Juno and the Paycock: Characters test questions - CCEA

1

Who makes these unsympathetic comments about the death and funeral of Mrs Tancred’s son?

“We’ve nothin’ to do with these things, one way or t’other. That’s the Government’s business, an’ let them do what we’re payin’ them for doin’.”

2

Read this extract:

Mary with her jumper off – it is lying on the back of a chair – is arranging her hair before a tiny mirror perched on the table. Beside the mirror is stretched out the morning paper, which she looks at when she isn’t gazing into the mirror. She is a well-made and good-looking girl of twenty-two. Two forces are working in her mind – one, through the circumstances of her life, pulling her back; the other, through the influence of books she has read, pushing her forward. The opposing forces are apparent in her speech and in her manners, both of which are degraded by her environment, and improved by her acquaintance – slight though it be – with literature.
Act 1

O’Casey is describing more than just Mary’s physical appearance here. What aspect of her character is he drawing our attention to?

3

Name one way in which Joxer show himself to be fickle in his loyalty to Boyle.

4

Johnny talks about being principled and seems brave saying he would “do it agen” when Juno talks about how he was injured during Easter week. But when a young man comes asking him to attend a Battalion Staff meeting, what is his response?

5

Read this extract.

Mrs. Boyle
We’ll go. Come, Mary, an’ we’ll never come back here agen. Let your father furrage for himself now; I’ve done all I could an’ it was all no use – he’ll be hopeless till the end of his days. I’ve got a little room in me sisther’s where we’ll stop till your throuble is over, an’ then we’ll work together for the sake of the baby.
Mary
My poor little child that’ll have no father!
Mrs. Boyle
It’ll have what’s far betther – it’ll have two mothers.
Act 3

What do Juno’s words in this extract show about her character?

6

Jerry searches for Boyle at the start of the play to tell him about a job that he could get. How does Boyle show himself to be lazy and uninterested in work?

7

Juno is the only person in the house bringing in money as Mary is on strike, Johnny is injured, and Jack is unwilling to get a job. When we first see her we find out how hard working she is, but how does the play show this?

8

Johnny and Mary are brother and sister. How does Johnny treat his sister when he finds out she is pregnant?

9

Read this extract:

Boyle
Father Farrell stopped me to-day an’ tole me how glad he was I fell in for the money.
Joxer
He’ll be stoppin’ you ofen enough now; I suppose it was ‘Mr.’ Boyle with him?
Boyle
He shuk me be the han’ …
Joxer
[ironically] I met Napper Tandy, an’ he shuk me be the han’!
Boyle
You’re seldom asthray, Joxer, but you’re wrong shipped this time. What you’re sayin’ of Father Farrell is very near to blasfeemey. I don’t like any one to talk disrespectful of Father Farrell.
Joxer
You’re takin’ me up wrong, Captain; I wouldn’t let a word be said agen Father Farrell – the heart o’ the rowl, that’s what he is; I always said he was a darlin’ man, a daarlin’ man
Act 2

What can we tell about Joxer’s character from this extract?

10

Read this extract:

Mrs. Boyle
I don’t know why you wanted to walk out for Jennie Claffey; up to this you never had a good word for her.
Mary
What’s the use of belongin’ to a Trades Union if you won’t stand up for your principles? Why did they sack her? It was a clear case of victimization. We couldn’t let her walk the streets, could we?
Mrs. Boyle
No, of course yous couldn’t – yous wanted to keep her company. Wan victim wasn’t enough. When the employers sacrifice wan victim, the Trades Unions go wan betther be sacrificin’ a hundred.
Mary
It doesn’t matther what you say, ma – a principle’s a principle.
Mrs. Boyle
Yis; an’ when I go into oul’ Murphy’s tomorrow, an’ he gets to know that, instead o’ payin’ all, I’m goin’ to borry more, what’ll he say when I tell him a principle’s a principle? What’ll we do if he refuses to give us any more on tick?
Mary
He daren’t refuse – if he does, can’t you tell him he’s paid?.
Act 1

Mary is sticking to her principles by going on strike on behalf of a girl who Mrs Boyle says she "never had a good word for" before now. In what way does Mrs Boyle’s attention to practical details highlight how idealistic Mary is being?