“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






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 another class)
“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 another class)
“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 another class)
“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 another class)
“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 another class)
“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 another class)
“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 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 another class)
“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. (from
another class)
“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. (from another class)
“Araby”

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”

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”

“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”

Questions?
“Eveline”

“She sat at the
window watching
the evening invade
the avenue.”
“Eveline”

1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 Depressing, confused, and guilty describe her
because she feels like she had a duty to stay home
due to her promise to her mom when she died. (from
DJTJ Group)
“Eveline”

1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 Eveline is a very responsible character. The
statement, “she always gave her entire wages”
shows her feeling of obligation to provide for her
family. She is also very indecisive as “she prayed to
God to direct her, to show her what was her duty.”
(from CPBB)
“Eveline”

1. How would you describe Eveline as a character?
What word or words describe her well? Why?
 She seems reliant on others for what her life will be
like. She seems indecisive and rigid because she
cannot chose between the old rituals of her old life
and the unknown. (from Authors of Insanity)
“Eveline”

2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 Gloomy and violent describe the setting of the story
because of her violent father. (from DJTJ Group)
“Eveline”

2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 The environment of the story is melancholy. Her
father was abusive, and she had to contribute a lot
just so the family could get by. Eveline thinks that
she deserves to be loved, and this leads to her
yearning to want to leave with the sailor. She also
has a connection to the house because of everything
she and her mother endured there. (from CPBB)
“Eveline”

2. How would you describe the setting, or the
environment, of the story? What does this setting
contribute to the story?
 The environment Eveline lives in is bleak, but the
ocean seems to promise freedom and the unknown.
(from Authors of Insanity)
“Eveline”

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?
 Frank symbolizes a new life because he’s the exact
opposite of her father bringing in comfort and joy.
(from DJTJ Group)
“Eveline”

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?
 “Her head was leaned against the window curtains and in
her nostrils was the odour of dusty cretonne. She was
tired.” The fact that her head is leaning is leaning against
the window curtains suggests deep thought and pure
exhaustion. This exhaustion is perhaps due to her restless
thinking on the situation at hand. The odour bothers her
and brings her back to reality throughout this thinking.
(from CPBB)
“Eveline”

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 ship that Eveline was supposed to leave on
symbolizes freedom from her old life and promises
of a new beginning. When Eveline chooses not to
leave on the ship, she condemns herself to live an
unfulfilled life. (from Authors of Insanity)
“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
still feel guilty even when they’re changing their life
for the better. (from TJDJ Group)
“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 are
connected to certain things in life such as an old
home, even when the memories aren’t good. (from
CPBB)
“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’s
decisions can influence how their entire lives turn
out. (from Authors of Insanity)
“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”

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”

Questions?