The Dead

1. Discuss the symbolism of any two of the following:
   1. the weather, in particular the snow.
   2. the food at the meal
   3. the music, or particular songs
   4. the story of the horse
   5. the story of Michael Furey
   6. the names "Gabriel" and "Michael" (hint: you may wish to look up the biblical references)
2. The story ends with the words "upon all the living and the dead," and yet the title of the story is "The Dead." Who are the dead? Literally? Figuratively?
3. A good many of the story's elements focus on the past in some way - the stories, Gabriel's speech.  Why?  How is the past compared to the present?  How might this relate to the story's theme?