Chapter VI
1. In the beginning of the chapter, the geometry teacher Mr. O’Neil gets into trouble with the headmaster. He argues with Mr. O’Dea because both of them are possessive of Euclid. Mr. Neil likes to reward his best students with apple peel. He skins the apple while the students are watching the process, and shares the apple peel with the student whom he considers to be the best one.
2. Fintan chooses Question Quigley, Frankie and Paddy Clohessy to have some of his apple peel. However, it is not that pleasant for the boys, since everyone hates Fintan and they do not have any intention to become friends with him.
3. McCourt family is obviously poor, and they have no food to eat. The Clohessies live in poverty as well, the father of the family is dying an the whole family is starving. When at Slattery’s, Paddy exclaims, “I never had a sangwidge in me life”. (McCourt 158) Paddy Clohessy lives in very bad conditions (missing stairs, dirty buckets where his father spits to, etc. For Frankie, it is nice to spend night at Paddy’s; he aims at being accepted by the boys at school. Frankie realizes that Paddy’s life is no easier than his own, and finds some relief in realizing this fact.
4. While returning from the Clohessy’s house, Angela cannot stop crying on seeing the dying man. She recalls how young and carefree they used to be and compares the current situation with that in her memory. Frankie feels relieved not to face the same trouble.
Chapter VII
1. McCourt talks about his father’s behaviour. When in the post-office and going to sends 5 pounds for his grandson, the father goes to the pub. Frank is furious and pitiful for the father simultaneously. However, he realizes that wasting money for drinks cannot but affect McCourt’s family in a negative way. Nevertheless, the way Malachy treats his father reveals the relations full of despair and love.
2. Despite the fact that Frankie is a child, he produces an impression of a quite mature person. In the passage about Mickey Spellacy, who kept on losing his brothers and sisters dying from consumption, he feels satisfied when his friend Michael dies. It reminds the readers that Frankie is still a child and sees some situations from a child’s perspective no matter how mature he is in other situations.
3. Frankie is obviously attached to Mr Timoney for he always encourages the …