reader already knows from previous information that Pa Keating is the children’s uncle. Just as children often incorporate needless information into a conversation, McCourt does the same in his writing. The reader acquires an image that a real conversation is taking place.Frank McCourt also shows the reader, through examples such as on page 16, that his thoughts as a child are quite simple. He tries to describe the anger he feels by stating “a blackness comes over me.” Because of his age, he is unable to clearly describe and fully express his thoughts. This is due to a lack of knowledge. He can only perceive what he knows to be familiar. For instance, he refers to his family standing in the kitchen as “big people” (106). He is easily confused and does not understand complex concepts: “…He can have Malachy and the twins for brothers. He can’t have Margaret anymore because she’s like the dog in the street that was taken away. I don’t know why she was taken away” (43). Concepts such as death and religion are especially difficult for a child to understand. “Mam tells us, That’s the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and I want to know why the man’s heart is on fire and why doesn’t He throw water on it?” (67).A unique relationship forms between the author and the reader through McCourt’s effective ‘show and tell’ narrative method. This gives the reader more involvement and greater emotional attachment. During the first part of this book, he ‘shows’ the reader, through innocent misunderstandings, that interpretation is needed in order to fully understand the context: “Sometimes he [Mr. Leibowitz] speaks to Mrs. Leibowitz and I don’t understand because strange sounds come from his mouth. Freddie understands…smiles back and makes the strange sounds” (38). Here the reader knows that the ‘strange sounds&...
