizing and reading poems when the nun came in. It felt to me their separation caused the death and the
guilty feeling of Patricia making me feel sad.
2. The Kerry nurse asks sharply, "What is there to laugh about?" Find two episodes of comic relief.
Should comedy be used in a sad story?
Two episodes of comic relief would be parts when Patricia copies the nuns “No laughing, Francis, you
could be doin’ serious damage to your internal apparatus. Say your rosary, Francis, and pray for your
internal apparatus.” pg. 367 and also this quote “Give thanks, Francis, give thanks, and say your rosary,
Francis,” Comedy should be used in a sad story, because if the story becomes to sad the readers want to try
to find a happy moment in the book. However if there are no happy or comical parts in the book, the book
will feel different from other books (being sad).
3. Describe the formative moment from "Typhoid Fever." What did young Frank learn about himself in
the hospital? What role did the poetry play in his formative moment?
The formative moment from “Typhoid Fever” was a story about Frank starting to love literature, and
especially feeling a likeness of poem. Young Frank learn about himself in the hospital that he’s a child and
that adults think that children have no right to know. Also he knows that since he was a child, he will be
treated as a baby, as he was trying to walk because he was bed the whole time and also when he was not told
that Patricia was dead.
"The Education of Frank McCourt"
1. Do you think people without high school diplomas should be allowed to enroll in universities? Why or
why not?
People without high school diplomas should not be allowed to enroll in universities, because it is unfair for
the people who have done everything to go to college. When a person graduates everything meaning—
elementary school, middle school, and high school; the person had worked at least 10 years of studying to
go into a decent college. However a person who did not receive high school diploma has cut through some
years of studying, making it unfair for people who have studied for 10 years.
2. Describe the formative moment from "The Education of Frank McCourt." What did the adult Frank
learn about himself in the classroom? What role did his students play in his formative moment?
The formative moment from “The Education of Frank McCourt” was about Frank McCourt’s teachings,
also his education life, and how his teachings impacted students. The adult Frank learned himself in the
classroom, he shouldn’t be shameful for where he came from and his background but be proud of and stand
up for yourself. The role his students play were people who viewed him as just what actually normal people
thought of him, but in a more respectful. In the real world, people do not treat people who have not received
a high school diploma and teaching in university too respectful. However his students respect him and they
encouraged him to change his mindset.
Making the Connection
In a brief paragraph, please compare/contrast the formative moments from both essays. What commonalities do
these moments share? What are the differences?
When comparing and contrasting these two formative moments from both essays, it is important for us to think
critically. Comparing these two formative moments—“Typhoid Fever” and “The Education of Frank McCourt”,
we could see some commonalities and differences. Some of the commonalities were that they were about
coping hardship (Typhoid Fever contained Patricia’s death and The Education of Frank McCourt had parts
about his old life and his education) and contains literature ideas (Typhoid Fever was about McCourt loving
literature and The Education of Frank McCourt was about McCourt’s teaching to the students and also him
learning what it is about). The differences was that the age of Frank was different (Typhoid Fever was about 10
years old and The Education of Frank McCourt was about when he was around 40 years old) and also at those
time the setting and maturity differed (Frank McCourt was very young and was in poverty during Typhoid
Fever but then in The Education of Frank McCourt it was set in a time frame around us and also he was very
mature with what to do with his actions. These two essays and formative moments have relations, because they
contain the same person, but then more like how the feelings and time frame is same. However that doesn’t
mean these two essays were always same, but there is still differences.