Rebecca Morra
Professor Sullivan
English 216
October 20, 2015 A Star Called Henry is a fantastically, historically invigorating novel written by Roddy Doyle. Within his novella, Doyle manages to use historically correct facts whilst also adding a tad of fiction in such as Henry, the main character, narrating his own birth scene. Getting back to the historically correct facts, Doyle mentions the Easter Rising which occurred in 1916 and the Irish War of Independence, which occurred from 1919-1921, and many famous Irish men such as James Connolly, Patrick Pearse, and Michael Collins. Although they may not be explained in depth with facts, Doyle gives us what it may have been like through personal and intimate details through Henry; someone who was raised in the slums and was the epitome of the Irish culture of that time. …show more content…
Although Henry was not a real person, James Connolly certainly was and the events that followed. “And now, only a few minutes later, Pearse and Connolly were about to go back outside, and Clarke with them. We heard cheering: the crowd across the street was watching the green, white and orange flag of the Republic being hoisted to the top of the flagpole above us. They clapped and cheered. I picture the flag being caught by the wind and opened, colour by colour. And Countess Markievicz’s bedspread was flying up there as well, with its gold and mustard lettering – Irish Republic. I cheered too; I couldn’t help it” (Doyle, 108). In the actual events of the Easter Rising of 1916, James Connolly was part of the Irish Citizen Army, and in charge of planning was Tom Clarke and Patrick Pearse, the Director of Military
Professor Sullivan
English 216
October 20, 2015 A Star Called Henry is a fantastically, historically invigorating novel written by Roddy Doyle. Within his novella, Doyle manages to use historically correct facts whilst also adding a tad of fiction in such as Henry, the main character, narrating his own birth scene. Getting back to the historically correct facts, Doyle mentions the Easter Rising which occurred in 1916 and the Irish War of Independence, which occurred from 1919-1921, and many famous Irish men such as James Connolly, Patrick Pearse, and Michael Collins. Although they may not be explained in depth with facts, Doyle gives us what it may have been like through personal and intimate details through Henry; someone who was raised in the slums and was the epitome of the Irish culture of that time. …show more content…
Although Henry was not a real person, James Connolly certainly was and the events that followed. “And now, only a few minutes later, Pearse and Connolly were about to go back outside, and Clarke with them. We heard cheering: the crowd across the street was watching the green, white and orange flag of the Republic being hoisted to the top of the flagpole above us. They clapped and cheered. I picture the flag being caught by the wind and opened, colour by colour. And Countess Markievicz’s bedspread was flying up there as well, with its gold and mustard lettering – Irish Republic. I cheered too; I couldn’t help it” (Doyle, 108). In the actual events of the Easter Rising of 1916, James Connolly was part of the Irish Citizen Army, and in charge of planning was Tom Clarke and Patrick Pearse, the Director of Military