Questions and Answers for Dubliners
Dubliners
What symbols are used in "Araby" by James Joyce?
Any physical item can serve as a symbol in a great literary work, since great authors choose those details that reflect and resonate with the whole of the work. So keep in mind the global question...
Dubliners
How does Joyce use foreshadowing to prepare the reader for the moment of the boy's epiphany in "Araby"?
The foreshadowing comes the day of the bazaar. That morning, the boy reminds his uncle of the bazaar, but the uncle is preoccupied and answers "curtly." As the boy walks to school, he notes that...
Dubliners
Where does James Joyce use stream of consciousness in the "Dubliners" stories?
As the other answer to this question suggests, Joyce does not use stream of consciousness narration in Dubliners; he uses that technique most famously in his later novel Ulysses, which depicts the...
Dubliners
How are the stories in Dubliners interlinked?
The stories, as the title indicates, are linked together by the Dublin (Irish) experience as Joyce understood it. They are also linked by the experimental method Joyce used to end each story....
Dubliners
Describe the character of Eveline in Dubliners.
Eveline is a 19-year-old girl who finds life in 20th-century Dublin unbearable. She is a dutiful daughter, who takes care of her family, especially her father, who is often drunk and abusive....
Dubliners
What is an example of free indirect discourse in Dubliners?
Free indirect discourse is when the point of view slides from third-person omniscient narration to inside the head of a particular person in a story without indicating the change. Jane Austen is...
Dubliners
The book of Dubliners is written with style of scruplous meanness. How I do not understand.
Taken just as you've written it, without examining the context, you'd need to center on "scrupulous meanness." Joyce says that he wrote Dubliners with scrupulous meanness. Scrupulous means to have...
Dubliners
In what ways can Dubliners be defined as a modernist text? What characteristics of modernism can be found in James...
First published in 1914, Dubliners is James Joyce’s collection of fifteen short stories which depict life in the Irish middle class. A key theme throughout the collection is the social paralysis...
Dubliners
How does the character of Gabriel in "The Dead" change throughout the course of the story; that is, how does his role...
Gabriel experiences painful personal growth at the end of the story. Through most of it, he is self-centered, seeing the world entirely from his own self-satisfied perspective. At the end of the...
Dubliners
What is the purpose of James Joyce in the story, "Eveline from Dubliners by James Joyce?
In his introduction to The Dubliners, a collection of short stories by James Joyce in which "Eveline" is one, Terence Brown writes, So detail in The Dubliners is disposed like brush-stroks in a...
Dubliners
What are the examples of epiphanies and paralyses in The Dubliners?
Most Dubliners share the same trait: they are paralyzed and prevented from living fulfilling lives. Various characters recognize their inability to move forward, but most do nothing about it....
Dubliners
Judging from the game the boys play, how old do you think the narrator is in Dubliners?
While you have not specified which of Joyce's stories from Dubliners you are referring to, I can assume that you are referring to "An Encounter," as it is the only story to feature school-aged boys...
Dubliners
What are the most significant stories in Dubliners regarding the aspect of the city as "the soul of paralysis"? ...
"Eveline" is certainly an appropriate choice for the essay on Dublin's being "the soul of hemiplegia and paralysis" as the concept of paralysis drives this story. From the very beginning of this...
Dubliners
What are examples of epiphany in some stories in James Joyce's Dubliners?
What is distinctive about Joyce's work is his use of epiphanies, or moments of sudden realisation, when characters realise essential facts about themselves or their context. "Araby" is of course...
Dubliners
Compare and contrast the personalities and temperaments of Eveline of Joyce's "Eveline" and Polly from “The Boarding...
In both "Eveline" and "The Boarding House," it becomes apparent that the lives of the Irish women of Joyce's stories are certainly limited. For both Eveline and Polly marriage seems to be the only...
Dubliners
What would be a good thesis for "Araby," "Eveline," and "The Sisters"?
In addition to the possible theses outlined in the other answer to this question, it's worth considering building a thesis around the absence of father figures in these three stories. Indeed,...
Dubliners
What are the political representations in Dubliners?
There are a number of political representations in Dubliners by James Joyce, primarily driven through the idea of Irish nationalism. During the early twentieth century, the Irish found themselves...
