bcea4c4c6aaf2abaa4e87ae2acae9499.ppt
- Количество слайдов: 9
ARABY By James Joyce
Araby by James Joyce Ø Cultural Context: In the years between the Great Famine of the 1840 s and World War I, Ireland experienced a severe decline in living standards, and the resulting emigration led to a reduction in population by almost one third. It is against the background of these harsh economic conditions that Joyce juxtaposes a young boy’s idealism with the bleakness of his day-to-day life in “Araby. ”
About the story The 3 rd story in Dubliners published in 1914 The use of epiphany (a sudden revelation of truth about life inspired by a seemingly trivial incident ) Critical interest in the story
In Joyce’s pervasively influential theory of the short story we remember, the fiction turned upon an epiphany, a moment of revelation in which, in [critic] Harry Levin’s words, “amid the most encumbered circumstances it suddenly happens that the veil is lifted, the …mystery laid bare, and the ultimate secret of things made manifest. ” The epiphany, then, became a technique for jelling the narrative and locking the story’s import into place…. What made this method revolutionary was the shifting of the focal point of the story from its end…to a spot within the body of the text, usually near (but not at) the end.
Plot A young boy living with his aunt and uncle in a dark, untidy home in Dublin that was once the residence of a priest. The boy is in love with his friend's older sister, never having the courage to talk to her. Finally she speaks to him, asking him if he is going to attend a visiting bazaar, --“Araby. ” where she cannot attend, he offers to bring her something from the bazaar. On the night he is to attend, his uncle is late coming home from work. when he makes his way to the bazaar, most of the people have left and many of the stalls are closed. As he looks for something to buy, he overhears a banal young salesgirl flirt with two young men. When the disinterested salesgirl asks him if he needs help, he declines, and he walks through the dark, empty halls, disillusioned with himself and the world around him.
Symbols in the story Blind (The North Richard Street was “blind”, and “I” used a blind to hide myself from being seen by Mangan’s sister. ) Mangan’s sister The North Richmond Street Araby The priest, etc.
Theme The vanity and falsity of ideal, romantic love. Disillusionment with religion and love. The growing alienation from family, religion, and the world.
Questions for Discussion Ø Ø Ø What is the point of view of the story? What are the functions of the point of view in the story? Does the point of view of the story benefit it? How? Can you change that point of view for another one? What difference will it result in? More questions. (see pp. 66 -67)
Assignments Ø Ø Read from Page 68 to Page 76. Read the story “Everyday Use. ”
bcea4c4c6aaf2abaa4e87ae2acae9499.ppt