Home : Angela's Ashes : Study Guide

Angela's Ashes Study Guide

by Frank McCourt

Angela's Ashes is an autobiographical memoir written by Irish author Frank McCourt published in 1996; the study guide contains a biography of Frank McCourt, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

Protagonist and first-person narrator Frank McCourt begins his memoir of his early life in Limerick, Ireland, with a description of how his parents Angela Sheehan and Malachy McCourt met in New York City and were forced to marry by Angela's cousins Delia and Philomena after Angela became pregnant with Frank.

Things turn bad almost immediately. Malachy can't find work in Depression era New York City and any money he does earn goes into the pubs of New York. Angela struggles to feed her family and relies heavily on her Brooklyn neighbors for help. Malachy is steadier after the birth of Margaret but the baby dies shortly and Angela falls into a deep depression. The cousins save the day once more and arrange for the McCourts to return to Ireland…

Read the full Angela's Ashes Summary

• Angela's Ashes Summary
• About Angela's Ashes
• Character List
• Glossary of Terms
• Major Themes
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters I-II
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters III-V
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters VI-VII
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters VIII-IX
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters X-XI
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters XII-XIII
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters XIV-XV
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters XVI-XVII
• Summary and Analysis of Chapters XVIII-XIX
• The Famine in Ireland
• Related Links on Angela's Ashes
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! - Quiz 4
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources

• Angela's Ashes: Major Themes
• Angela's Ashes: Essays
• Angela's Ashes: Questions
• Angela's Ashes: Purchase the Novel and Related Material
• Frank McCourt: Biography