Bartoletti depicts Ireland as a magical and beloved land, which suffered and withstood a calamity. Before the 1840s potato blight, Ireland was a country where people delighted in stories about mythical characters. They praised the lush green island for its beautiful lakes and mountains and fertile fields. The bleak Ireland described during the famine sharply contrasted with this plentiful wonderland. Even a rare snowfall was not received with wonder and joy but as one more obstacle the Irish had to bear.
Barren potato fields are the main setting for the famine. Prior to the blight, the Irish built potato ridges, also called laze-beds, in fields. After the blight caused potatoes to decay into black rotting tubers, these fields became vacant areas where people urgently looked for anything that they could eat.
Ironically, fields planted.....
This is a free excerpt of 135 words. This section contains 768 words. This
study guide contains 19,677 words (approx. 66 pages at 300
words per page).
Read the rest of this Literature Guide with our Black Potatoes: The Story of the Great Irish Famine, 1845-1850 Access Pass.
