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Bog Child - Explain the quotes

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  • "He called me the child time forgot." (Mel- chapter 2)
    It's our first hint that Mel is in some way different to the rest of her community.
  • "Because otherwise that squaddie of yours will end up a has-been." (Michael Rafters in chapter 25).
    Michael is threatening to have Fergus' new friend Owain. the commonly used method of intimidation and threats to get people to do things
  • "It's about dignity Mam. Human dignity. Da understands." (Joe to mam in chapter 11).
    Joe explains why he's gone on hunger strike. His dad understands because he's an IRA sympathiser (agrees with their cause).
  • "It's the short straw being sent to Ulster" (Owain in chapter 18). "At least I'm not underground all day." (in a coal mine)
    When Owain joined the British Army he had hoped he wouldn't be posted in N. Ireland.He got unlucky to be posted there.But in Whales he'd be in coal mining .
  • "Please don't go the same way as your brother Fergus. Tell me you won't." (Fergus' mum - chapter 3)
    His mum's fear that he'll join the IRA just like his older brother Joe who's now in prison.
  • "She is not a child at all. Is she?" He sat up. "No". (Fergus to Cora about Mel. Chapter 29))
    Here Cora tells Fergus Mel was a dwarf and that is why they (her tribe) killed her.
  • "Is it the Provos Unk?" (Fergus, chapter 1). .."Is it somebody they killed?"
    On finding the body in the bog Fergus assumes they were murdered by the IRA as that was a common occurrence.
  • "Celebrate? What in God's name is there to celebrate?" (Padraig to Fergus)
    Fergus asks Padraig to go for a pint at Uncle Tally's bar. Unk said he would buy him a pint/beer to celebrate the end of their exams..
  • "And would you think of some arguments Fergus?" (Mam in chapter 13).
    Mam's reliance on Fergus. She wants him to talk Joe out of Hungerstriking when they go to meet him in jail.
  • "Up here in the mountains, the Troubles don't seem to count". (Fergus' thoughts - chapter 6)
    The mountains were Fergus' escape from the horrors of the conflict and the impact that it had had on his family. He ran there in the mornings.
  • "Tell him (Uncle Tally) it was all for the best." (Joe to Fergus in chapter 26).
    Joe wants Fergus to deliver this message to Uncle Tally which arouses our suspicions about Unk. Seems he and Joe have secrets.
  • Joe, Fergus thought. You'll be next. Maybe tomorrow, maybe in two weeks. We'll be here again, in this place. But this time we'll be grouped around the McCanns' family plot, under the great Scots pine. (Fergus, Chapter 30)
    Fergus worried about his brother's condition at the Lennie's funeral. worrying that Joe will be the next one to die, if he does not stop the strike.
  • "It will get you nowhere only in a coffin. What use is that?" (Fergus to Joe).
    Fergus is trying to convince Joe to be rationale and understand that he can die if he doesn't stop the hunger strike.
  • *** "Three Bs and you've a place for medicine in Aberdeen Fergus Mc Cann. A whole new life. A whole new world."
    Mr O' Dwyer (teacher) to Fergus. Shows Fergus is bright and has a future.
  • "And what I want to know is what did I do wrong?" (Mam in chapter 23)
    Mam blames herself for the decisions Joe made.
  • "That's not a die-hard Mc Cann I hear talking? You're not afraid are you?" (Michael Rafters - chapter 7)
    The pressure is being put on Fergus to become a 'runner' for the IRA. Recruiting Fergus and trying to persuade him.
  • "One day the only border will be the sea and the only thing guarding it the dunes and the only people living in it Republicans. One day, Fergus." (Uncle Tally, chapter 1).
    It tells us that Uncle Tally is a republican at heart and wants a United Ireland.
  • "A coffin's a mighty statement Ferg." (Joe to Fergus in chapter 11).
    Joe believes that his death will help the cause of the IRA and that it is a bold or honourable thing to do.
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