The Heart's Invisible Furies

Use this activity to engage all types of learners, while requiring that they refer to and incorporate details from the text over the course of the activity.

“Become a 20th-Century Photojournalist”

In this activity, students will select five photographs that represent the sociopolitical upheaval of mid-20th century Ireland and write accompanying fictional articles to explain what is happening in each image.

• Choose a major social issue treated in the novel that underwent drastic changes in the 20th century in Ireland and seek out 3-5 photographs that represent this issue or society’s responses to it which led to the change.
• By drawing on research from academic journals, interviews, and historical accounts, you will write a brief article for each photograph detailing a fictional version of what is occurring in each image.
• Each article should describe how the photograph relates to your chosen social issue.
• Your project can be either digital or physical and may be presented in any format you choose so long as the above requirements are met.

Teaching Suggestion: This activity combines creativity and research to allow students to examine historical social changes in Ireland and discover how these changes occurred. Encourage students to revisit the Reading Context resources for ideas about their chosen social issue. You may choose to have students present their projects in class or not.

Use these essay questions as writing and critical thinking exercises for all levels of writers, and to build their literary analysis skills by requiring textual references throughout the essay.

Differentiation Suggestion: For English learners or struggling writers, strategies that work well include graphic organizers, sentence frames or starters, group work, or oral responses.

Scaffolded Essay Questions

Student Prompt: Write a short (1-3 paragraph) response using one of the bulleted outlines below. Cite details from the novel over the course of your response that serve as examples and support.

1. When Cyril’s life reaches the peak of its crises, Cyril flees Ireland for Amsterdam.

• Why is it necessary for Cyril to heal and grow before he can finally return to Ireland one day? (topic sentence)
• Detail three specific events in Cyril’s life that lead to this moment; then, compare and contrast Cyril’s life in Ireland and his life in Amsterdam. Include at least two quotes in your essay.
• In the conclusion of your essay, examine Cyril’s decision to return to Ireland again in Part 3.

2. Part 2 is shaped by the AIDS epidemic, Cyril’s experiences as a volunteer, and his reunion with Julian.

• Why did author John Boyne choose to feature the AIDS epidemic as such a prominent topic in the novel and in Cyril’s life? (topic sentence)
• Referencing scholarly sources, examine the AIDS epidemic, the stigma it produced, and how Cyril’s experiences with AIDS patients reflected this reality.
• In the conclusion of your essay, examine how the AIDS epidemic continues to affect people’s views of gay people today.

3. Author John Boyne weaves humor throughout the story, including dry humor, slapstick humor, ironic humor, and dark humor.

• What role does humor play in illuminating the characters and setting of the story? (topic sentence)
• Examine the various types of humor, how they are used, and how humor brings dimension to characters and setting. Include 3-5 examples of humor from the text.
• In the conclusion of your essay, speculate as to how the mood of the story would have differed if it had been told without humor.

Full Essay Assignments

Student Prompt: Write a structured and well-developed essay. Include a thesis statement, at least three main points supported by textual details, and a conclusion.

1. Cyril is born in 1945 and lives until the 2010s, when Ireland finally legalizes gay marriage. In an essay of 3-5 paragraphs, examine the ways in which Cyril’s life reflects the culture and history of Ireland throughout the 20th century. In what ways does Cyril conflict with his own culture, and in what ways is he part of it? Include quotes in your essay and draw on scholarly sources for research on life and social change in Ireland during this time. You are free to draw on the sources used throughout this unit as well.

2. The Interconnected Web of Human Life is a central theme in the novel. Cyril is unable to escape his past, and throughout Cyril’s life, there are recurring people, experiences, settings, and themes. In an essay of 1000-1200 words, analyze how past events are interwoven in Cyril’s life as he matures, eventually coming full circle. Examine what these recurring experiences might indicate about both Cyril’s life and life itself.

3. Prejudice, Intolerance, and Hatred against gay people was a prevalent issue throughout 20th-century Ireland. In an essay of 3-5 paragraphs, examine how the entirety of Cyril’s life reflects prejudice against gay people. Your essay should include textual evidence and at least 3 scholarly sources which you use to bolster your argument.