Dubliners
Besides taking place in Dublin, how are the short stories connected in Dubliners by James Joyce? Please give a few...
Having intended for Dubliners to be a tableau of the city and its people, both to themselves and to others, James Joyce connects his stories as the "stages of man." For, he has planned three...
Dubliners
What is life like in Ireland for “Eveline” and the boy in “Araby”? Think about their class/social position. Think...
Both Eveline and the young adolescent narrator of "Araby" come from lower middle class Dublin families. Both have little status within their family units. Both feel frustrated and suffocated by...
Dubliners
What is the conflict in the short story "An Encounter?"
The conflict in this story is between the boys and society (or you might call it "the way the world works"). The boys want excitement and adventure, but they find that things that seem like they...
Dubliners
What is the specific theme of James Joyce's short story "After the Race"?
When I first read James Joyce's Dubliners, I found the short story "After the Race" to be the most difficult to understand. Indeed, I actually found it boring, initially. However, after reading it...
Dubliners
Examine the scene in The Dead by James Joyce when Gretta explains why she is wearing galoshes. What picture of her...
The Dead by James Joyce is from The Dubliners series of short stories, all of which reveal aspects of society or flaws of human nature. Gabriel considers himself to be a knowledgeable man, superior...
Dubliners
What does the priest in Dubliners symbolize?
The presence of priests in many of the stories contained in James Joyce's Dubliners symbolizes the presence of Catholicism in the lives of the Irish, an often overbearing presence that stultifies...
Dubliners
Discuss the theme of paralysis in the short story "Eveline" in Dubliners by James Joyce.
Paralysis is a central theme of "Eveline." At the beginning of the story, the protagonist sits at home, observing and reminiscing, preparing to leave. Even as she thinks about her departure, she...
Dubliners
Compare and contrast the ways in which women are depicted in "Eveline," "The Boarding House" from Dubliners.
It is clear that the characters of Eveline and Polly in these two short stories are very different and are presented in contrasting ways by Joyce. Eveline is a character who feels burdened by her...
Dubliners
What does James Joyce say about religion in Irish society in Araby?
In his writings, Joyce is often extremely critical of the Catholic Church in Ireland, presenting its domination of Irish public life as chiefly responsible for the country's cultural and...
Dubliners
Discuss the theme of paralysis in the short story "An Encounter" in Dubliners by James Joyce.
According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, paralysis is "a state of powerlessness or incapacity to act." In the short story "An Encounter" from the collection Dubliners by James Joyce, the author...
Dubliners
You may choose to use either "The Dead" or "The Encounter" by James Joyce to answer (whichever leads to more...
One of the primary tenets of the modernist period was the belief among artists that their artwork, including literature, could create social change and cure social ills. In American literature,...
Dubliners
Compare and contrast the actions of Jimmy from “After the Race” to those of Eveline in "Eveline" in Dubliners. To...
What attracts Eveline more than anything else is the prospect of escape from a life of drudgery, hardship and suffering. The powerful memory she has of how her mother lived her life and how she...
Dubliners
What are the similarities between "Eveline" and "The Boarding House"?
The most striking similarity between the stories is the stifling gender roles under which the women live in each. Eveline and Polly both live in households where women must do all that needs to be...
Dubliners
Discuss the theme of paralysis in the short story “The Dead” in Dubliners by James Joyce.
In “The Dead,” James Joyce explores the idea of the paralysis that afflicts Dublin through the story’s protagonist, Gabriel. At a Christmas party, Gabriel interacts with a number of guests. Each...
Dubliners
Apparently there is a moment of sudden realisation at the end of every story in Dubliners, an 'epiphany'. What is the...
Jimmy in Joyce's "After the Race" from Dubliners is obsessed with being with and accepted by his European continental friends. He is the paralyzed Dubliner typical of the short story collection...
Dubliners
Did you enjoy reading James Joyce's "The Dubliners"? Why or why not? I know I did, but did you? Explain.
I do enjoy Joyce, but it's not an easy read. I enjoy a challenge though. As for depressing stories, they are entertaining- just not in the same way as happy ones. I can stand hardly anything...
Dubliners
Interpret the significance of Jimmy’s inconsistent education in "After the Race" in Dubliners.
