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Me and Ma Gal

Violence. Me and Ma Gal. Aggression. The ‘Tecs’ shout sectarian abuse at the boys: “ We’ll get you ya wee Fenian Bastards” (11) There seems to be a constant threat of violence: “ Man it was a dangerous place.” (16)

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Me and Ma Gal

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  1. Violence Me and Ma Gal

  2. Aggression The ‘Tecs’ shout sectarian abuse at the boys: “We’ll get you ya wee Fenian Bastards” (11) There seems to be a constant threat of violence: “Man it was a dangerous place.” (16) A lot of young people have to act violent but most of it is bravado, such as the young boys who wind up the Bricklayer but run away “screamin like big lassies.” (32)

  3. Violence breeds violence Violence seems to be an everyday part of the children’s lives: Gal’s “Maw and Daw battered lumps out” their sons The Bricklayer’s violent nature is explained by the death of his wife and child after boys threw a concrete block on the tracks.

  4. The fascination of violence Violence is at the heart of the boys’ games: “We felt like two sojers on a special mission.” (23) Derrick looks up to his dad: “ma Da was in the army an he used to teach the rest of the army how to kill people without any gun or anythin” (25) This sounds like a boast At times fighting sounds like a game: “Man we had some great fights so we did.”(26) Gal and Derrick are encouraged to fight by Gal’s brothers for their entertainment.

  5. Inherent Although Derrick seems innocent and sensitive even he seems to have an innate violent streak: “the time I took a krazy an couldn’t stop bangin Gal’s head off the kerb…I kind of liked it an didn’t like it at the same time.” (26)

  6. Inciting Violence Derrick and Gal enjoy inciting violence: The Bricklayer The Golfies

  7. Mental Terry He provides a constant threat of “a kickin” (89) In this chapter the violence escalates. He seems disturbed. He carries a flick-knife. Dillon emphasises Terry’s power over the boys by using a bigger font for his speech – “Whit d’ye say I stick this chib right in yer neck?” (91) There is tension when Terry cuts Derrick’s neck This turns to comedy when Terry realises and hands his “money an fags an knife” to Gal However they then realise that Terry has burnt a bird’s nest – “The cruel bastard” (96) He’s destroyed something completely innocent, his violence is pointless

  8. Strangler Joe He appears among the seagulls in the tip, “it just looked like he was a big movin hole in snow.” Derrick talks about “the blackness of him” Connotations of black? Mysterious, brings death, evil, violence The birds represent innocence – particularly the innocence of Derrick and Gal’s childhood Birds throughout represent freedom

  9. The Chase • Dillon describes Strangler Joe chasing Duffy. • What techniques does he use? • “There’s the Duffy runnin like a rabbit this way an that way an down the hills of ash an rubbish” • Simile, repetition • “Duffy comes whooshin through the smoke followed by the arms of the creepy fella.” • Onomatopoeia, synecdoche – “the arms”

  10. The threat of violence • This adds the thrill of danger to the climax • Confronting the violence of Strangler Joe tests the (secret) faith that Derrick seems to have all the way through the book: “AMEN! I shouts. I shouts it like a swear word.” • He is angry • Being confronted with violence makes Derrick doubt the existence of God

  11. Conclusion • So, violence affects the characters a huge amount. It is part of everyday life and it influences the boys. Dillon makes us realise what a damaging influence violence is by showing us how it corrupts innocence. We are clear by the end of the novel that violence in society is an extremely destructive force. • “So…” – and answer the question • More general statement about what your paragraphs discussed • One sentence about writer, Dillon • One sentence about reader, we/the reader

  12. Questions due 20th November • Choose a novel which deals with an important issue: for example poverty, war, family conflict, injustice or any other issue you regard as important. • State what the issue is and show how the characters cope with the issue in the course of the novel or short story. OR • Choose a novel in which a society or a person or a culture or a setting is effectively portrayed. • Show how the writer’s presentation of the subject makes an impact on you, and helps you to understand the subject in greater depth.

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