Thinking of using Girl on an Altar (Marina Carr) for the Leaving Certificate English Comparative Study? This free one-page guide tells you everything you need to decide.

At a glance

Form, setting, narration, length, prescribed-list status and the play’s strongest comparative modes, plus a clear synopsis and the themes it carries.

An honest before-you-teach note

Sensitive content is flagged upfront: the sacrifice of a young girl, a second child’s death, a sexually charged marriage and a harem where women are kept for men, a brutal axe killing, and coarse language throughout.

How it pairs

Partner-agnostic notes on how the play works in each comparative mode:

• Cultural Context
• Literary Genre
• Theme or Issue
• General Vision and Viewpoint

So you can see at a glance whether it fits your course.

Girl on an Altar is on the Leaving Certificate English prescribed list, first examined in 2027. If you decide it is right for your class, the full range from The Prescribed Shelf takes you the rest of the way with exam-ready Student Textbooks and complete teaching support for the Single Text. Available in this store, or contact us on Facebook.