James Joyce

JajaD

James Joyce?
Im doing an end of year essay in college on James Joyce's Ulysses and would like to hear people's opinions on some of the approaches im doing..( and i could write a book on James Joyce as I love him, so I'm not looking for people to do my homework) I just want to find something that I may have missed. Or maybe someone has some creative and new approaches to the book?

• Stephen's response to his mothers death. What chapter is significant?

• His use of stream of conciousness. How does it work in relation to one major character in Ulysses, and explain its significance to the meaning of a chapter in the book.

• Stephen’s response to Irish history in Ulysses.

• What do you think Joyce was trying to achieve by putting Bloom at the centre of Ulysses?

• Some find the ‘Penelope’ episode smutty and pornographic; some feminists have celebrated the episode as a virtuoso representation of the female unconscious; other feminists have admired the rich depiction of Molly’s interior life but have complained that Joyce confines his heroine to exclusively domestic preoccupations (sex and the body, personal relationships, the private sphere) and has denied his major female character any real public life. Which of these views of the ‘Penelope’ episode seems most insightful to you and why?

• Joyce’s treatment of religion in Ulysses. What chapter is most significant?

Any suggestions or general thoughts and feelings on the Ulysses would be really appreciated! x

Pookah

A very interesting commentary to Ulysses, and Joyce in general, is Robert Anton Wilson's 'Coincidance'.

Here's a little of what he has to say elsewhere...

http://www.deepleafproductions.com/wilsonlibrary/texts/raw-taojoyce.html

Mardy Bum

I take it you are in college so use JSTOR.

squeakyduck

I take it you have already read Ulysses yourself as you are writing an essay on him, I myself am a self confessed Joyce freak, loved him and still do even after several undergrad essays and my MA thesis.

To look at Stephen in more depth I would tell you to read Portrait, it is Stephens (Joyce) life before the death of his mother beginning at a young age through his childhood, puberty and through his turbulent mindset of which is more important art or religion. Very good read, very interesting.

Take a quick look at Bloom, and a look at Stephen compare and contrast. Stephen is young looking ahead, Bloom is older looking back on his life. The whole stream of consciousness is so apparent throughout Ulysses as well as portrait. You cannot escape it. As another poster said I would look at JSTOR and maybe a few books such as Ulysses and Us by Declan Kiberd (he has done extensive works on Ulysses and Joyce in general. Very easy to understand and read)

I wrote and end of year essay on Stephens' changing opinion of religion in Portrait. I thoroughly enjoyed it and went well over my word count. I got a 2.1 in it, funny how the things you love you get so passionate about! :rolleyes:

JajaD

squeakyduck wrote: »

I take it you have already read Ulysses yourself as you are writing an essay on him, I myself am a self confessed Joyce freak, loved him and still do even after several undergrad essays and my MA thesis.

To look at Stephen in more depth I would tell you to read Portrait, it is Stephens (Joyce) life before the death of his mother beginning at a young age through his childhood, puberty and through his turbulent mindset of which is more important art or religion. Very good read, very interesting.

Take a quick look at Bloom, and a look at Stephen compare and contrast. Stephen is young looking ahead, Bloom is older looking back on his life. The whole stream of consciousness is so apparent throughout Ulysses as well as portrait. You cannot escape it. As another poster said I would look at JSTOR and maybe a few books such as Ulysses and Us by Declan Kiberd (he has done extensive works on Ulysses and Joyce in general. Very easy to understand and read)

I wrote and end of year essay on Stephens' changing opinion of religion in Portrait. I thoroughly enjoyed it and went well over my word count. I got a 2.1 in it, funny how the things you love you get so passionate about! :rolleyes:

Yeah I have read Portrait, Dubliners and Ulysses.. great reads! Thanks..ill do that

John

JajaD wrote: »

Yeah I have read Portrait, Dubliners and Ulysses.. great reads! Thanks..ill do that

No mention of Finnegans Wake, amateur! :P

irish147

JajaD wrote: »

Yeah I have read Portrait, Dubliners and Ulysses.. great reads! Thanks..ill do that

i must get a copy of Ulysses again

squeakyduck

John wrote: »

No mention of Finnegans Wake, amateur! :P

I'm gonna buy FW when I do manage to get back into reading fully again! When that is...I don't know!

irish147 wrote: »

i must get a copy of Ulysses again

Penguin did a copy of Ulysses with an introduction by Declan Kiberd, really good insight into the book and that. I dunno if that edition is still on sale!

John

squeakyduck wrote: »

I'm gonna buy FW when I do manage to get back into reading fully again! When that is...I don't know!

Personally I think it's worth the effort and I hope you agree!

Penguin did a copy of Ulysses with an introduction by Declan Kiberd, really good insight into the book and that. I dunno if that edition is still on sale!

That's the standard Penguin edition, should be still available. I don't think it's a great introduction but it's a while since I've read the intro in that edition.

squeakyduck

ah, I love Declan Kiberd as he is easy to read, unlike other Joycian critics that can be a total pain in the ass! I can admit I'm biased in relation to that!!!!