The Rising of the Moon
Short Questions
1. Who wrote the play “The Rising of the Moon”?
Answer: Lady Gregory.
2.Where is the play set?
Answer: On a quay in a seaport town.
3. What is the Sergeant looking for?
Answer: An escaped prisoner.
4. What is the reward for capturing the prisoner?
Answer: A hundred pounds.
5. What does the ragged man claim to be?
Answer: A ballad-singer.
6. What is the title of the play inspired by?
Answer: An Irish ballad about Shawn O’Farrell.
7. What does the man sing to persuade the Sergeant?
Answer: Songs like “Granuaile” and “The Rising of the Moon.”
8. Why does the Sergeant stop the man from going to the steps?
Answer: To prevent the prisoner’s escape.
9. What does the man say about the prisoner’s strength?
Answer: His muscles are as hard as a board.
10. What does the Sergeant hide from his comrades?
Answer: The man’s hat and wig.
11. What does the man call himself at first?
Answer: Jimmy Walsh.
12. What is the Sergeant’s reaction when he realizes the man’s identity?
Answer: He feels deceived.
13. What does the man say about life at the end?
Answer: Life is precious.
14. What does the Sergeant do when his comrades arrive?
Answer: He lies and says no one came.
15. What does the Sergeant wonder at the end?
Answer: If he is a fool.
Long Questions
1. Why does the Sergeant stay at the quay alone?
Answer: The Sergeant stays to guard the quay because the escaped prisoner might try to escape by boat. He believes it’s a critical spot to watch.
2. How does the ragged man try to persuade the Sergeant to let him stay?
Answer: The man sings patriotic songs and talks about shared Irish memories to connect with the Sergeant. He also offers to help watch for the prisoner.
3. What is the importance of the title “The Rising of the Moon”?
Answer: The title comes from an Irish ballad symbolizing rebellion against British rule. It reflects the play’s theme of Irish nationalism and uprising.
4. How does the man make the Sergeant feel conflicted about his duty?
Answer: The man reminds the Sergeant of his youth and patriotic songs, making him question his loyalty. He suggests the Sergeant might have joined the rebels in different circumstances.
5. Why does the Sergeant lie to his comrades about the man?
Answer: The Sergeant is moved by the man’s appeal to Irish nationalism and their shared past. He chooses to protect the man instead of arresting him.
6. What role do the patriotic songs play in the story?
Answer: The songs evoke memories of Irish rebellion and connect the Sergeant and the man emotionally. They weaken the Sergeant’s sense of duty to the police.
7. How does the man reveal his true identity to the Sergeant?
Answer: The man points to the placard and removes his hat and wig, admitting he is the escaped prisoner. This shocks the Sergeant but confirms his suspicions.
8. What is the main theme of the play “The Rising of the Moon”?
Answer: The main theme is the conflict between duty and patriotism, especially Irish nationalism. It shows how personal connections can challenge official responsibilities.
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