Angela’s Ashes Essay Assignment
You will be writing an in-class literary analysis essay on Frank McCourt’s memoir Angela’s Ashes on
Friday, September 11. Remember that a literary analysis essay does not simply summarize plot, but
analyzes an aspect of the literature and relates that aspect to the work as a whole. You may bring this
sheet with notes on the back to help you write your essay. You should also have your book with you for
accurately quotations and citations.
Choose from one of the prompts below. This essay is worth 100 points. Make it good! 
1. Throughout his memoir, McCourt uses various symbols to convey larger concepts and themes.
Discuss at least two symbols he uses throughout and how he uses them to shape the meaning of
the work as a whole.
2. Although McCourt writes his memoir as an adult, he seems to write it from the point of view of a
child, conveying his thoughts at the time these events were happening. How does he do this?
How does this affect the telling of his story and the meaning of the work as a whole?
3. This memoir is a Bildungsroman, a coming-of-age story, which recounts the psychological or
moral development of its protagonist from youth to maturity. As the Frank matures, he
recognizes his place in the world. Select a pivotal moment or a motif (poverty, family, hunger,
etc.) in Frank’s psychological or moral development and analyze how that moment or motif
shapes the work as a whole (i.e. how it figures into his development). Do not summarize plot!
4. Religion seems to play a major role in Frank’s childhood. Discuss the role religion plays
throughout his life, considering how this role may change and why it may change. Then, analyze
how Frank’s relationship with religion shapes the meaning of the work as a whole.
Some things to remember:
 You MUST use direct quotes from the novel, integrated and cited correctly.
Example: Young Frank is made to believe that despite the family’s poverty, begging at the St.
Vincent de Paul Society is “the worst kind of shame” and worries that if anyone he knows sees his
mother doing so, “the family will be disgraced entirely” (250).
 Do NOT refer explicitly to your essay in your essay.
 Do NOT use 1st or 2nd person.
 Make sure the introduction introduces the book and includes the title and the author.
 You must have a thesis statement that states your main argument and alludes to your supporting
reasons at the end of your introduction.
 Each paragraph should have a topic sentence that relates to the thesis and introduces each main
idea/point. The paragraph should then explain and illustrate the idea and prove the point with
specific examples and brief quoted material.
 Remember that this book is a memoir and NOT a novel.