A Swift Pure Cry, by Siobhan Dowd
About A Swift Pure Cry
Shell lives in a very rural village in 1980s Ireland. Her mother has recently died, leaving her to care for her two younger siblings. Shell's father has spiraled out of control, drinking heavily and growing rapidly obsessed with religion.
Siobhan Dowd's writing is highly descriptive and detailed, which can be both positive and negative. The more unnerving portions of the book are masterfully described in a way that makes the reader almost physically uncomfortable. However, the relatively slower pacing means that this is likely not a text that will engage all readers right away.
There are definite sections of the book that will appeal to all readers right away. For example, Shell's caring yet sometimes frustrating interactions with her younger siblings are immediately relatable as she is forced into a role she's clearly not ready for. The new parish priest-- young, kind, and forgiving-- appeals to readers right away, though his role in Shell's life is continually second guessed by both the reader and the townspeople.
Shell is definitely a departure from the Katniss or Tris-style heroine; she is incredibly brave, but her development is portrayed as incomplete. Dowd places a strong emphasis on the loss of the mother and how that has hindered the children's development. As a result, Shell is sometimes heartbreakingly ignorant; she lacks information about things that her peers take for granted (wearing a bra, sex and human development, etc).
When Shell begins to become romantically involved with a charming but devilish altar boy, complications arise. Shell is mystified when she becomes pregnant. From there, the community spins out of control as a scandal rocks Coolbar.
Siobhan Dowd's writing is highly descriptive and detailed, which can be both positive and negative. The more unnerving portions of the book are masterfully described in a way that makes the reader almost physically uncomfortable. However, the relatively slower pacing means that this is likely not a text that will engage all readers right away.
There are definite sections of the book that will appeal to all readers right away. For example, Shell's caring yet sometimes frustrating interactions with her younger siblings are immediately relatable as she is forced into a role she's clearly not ready for. The new parish priest-- young, kind, and forgiving-- appeals to readers right away, though his role in Shell's life is continually second guessed by both the reader and the townspeople.
Shell is definitely a departure from the Katniss or Tris-style heroine; she is incredibly brave, but her development is portrayed as incomplete. Dowd places a strong emphasis on the loss of the mother and how that has hindered the children's development. As a result, Shell is sometimes heartbreakingly ignorant; she lacks information about things that her peers take for granted (wearing a bra, sex and human development, etc).
When Shell begins to become romantically involved with a charming but devilish altar boy, complications arise. Shell is mystified when she becomes pregnant. From there, the community spins out of control as a scandal rocks Coolbar.
How would I teach A Swift Pure Cry?
A few themes present in this novel include:
- Faith and loss
- Parents and Children/Family structures
- Loss of Innocence/Childhood
- A Woman's Role
- Grief and Coping
- Birth/life/death cycles
What resources could I use to help teach A Swift Pure Cry?
- When You Are Old, W.B. Yeats
- Mid-Term Break, Seamus Heaney
- Imagine, John Lennon
- The Magdalene Sisters (film)
- The Magdalene Asylums (historical context)
- Angela's Ashes (film)
- Arthur Miller's The Crucible would inspire fascinating connections-- both texts feature "witch hunts" with a small and insular community going mad with blame, shame, and power. Pairing The Crucible with A Swift Pure Cry would also help inspire greater connections to the themes of The Crucible, since the events discussed in Dowd's novel are much more present and relateable to today's students.
- The musical Spring Awakening could be an incredible resource to share with older students. The parallels between Wendla and Shell would add to a powerful unit centered around ignorance and innocence.
- The Kerry Babies (court case, newspaper clippings): Dowd's novel was largely inspired by the Kerry babies case. Primary source documents could be examined by students to connect to Shell's character and see the present-day repercussions of the famous case.
The Verdict
I would definitely enjoy teaching this book to high school aged students. The book might be slightly uncomfortable to read at some points; however, it's artfully written from a valuable perspective.