1. Intro to Twentieth Century and Dubliners: James Joyce Shahd Alshammari, AOU, Spring Semester 2013/14

2. Intro to Part One The short story as ‘the child of the century’ Elizabeth Brown. The concept of literary period- historical, cultural, artistic. Since Plato, the city has been a source of inspiration for Western literature. Consider different periods and their view on the city. 1920 Western world was more urban than rural. Economic developments. Georg Simmel ‘The Metropolis and mental life.’ (1903) Oswald Spengler’s view on the modern city- “parasistical because it was money based” The Great Gatsby (1926) had the same vision. Alienated characters found in most modern literature and film. Consider different artistic movements: Futurism, Modernism, Imagism.

3. Joyce and Dublin Lived in 23 different homes before leaving Dublin, well educated, variety of careers, tried to open Dublin’s first cinema in 1909. His aim was to present Dublin to the world- (13)- Read his quote 1907: Dublin was a mix of radicalism and conservatism Complex relationship with modernity and the past, loss of Parliament in 1801. Dublin was small enough that people knew the details of each other’s lives. We see this in the short stories.

4. Joyce is described as a ‘world author’ (19) His interest in the city, its ‘colour’ and ‘tone’ What is the significance of 1 st person narrator point of view in ‘The Sisters’? Modernism – aesthetic and cultural reaction to modernity. Modernism and urbanism go together. Dublin as the site of the modern- city but based on a village structure. George Simmel and the metropolitan city, flaneur, the psychological effects of city living. Discourse of modernity focuses on speed, light, and travel, technology’s advances. The term Modernity first coined by French poet Charles Baudelaire. Richard Lehan: the artist and the city as two themes of modernism.

5. Discuss examples of the flaneur, consumerist society, financial/social exchange, city’s wide streets. The stories are all about movement across the city. Urban theme, use of the short story genre. Realism and symbolism The theme of escape is in ‘An Encounter’ Discuss Discuss Activity 4 on ‘Eveline’ Inner consciousness Unmarried women in Ireland- theme in ‘Eveline.’ The role of the Catholic Church in controlling women’s lives (29) ‘Two Gallants’ themes. Discuss. How does this relate to the city? Attitudes to money, human relations, economic essentials. Modern urban ‘freedom.’

6. Consider Activity 6. Characterisation of Lenehan and Corley, compare/contrast. ‘The Boarding House’ themes. Family, notions of masculinity, femininity, motherhood. Boarding houses as a significant part of Dublin life, one-third of the city’s population were living in boarding houses. Doran’s issue with Polly becomes a public one. How? Consider the city’s effect.

7. Polly’s transformation. Paralysis as a theme in all the stories. Epiphany producing moments of intensity and revelation, often towards the end of the narrative. Connections between the stories. Colour, senses, sounds and smells. No happy endings.