Translations

Translations Literary Elements

Genre

Tragicomedy

Language

English

Setting and Context

Baile Beag, a fictional village in Ireland, late August 1833

Narrator and Point of View

No narrator

Tone and Mood

Dramatic, Serious, Comedic

Protagonist and Antagonist

Protagonists are Owen and Manus. Antagonist is Lancey, Yolland and English Army

Major Conflict

The English Army has come to Baile Beag to anglicize the Irish place names and generally take control of the region.

Climax

When Yolland goes missing, Captain Lancey declares that if he is not found in 48 hours the English will shoot the Irish livestock, evict the families and tear down their homes.

Foreshadowing

Maire's distinterest in Manus' new job foreshadows his eventual heartbreak.

Understatement

Many characters understate their emotions, either getting drunk or leaving in the face of conflict.

Allusions

Allusions to ancient Greek and Latin poetry, to Wordsworth, to Greek mythology.

Imagery

The hedge-school is the central setting of the play.

Paradox

Manus gets the job, the income, home, animals and social standing he needs to marry Maire, but she no longer wants to marry him.

Parallelism

Manus demanding Sarah say her name at the end of the play parallels the opening scene in which he teaches her to do so.

Personification

Use of Dramatic Devices

Many events occur offstage, and we only hear characters talking about them, such as Yolland's disappearance, or the arrival of the soldiers, or the fire.

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