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James Joyce
James Joyce (1882-1941), Irish novelist, noted for his experimental use of language in such works as Ulysses (1922) and Finnegans Wake (1939). Joyce's technical innovations in the art of the novel include an extensive use of interior monologue; he used a complex network of symbolic parallels drawn from the mythology, history, and literature, and created a unique language of invented words, puns, and allusions.
James Joyce was born in Dublin, on February 2, 1882, as the son of John Stanislaus Joyce, an impoverished gentleman, who had failed in a distillery business and tried all kinds of professions, including politics and tax collecting. Joyce's mother, Mary Jane Murray, was ten years younger than her husband. She was an accomplished pianist, whose life was dominated by the Roman Catholic Church. In spite of their poverty, the family struggled to maintain a solid middle-class facade.
From the age of six Joyce, was educated by Jesuits at Clongowes Wood College, at Clane, and then at Belvedere College in Dublin (1893-97). In 1898 he entered the University College, Dublin. Joyce's first publication was an essay on Ibsen's play When We Dead Awaken. It appeared in the Fortnightly Review in 1900. At this time he also began writing lyric poems.
After graduation in 1902 the twenty-year-old Joyce went to Paris, where he worked as a journalist, teacher and in other occupations under difficult financial conditions. He spent a year in France, returning when a telegram arrived saying his mother was dying. Not long after her death, Joyce was traveling again. He left Dublin in 1904 with Nora Barnacle, a chambermaid who he married in 1931.
Joyce published Dubliners in 1914, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man in 1916, a play Exilesin 1918 and Ulysses in 1922. In 1907 Joyce had published a collection of poems, Chamber Music.
At the outset of the First World War, Joyce moved with his family to Zürich. In Zürich Joyce started to develop the early chapters of Ulysses, which was first published in France because of censorship troubles in the Great Britain and the United States, where the book became legally available only in 1933. In March 1923 Joyce started in Paris his second major work, Finnegans Wake, suffering at the same time chronic eye troubles caused by glaucoma. The first segment of the novel appeared in Ford Madox Ford's transatlantic review in April 1924, as part of what Joyce called Work in Progress. The final version was published in 1939.
Some critics considered the work a masterpiece, though many readers found it incomprehensible. After the fall of France in WWII, Joyce returned to Zürich, where he died on January 13, 1941, still disappointed with the reception of Finnegans Wake.
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Rather confused when reading a poem by Joyce
Hi everyone, I came across a poem today by James Joyce, below is one passage of the poem All day I hear the noise of waters. All day I hear the noise of waters Making moan, Sad as the sea-bird is when, going Forth alone, He hears the winds cry to the water's Monotone. I'm a bit confused by the plural "waters", what does it mean here? I looked up my dictionary and find several meanings, but I'm not sure which one fits this. Or it just stands for something flowing (a symbol of "mind") here? Many thanks.
Posted By Gibran at Tue 18 Aug 2009, 3:38 AM in Joyce, James || 4 Replies
What does "rob his hank" mean? from Joyce's The Painful Case
"He allowed himself to think that in certain circumstances he would rob his hank but, as these circumstances never arose, his life rolled on . . ." What does this expresssion mean? Thanks, Andy
Posted By apyoung6060 at Mon 15 Jun 2009, 7:32 AM in Joyce, James || 1 Reply
Brick Wall in Ulysses: Oxen of the Sun
So, this marks my second attempt to read Joyce's magnum opus. Almost two weeks after beginning I am further than I made it before in six weeks. I was reading along at quite a nice pace until I began my current chapter: Oxen of the Sun. Just a quick question: is this the most difficult passage to get through or has the challenge just begun? On several occasions Joyce seems to lead you into a false sense of security and then pounce on you with plodding, difficult passages. Thanks!
Posted By RowJimmy at Sun 14 Jun 2009, 12:58 PM in Joyce, James || 3 Replies
ulysses
There are many little quotes and spakes in other languages, french, german, latin etc., in ulysses. Does anyone know of a single specific site or publication where these have been gathered together and translated into english. Like many people I find ulysses difficult but very enjoyable and addictive. This is my third reading of it in thirty years and the wealth of websites that deal with it make it so much easier than my previous readings. For anyone just starting out Richard Ellmanns ' reader "Ulysses on the Liffey" is invaluable.
