Belfast Confetti

Question 1

Belfast confetti:

Context?

Answer 1

1990

Ciaran Carson:
• born in 1948
• grew up & lives in Northern Ireland

• 1970s-1996 - time period known as “Troubles”

Northern Ireland:
• 1960s - Catholic minority campaigned against protestant discrimination against them
• 1970s - protests became violent & British army soldiers were posted to Northern Ireland

• Nationalists vs Unionists

• Roman Catholic unionists (wanted to reunite with Ireland)
• Protestant loyalists (loyal to British crown) (unwanted presence in their own country)

Question 2

Belfast confetti:

Subject?

Question 3

Belfast confetti:

Form?

Structure?

Answer 3

• Form: fragmented
• Starts in media res

Question 4

Belfast confetti:

Tone?

Rhyme & rhythm?

Question 5

Belfast confetti:

Key quotes?

Answer 5

“Suddenly”

“Riot squad”

“Raining exclamation marks”

“A fount of broken type”

“And the explosion”

“An asterisk on the map”

“Blocked with stops and colons”

“I know this labyrinth so well - Balaclava, Raglan, Inkerman, Odessa Street”

“Every move is punctuated”

“What is
My name?”

“A fusillade of question marks”