Potato People - Common Questions and Answers

1 )Based on one of the novels you have read, state which part of the story you liked the best. Support your answer with evidence from the novel.

In the novel Potato People, the part of the story that i liked the best was after Mr Graystone's men set fire to the village and the soldiers gave money and food to mother O'Daughtery. One of the soldiers had felt sorry for mother O'Daughtrey, a poor villager. He gave money and also collected money for her from the other soldiers. There was another soldier who gave her a piece of bread and a lump of cheese. Although they did not have to do this, they did it because they were kind and caring. This gives me a new perspective on the soldiers.

2) Based on one of the novels you have read, write on the moral value of having good and sincere friends. Give evidence to support your answer.

The novel "Potato People" portrays the theme of friendship. Sean, who lost everything, extended his friendship to Patrick and Marie. He protected them from cruel landlord, Mr Graystone. He encouraged them to leave Ireland and start a new life. He gave them money which he stole to help them. Marie extended a hand in friendship to Patrick when she met him on his way to Cork. As a friend, she helped and looked after him throughout the journey to Cork and the New World.

3) Based on one of the novels you have read, write on the moral value of hope. Give evidence to support your answer.

The novel 'Potato People' portrays the moral value of adopting a positive outlook in life. The story is about how the people of Ireland coped with the potato blight. Many lost their land and homes. Landlords who had no sense of compassion were cruel to them. Yet, many of them were positive about their future. Patrick and Marie travelled to Cork with the hope of leaving their homeland for the New World. Sean was positive of getting the fare for them. He was sure they would have a better life in the New World. They boarded the ship with optimism. They overcame a lot of obstacles and eventually became ranchers in America.

4) What have you learnt from the main character of the novel. Give evidence from the text to support you answer.

I have learnt the most from Marie, the gipsy girl from the novel Potato People. At a time when Ireland was going through the potato blight and the people were jobless and starving, Marie was a symbol of hope. She has taught me optimism. in the most difficult of times, she was always smiling and cheerful. For Patrick, "it had been a long, long time since he had heard anybody laugh" until Marie came along. She also informed Patrick that the world was "full of wonderful, wonderful things". I learnt from Marie that we should be optimistic even when things are really bad and believe that something good will come out of our situation.
Marie also proves that experience sometimes is the best teacher. Her survival skills are not obtained from any book or classroom. What she knows, she has learnt from real-life experience. With these survival skills, she was able to take care of herself as well as Patrick. She has taught me that when we face obstacles in life, we should look at them as lessons which can teach us more of life. The more difficulties we undergo, the stronger we become, just like Marie.