Posted By mbt at Sat 25 Apr 2009, 2:32 PM in Joyce, James || 1 Reply
humanity and the phenomenal/external world (ulysses)
Need brainstorming help.. What is the nature of the relationship in ulysses between humanity and all that lies outside of our conventional definitions of it? How does the novel answer the question of where we end and where the phenomenal or natural world begins? Stephen claims to want to read the "signatures of all things." Does Joyce suggest that he succeeds in this endeavor? If not, does anyone else? What is there to read in Ulysses beyond the thoughts, words, and deeds of human agents? :crash:
Posted By Annesthesia at Sun 12 Apr 2009, 7:31 PM in Joyce, James || 1 Reply
A little Help With Joyce Please
Hey everyone, I was just wondering if anyone could help me a little bit with Joyce's work in dubliners, especially in Araby Eveline and the dead. It would be great if anyone could help me with illusions Joyce creates, Or literary/biblical references he makes. This would be a great help, i just started getting into his works through my English class and it is like nothing Ive ever read before i find it fascinating. Thanks, P.J Graz
Posted By PGraz20 at Wed 25 Mar 2009, 8:36 PM in Joyce, James || 2 Replies
Have you read the two versions of Joyce The Sisters in Dubliners?
How could you compare the two, particularly discussing the 1st version, Im lost and finding it hard!! I gotta do a "careful comparison of the two versions, discussing how any revisions/changes (at least 5) give an insight into the central themes and narrative techniques throughout the collection." i gotta do this by referring to at least one other story.
Posted By lish at Fri 27 Feb 2009, 3:00 PM in Joyce, James || 0 Replies
Stephen Dedalus's Character HELP!!!!
This is my paper topic for my Joyce class and I'm at a loss as far as getting started. If anyone has some wise words, ideas, or brainstorming to help me out I'd GREATLY appreciate it! As much as Joyce chooses to focus on introverted Stephen througout Portrait and during the first three episodes of Ulysses, the author never lets us forget that part of Stephen's character is the way in which he interacts with others at home, in school, and as he goes about his daily routines. Choose one or two of the characters in the "supporting cast" of Stephen's life, and analyze the ways in which Joyce uses them to help complete or alter the portrait of Stephen that would otherwise consist mainly of the protagonist's own idea of himself.
Posted By Annesthesia at Wed 18 Feb 2009, 8:22 PM in Joyce, James || 1 Reply
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man- I think Joyce is different, sure. But vain too
Hello! I'm new :) I'll try not to upset anyone during my stay -Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man- I have to write an analysis paper.. 5pg min. Anyway, my thesis might be something along the (many) lines of: Joyce is a conceited man who uses this book as a cry for attention because of the lack thereof. He is not one with himself and this book is an attempt to fill the gaps in his security and acceptance of self. He is reaching out in hopes of a connection and understanding from the audience. He feels that these are well deserving for him, but missing. He is also trying to justify his choice of lifestyle and what it means through the character Stephen Dedalus in this book. {Though very ingenious, what with his ground breaking style of writing, yes I'm still insulting him in a way.. by pointing out his own character..personality? flaws.} Kay, back to my whole, "Joyce is vain" thing.. The message I get, especially from the last chapter..(s?) is that.. Well, he's bragging about himself. He SHOWS us over and over, likewise with the many other details of the book. He has Cranly and Temple fighting for his attention.. He finds the Dean incompetant of a true conversation regarding aesthetics.. {I think that's the convo. content?} His lifestyle choice caused him to leave country, faith, and family behind. He felt all these things were obstructing his development as an artist and complains.. SHOWS us this using the entire book. humm.. what do y'all think? Am I a fool? Do I have my facts crooked?
Posted By bare at Tue 10 Feb 2009, 9:18 PM in Joyce, James || 0 Replies
Question for Dubliners !
hi has anyone read the Dubliners in this forum? i have a question ! where can i find the answers to the questions from this book ( the questions are in the middle of this page : http://www.teachervision.fen.com/curriculum-planning/teaching-methods/3518.html?page=2) if the answers are already there tell me where they are if not help me answer to all of the questions thanks a million !
Posted By benji at Sat 17 Jan 2009, 8:21 PM in Joyce, James || 4 Replies