PADDY’S LAMENT
WHAT
? Sad song , balad
/ Sinead
O’Connor Irish
singer / controversed Traditional
Irish song / 19th century Album Nos nua (Old but New) WHO ? Paddy
(short for Patrick) traditional Irish name = symbol for all Irish emigrants Escaped
to the US , mid-1850s , bcse of Potato
Blight People he’s
telling his story to / companions in a pub? Allusions
to President Lincoln and General Meagher WHEN? After or during the American
Civil War (1860-65) Flashback
to the period before left Ireland WHAT
ABOUT ? Paddy’s
disillusionment after reaching the US Hidden episode
of the Irish-American relations LISTEN
TO THE COMPLETE INTRODUCTION 1. PADDY’s LIVING CONDITIONS IN IRELAND very poor
/ starving to death difficulty ? make ends meet /
survive / earn a living consequence ? decide to leave
Ireland for America America
? = land of opportunity Ü make the grade / line his pockets / send money
back home Money for the voyage? No, not the
first penny Csqce
? part with cattle / house / farm of land (plot of land ) € his father /
grandfather / ancestors etc Land = culture / roots /
identity 2.
PADDY IN AMERICA Feelings
? disappointed / disillusioned / sad / homesick / regrets Why? War instead of job / money /
position Lost his leg / amputated
LISTEN
TO THE SECOND PARAGRAPH |
INTERPRETATION A song
sung by .... / an album/LP released in ...... DATING Dates back
to the .....century SYMBOLS A represents
/ stands for / symbolizes ALLUSIONS References
to / be referred to Have difficulty
–ing Find it
hard to v CONSEQUENCE Csqtly /
so much so that / that’s why / no wonder ADDITION What’s
more / moreover / to cap it all / If only
he could / he wishes he could REGRETS If only
he had / had’nt He wishes
he had / hadn’t Link to an online grammar exercice sheet about WISHING/REGRETTING |