First Confession by Frank O Connor
First confession short story
SummaryThis story by Frank O'Connor focuses on a little seven year old boy that has conflicts within himself about going to his first confession. The main characters in the story are Jackie a seven-year old boy, an old woman named Ryan, and a priest. Jackie's grandmother comes to live with his family and she is quite different from any women Jackie has been around. She drinks beer, takes snuff, and walks around the house barefoot.

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II). Student Response:
I think this story really shows this little boys conflict within himself. In some way or another everyone influences him. This story shows how the actions and voices of adults can really affect children. Jackie was so scared of confession because the old woman Ryan said horrible things to put the fear of god in him and the other children. After trying to get Jackie or one of the other kids to put their finger in a flame to show them about hell she says, "All eternity! Just think of that! A whole lifetime goes by and it's nothing, not even a drop in the ocean of your suffering" (361). I know that many people have tried to use the fear of god to make children do the right thing but I do not agree with it. I think the priest's approach was so much better. He was patient and kind to Jackie and really made him feel at ease.
III). Study Question of F
irst Confession by Frank O Connor
:- Is Jackie's confession a "good" one?
- Whose religion seems more appealing, Mrs. Ryan or the priest's?
I believe that Jackie's confession is a very good one. He tells the priest everything that has been on his mind. He is very informal about the things that he tells the priest. He does not really understand the proper way to confess but he does great for his first time. I think that the priest's religion seems more appealing. The priest knows how to handle people very well. He understood that Jackie was probably nervous and he helped him through it very nicely.
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First Confession by Frank O Connor. (2018, Jun 19). Retrieved from https://phdessay.com/first-confession-2/
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