The story makes it clear that Jimmy's father's prosperity has been something that has allowed Jimmy to receive a much higher standard of education than his background and class would have...
Dubliners
In "Dubliners", what role does the fire play in "Ivy Day in the Committee Room"? How does each character interact...
The fire in the story is generally taken to represent Irish nationalism, the urge for independence from England. The story is overtly political, based as it is on the canvass for an election, and...
Dubliners
In "Eveline", what is the contrast between the concrete pavement road and the cinder path?
The cinder path runs "before the new red houses...bright brick houses with shining roofs", while the concrete pavement lies before the drab "little brown houses" where Eveline...
Dubliners
How are women portrayed in Joyce's Dubliners?
In general, women bear the brunt of the cultural paralysis that is the main theme of Joyce's Dubliners. For the most part, the female characters in these stories lead stunted lives, intellectually...
Dubliners
Discuss the nature of tragedy in Dubliners by James Joyce.
In the opening story "The Sisters" from The Dubliners, you might find the answer to the question in the italicized words: gnomon, paralysis, and simony. These form the heart of what plagues the...
Dubliners
What is the basis for conversation between Farrington and his friends in Counterparts by James Joyce? What do these...
Counterparts is one of the stories in James Joyce's Dubliners' series. Farrington is in an unrewarding job and has no motivation to do well. He feels unfairly treated and his manager, Mr. Alleyne...
Dubliners
Discuss the theme of paralysis in the short story "A Painful Case" in Dubliners by James Joyce.
James Joyce's short story, "A Painful Case," relates Mr. Duffy's paralysis in his relationship with Mrs. Sinico and in his life generally. Before meeting Mrs. Sinico, he has a perfectly orderly...
Dubliners
What is the mood of the story Dubliners? How does Joyce establish in his first few pages?
While there is no specific story from Dubliners that is stated in the question, a safe assumption would be that the question refers to the first story. “The Sisters” establishes Joyce’s depressing...
Dubliners
In Dubliners, there are multiple themes that appear as central issues, two of which are religion and paralysis. What...
One story in James Joyce’s Dubliners that contains both religion and paralysis is the first short story “The Sisters.” The presence of the brings issues of religion. The fact that the priest is...
Dubliners
Compare and contrast "Pushcart Man" by Langston Hughes and Dubliners by James Joyce.
This is a fun question. Right away, we can make two easy comparisons between Langston Hughes's "Pushcart Man" and James Joyce's Dubliners. With both, we are dealing with the short story form in the...
Dubliners
In James Joyce's "Dubliners", what is the significance of these titles: The Sisters, Evaline, Bording House...
In "The Sisters," the narrator's friend, a priest, has died, no longer associated with the church (a tragedy in such a heavily Catholic country such as Ireland) and alone except for his...
Dubliners
Discuss the use of symbolism in each of the three stories of childhood in Dubliners: "Araby," "An Encounter," and...
In order to find a symbol that will connect the three stories about childhood in Dubliners, you will likely find it helpful to compare the themes of the stories first and then focus on the ways...
Dubliners
Why does the boy has a nightmare about Father Flynn’s face in Dubliners?
The narrator of the first story in Dubliners, "The Sisters", is a nameless main character who is also a young boy, perhaps an acolyte. His best friend is an elderly priest of the Catholic Church...
Dubliners
Which short story best illustrates the use of setting?
In a short story, the setting is a crucial element and, as it creates mood and circumstance, it can be as important as the theme. Short stories need to convey their message in a very short space of...
Dubliners
Analyze the character Eveline, in James Joyce's collection Dubliners.
Please note that you are only allowed to ask one question at a time on Enotes. In your original question, you asked several. I've edited it to help you with Eveline's character. If you need further...
Dubliners
Discuss the theme of paralysis in the short story “The Sisters” in Dubliners by James Joyce.
James Joyce’s short story “The Sisters” is the first from his collection called Dubliners. It is a story about a boy confronting the loss of his mentor, Father Flynn. Father Flynn suffered several...
Dubliners
How are 'endings' effective in the stories included in Dubliners?
One Joycean ending I will never forget is the empty depressed atmosphere at the close of 'The Dead' short story. Gabriel realizes that after all the diligent steady work he has put into his life,...
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