Multiple Choice and Long Answer questions create ideal opportunities for whole-book review, unit exam, or summative assessments.

Multiple Choice

1. What bond does Catherine share with her employer, Mrs. Hennessy?

A) Both were from Westmeath.

B) Both were unwed mothers.

C) Both were university students.

D) Both were devout Catholics.

2. Which literary device is used in the following quote: “It probably goes without saying that his new suit fitted him like a second skin.” (Part 1, Book 5, Chapter 5)

A) Consonance

B) Assonance

C) Enjambment

D) Onomatopoeia

3. What is the primary way in which Cyril and Julian are alike?

A) They both struggle with an obsession with money.

B) They both struggle to be honest with one another.

C) They both struggle with an obsession with sex.

D) They both struggle to be kind to one another.

4. Which of the following best describes Cyril’s reaction to meeting Ignac?

A) Thrilled

B) Hesitant

C) Dismissive

D) Accepting

5. Which of the following events is not an example of irony?

A) Cyril leaves Alice alone with a baby, just as Catherine did to him.

B) The priest who cast Catherine out for her pregnancy was having two affairs.

C) Maude hates reading books.

D) Bastiaan was murdered in an act of hate, just like Seán.

6. How does Cyril’s character change between his time in Ireland as a child and young man and when he moves back as a middle-aged adult?

A) Cyril goes from being a dishonest person in hiding to being open about who he is.

B) Cyril goes from being someone who cannot stand the idea of family to someone who cherishes family the most.

C) Cyril goes from being an honest, open person to someone who lies to protect himself.

D) Cyril goes from being someone who lacks concern for others to a kind and empathetic person.

7. Why does Cyril have mixed feelings about the legalization of gay marriage in Ireland?

A) He is happy for his grandson and the future of Ireland but is angry that more is not being done to stop hate crimes.

B) He is glad that progress is being made but feels that it is built off a false premise.

C) He is glad that progress is being made but feels partially responsible for how long it has taken.

D) He is happy for his grandson and the future of Ireland but laments the life he could have had.

8. What is Julian’s reason for not wanting anyone to know he has AIDS?

A) Julian is worried that people will think he is promiscuous.

B) Julian is worried that people will think he is contagious.

C) Julian is worried that people will think he is gay.

D) Julian is worried that people will think he is disgusting.

9. Which theme do Maude’s work and lack of success in life best represent?

A) The Interconnected Web of Human Life

B) The Strength of Women Against Misogyny

C) Loneliness As Part of the Human Condition

D) Bearing Witness to Prejudice, Intolerance, and Hatred

10. What is Cyril foreshadowing when he says there is a much more severe punishment awaiting Max?

A) Max’s kidnapping

B) Max’s bankruptcy

C) Julian’s affair

D) Julian’s kidnapping

11. Why does Cyril feel responsible for Mary-Margaret’s death?

A) He failed to do anything to stop the political attack.

B) He failed to protect Mary-Margaret from the blast.

C) He failed to be honest with Mary-Margaret about his sexuality.

D) He failed to tell Mary-Margaret where he was going.

12. How does Cyril redeem himself with Julian?

A) He saves Julian from being attacked on the street.

B) He stays with Julian as he dies from AIDS.

C) He keeps his final promise to Julian.

D) He goes back to Ireland to be with Julian.

13. Which of the following best describes Bastiaan’s character?

A) Complex

B) Calculating

C) Cold

D) Compassionate

14. What can be inferred about Alice based on her fondness for Maude’s work?

A) Alice is a feminist.

B) Alice despises men.

C) Alice wants to be a fiction writer.

D) Alice wants to be a journalist.

15. Under what circumstances does Cyril finally realize Catherine is his mother?

A) When she tells him she knows Jack Smoot

B) When she tells him about Goleen

C) When she tells him about the Redemptorist nun

D) When she tells him about her other son

Long Answer

Compose a response of 2-3 sentences, incorporating textual details to support your response.

1. Why is Cyril finally happy in the novel’s conclusion?

2. What is Cyril’s tragic flaw, and how does it cause his downfall?

3. How do the strong female characters in the novel influence Cyril and the person he becomes?