Transcript Major Themes

“Araby” and “Eveline”
James Joyce

 1882-1941
 Born in Dublin,
Ireland
 Writer of great
importance
 First major work is
Dubliners
James Joyce

 Published in 1914
 Collection of
short stories
about life in
Dublin
 Includes “Araby”
and “Eveline”
James Joyce

Major Themes
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Paralysis
Isolation
Poverty
Longing for Escape
Religion
Epiphany
“Araby”

1. How would you describe the narrator as a character?
What word or words describe him well? Why?
 He is a shy person more of a wall flower. He doesn’t
really have any friends […]. He pays attention to
detail. He’s a young boy who has been smitten by a
girl. (from GB’s Rubber Soul)
“Araby”

1. How would you describe the narrator as a character?
What word or words describe him well? Why?
 The narrator can be described as young and
inexperienced. You can tell that he is still immature
and especially with the topic of love. He comes off as
foolish because he feels that he is in love with a girl
while barely knowing her. (from JNBL)
“Araby”

2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 The setting of the story is based in Dublin around the
time of 1914. This setting further exemplifies the
poverty of the boy. (from Antiuniformitarianism)
“Araby”

2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 It seems eerie. It’s very quiet and dull not much goes
on. People are more to themselves. Saturday night is
really the only night people seem to come out and
the town is very busy. (from GB’s Rubber Soul)
“Araby”

2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 It is very dark throughout most of the story, and
winter is moving in. It takes place mostly on North
Richmond Street, and some at the bazaar of Araby.
(from JNBL)
“Araby”

3. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think
might be symbolic, that is, something that seems to
have more meaning than what it literally is. What
might this symbolism contribute to the story?
 The examples of darkness are symbolic throughout
the story. There are many descriptions of darkness
and shadows both literally and figuratively. Winter
and nighttime are symbolic for the unhappy life that
he is living. […] (from JNBL)
“Araby”
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3. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think
might be symbolic, that is, something that seems to
have more meaning than what it literally is. What
might this symbolism contribute to the story?
 The girl is a symbol. She is what the young boy
wants. He wants a life like hers. […] To him she is
happiness and what he looks forward to everyday.
(from GB’s Rubber Soul )
“Araby”

Another symbol: Araby
“’If I go,’ I said, ‘I
will bring you
something.’”
“Araby”

5. Finish the sentence below to express what you think
is a good one-sentence summary of the main theme (or
the comment about life) that we should get from the
story “Araby.”
 James Joyce’s “Araby” shows us how people are
willing to go to great lengths for feelings and having
all of their progress crushed due to truth.
(Antiuniformitarianism)
“Araby”

