Philadelphia, Here I Come!: Themes test questions - CCEA

1

Read the extract below and answer the following questions:

S.B.
I suppose you'll be looking for your pay.
Public
I earned it.
S.B.
I’m not saying you didn’t. It’s all there – you needn’t count it.
Public
I didn’t say I was going to count it, did I?
Private
Tick-tock-tick-tock-tick-tock -
Public
More tea?
S.B.
Sure you know I never take a second cup.
Private
[imitating] ‘Sure you know I never take a second cup.’ [brittle and bright again] Okay, okay, okay, it’s better this way, Screwballs, isn’t it? You can’t teach new tricks to two old dogs like us. In the meantime there’s a little matter I’d like to discuss with you, Screwballs… [with exaggerated embarrassment] it’s – it’s nothing really… it’s just something I’m rather hesitant to bring up, but I’m advised by the very best Church authorities that you’ll only be too glad to discuss it with your son. Admittedly, we’re both a bit late in attacking the issue now, but – ha – you see ––
[Madge enters with a plate of bread. Private makes a very obvious show of changing the subject.]
Oh marvellous weather – truly wonderful for the time of year – a real heat wave – all things considered ––
Madge
A body couldn’t get a word in edgeways with you two!
Episode One

What theme does this reveal?

2

Why does Madge say: "A body couldn’t get a word in edgeways with you two!”

3

What does it reveal about what S.B. and Gar usually communicate about?

4

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

Private
[wearily] Mrs Doctor Francis King. September 8th. In harvest sunshine. Red carpet and white lilies and Sean Horgan singing ‘Bless This House’ – and him whipped off to Sligo jail two days later for stealing turf. Honeymoon in Mallorca and you couldn’t have afforded to take her to Malahide, By God, Gar, aul sod, it was a sore hoke on the aul prestige, eh? Between ourselves, aul son, in the privacy of the bedroom, between you and me and the wall, as the fella says, has it left a deep scar on thon aul skitter of a soul, eh? What I mean to say like, you took it sort of bad, between you and me and the wall, as the fella says…
Episode One

What theme of the play is revealed here?

5

Which other character suffered the pain of losing someone they loved to another person?

6

Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow.

Public
It’s all over.
Private
[off, in an echo-chamber voice] And it's all about to begin. It's all over.
Public
And it's all about to begin.
Private
[Now on] Just think, Gar...
Public
Think...
Private
Think… Up in that big bugger of a jet, with its snout pointing straight for the States, and its tail belching smoke over Ireland; and you sitting up at the front [Public acts this] with your competent fingers poised over the controls; and then away down below in the Atlantic you see a bloody bugger of an Irish boat out fishing for bloody pollock and –
[Public nose-dives, engines screaming, machine guns stuttering.]
Episode One

What theme is revealed here?

7

What do Public’s actions reveal about him?

8

Read the following excerpt and answer the question that follows.

Madge
This place is cold. Away off to bed.
S.B.
It’s not like in the old days when the whole countryside did with me; I needed the help then. But it’s different now. I’ll manage by myself now. Eh? I’ll manage fine, eh?
Madge
Fine.
S.B.
D’ye mind the trouble we had keeping him at school after he turned ten. D’you mind nothing would do him but he’d get behind the counter. And he had this wee sailor suit on him this morning –
Madge
A sailor suit? He never had a sailor suit.
Episode Three, Part Two

What theme is being revealed here?