1 Dubliners Background A. The process of publication - Begin to write: Complete most of them: London publisher, Grant Richards: 1905 (1906) - Publish: 1914

2 Dubliners Background B. Controversial points - The true incidents - The true settings: libelous “ He paused at last before the window of a poor-looking shop over which the words Refreshment Bar were printed in white letters. On the glass of the window were two flying inscriptions: Ginger Beer and Ginger Ale. ” (Two Gallants) - The wild words: “ bloody ”, blasphemous “ She brought me two bloody fine cigars. ” (Two Gallants) “ At dinner, you know. Then he has a bloody big bowl of cabbage before him on the table and a bloody big spoon like a shovel. ” ( “ Grace ” )

3 Dubliners Background C. Author’s opinion - To create effect - A nicely polished looking-glass - A chapter of moral history - The first step of the spiritual liberation Reference: Richard Ellmann, Selected letters of James Joyce

4 Dubliners Structure & Theme A. Structure -- A collection of 15 short stories -- The process of a person ’ s growth - children  the old - individual  social life - dream  disappoint, despair

5 Dubliners Structure I. Childhood 1. The Sisters 2. An Encounter 3. Araby II. Adolescence 4. Eveline 5. After the Race 6. Two Gallants 7. The Boarding House III. Maturity 8. A Little Cloud 9. Counterparts 10. Clay 11. A Painful Case IV. Public life 12. Ivy Day in the Committee Room 13. A Mother 14. Grace (Epilogue) 15. The Dead

6 Dubliners Theme B. Theme: a. The paralysis of Dublin “ It (paralysis) had always sound strangely in my ears …. But now it sounded to me like the name of some maleficent and sinful being. It filled me with the fear, and yet I longed to be nearer to it and to look upon its deadly work. ” (The Sisters) = death “ There was no hope for him this time: it was the third stroke. ” (The Sisters)

7 Dubliners Theme = emptiness (Araby) = a prisoner for life- spiritual weakness “ She set her white face to him, passive, like a helpless animal. ” (Eveline) “ It ’ s useless. The wailing of the child pierced the drum of his ear …. The tears of remorse started to his eyes. ” (A Little Cloud) b. The style of “ scrupulous meanness ” - irony & sympathy coexist

8 Dubliners Technique A. Realism B. Detachment : Show, don’t tell. C. Epiphany 1. Religious term: A Christian festival 2. Joyce’s term: To realize in a moment D. Symbolism & Metaphor E. Literary Reference