5. Finish the sentence below to express what you think
is a good one-sentence summary of the main theme (or
the comment about life) that we should get from the
story “Araby.”
 James Joyce’s “Araby” shows us how people can put
so much effort into something that may never
happen. (GB’s Rubber Soul)
“Araby”
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6. If you write an essay on this story, what would be
three or four good topics for the body paragraphs of the
essay?
?
“Araby”
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Look Carefully at the Details!
“North Richmond Street, being blind, was a
quiet street except at the hour when the
Christian Brothers’ School set the boys free.”
“Araby”
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“While she spoke she turned a silver bracelet round
and round her wrist. She could not go, she said,
because there would be a retreat that week in her
convent. Her brother and two other boys were fighting
for their caps, and I was alone at the railings. She held
one of the spikes, bowing her head towards me. The
light from the lamp opposite our door caught the white
curve of her neck, lit up her hair that rested there and,
falling, lit up the hand upon the railing. It fell over one
side of her dress and caught the white border of a
petticoat, just visible as she stood at ease.”
“Araby”
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Questions?
“Eveline”
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“She sat at the
window watching
the evening invade
the avenue.”
“Eveline”
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1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 She was a caring young woman, curious about what
her alternate life would be like if she ran away with
the sailor. Trapped is a word that describes her
because she feels bound to her father because she
promised her mother she would not leave him. (from
Cobras)
“Eveline”
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1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 Helpless, trapped, yet loyal because she stayed to
keep her promise that she made to her mom before
her mother died. (from Warthog)
“Eveline”
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1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 Hopeful describes Eveline because she hopes she
doesn’t end up like her mom. She hopes she doesn’t
marry a man like her father. (from Porange)
“Eveline”
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1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 Obedient because she made a promise to her mother that
she would look after the household and two younger
children as long as she could. Hard-working because she
works a job, cleans the household, and looks after the
children and her father. She makes sure there is food on
the table. Adventurous because she describes how as a
young child she played in the field next to their house and
is in love with a sailor. […] (from Bad Spelling)
“Eveline”
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2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 The story takes place during nightfall. This
attributes to the setting of the story because it’s a bit
gloomy. (from Cobras)
“Eveline”
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2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 The story is written in 1914 which was a time period
where families stayed together no matter how
dysfunctional and were very private. The story takes
place in a bad neighborhood that none of us would
like to live in. The story moves from her house, to a
boating dock, to the station at the North Wall. (from
Warthog)
“Eveline”
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2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 The situation and environment of the story is
constantly described as gloomy and depressing
(from Bad Spelling)
“Eveline”
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3. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think
might be symbolic, that is, something that seems to
have more meaning than what it literally is. What
might this symbolism contribute to the story?
 The field that she used to play in is a symbol of the
better times in her life. This is when her mother was
still alive, her family still united, and her father was
less abusive. Now that the field is gone, so are the
happy times. (from Warthog)
“Eveline”
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3. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think
might be symbolic, that is, something that seems to
have more meaning than what it literally is. What
might this symbolism contribute to the story?
 The familiar objects that she dusted off symbolize
that she doesn’t want to be alone. (from Porange)
“Eveline”
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3. Identify at least one thing in the story that you think
might be symbolic, that is, something that seems to
have more meaning than what it literally is. What
might this symbolism contribute to the story?
 The curtains symbolize how she rarely leaves the house
because they are always drawn implying she is shut out
and doesn’t have much interaction with the outside
world. Also, from how she talks about her father it is
implied that he is abusive so the curtains could be hiding
her fathers action inside the home. (from Bad Spelling)
“Eveline”

5. Finish the sentence below to express what you think
is a good one-sentence summary of the main theme (or
the comment about life) that we should get from the
story “Eveline.”
 James Joyce’s “Eveline” shows us how people can
choose to think about the wellbeing of others before
themselves. It also teaches us that it is important to
always keep your promises. (from Cobras)
“Eveline”
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5. Finish the sentence below to express what you think
is a good one-sentence summary of the main theme (or
the comment about life) that we should get from the
story “Eveline.”
 James Joyce’s “Eveline” shows us how people
sacrifice their own happiness to keep promises they
made to their loved ones. (from Warthog)
“Eveline”
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5. Finish the sentence below to express what you think
is a good one-sentence summary of the main theme (or
the comment about life) that we should get from the
story “Eveline.”
 James Joyce’s “Eveline” shows us how people
always second guess themselves. (from Bad Spelling)
“Eveline”

6. If you write an essay on this story, what would be
three or four good topics for the body paragraphs of the
essay?
?
“Eveline”

Look Carefully at the Details!
“She sat at the window watching the evening
invade the avenue. Her head was leaned
against the window curtains and in her nostrils
was the odour of dusty cretonne. She was
tired.”
“Eveline”

Look Carefully at the Details!
“Her time was running out but she continued
to sit by the window, leaning her head against
the window curtain, inhaling the odour of
dusty cretonne.”
“Eveline”
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Look Carefully at the Details!
“She felt her cheek pale and cold and, out of a
maze of distress, she prayed to God to direct
her, to show her what was her duty.”
“Eveline”
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Questions?