Jonathon Gammon

Miss Oligney

English 11

3 May 2016

Literary Analysis Essay of Araby by James Joyce.

James Joyce was an Irish novelist and poet, and is regarded as one of the most influential

and important authors of the twentieth century. He was born February 2, 1882 and died january

13, 1941. In the short story Araby by James Joyce he uses personification, giving human

qualities to animals, objects and ideas. In this piece, personification is used to paint a picture for

readers to see the setting or understanding the feelings.

Joyce first sentence in his short story of Araby says North Richmond streets, being

blind was a quiet street except at the hour when the Christian Brothers School set the boys free.

This sentence is basically saying that the street will be empty until they get out of school. Also in

the first paragraph of Araby another piece of personification is The other houses of the street,

conscious of decent lives within them, gazed at one another with brown imperturbable faces.

Imperturbable means unable to be upset or excited. In that sentence is saying that all of the

houses are calm and that there is an area for all the kids to play and hangout with no problems.

As Joyce continues through this piece the use of personification continues. For example

As he was in the hall i could not go into the front parlour and lie at the window. I felt the house

in bad humour and walked slowly towards the school. The air was pitilessly raw and all ready

my heart misgave me. This sentence is saying that the area that he is in is not the greatest area.

Another piece of personification joyce uses in this short story is Gazing up into the darkness i

saw myself as a creature driven and derided by vanity ; and my eyes burned with anguish and
anger. In this sentence he is saying that he is mad cause he did not get the gift for the girl he

likes.

All in all, in this piece Joyce uses personification throughout the story of Araby

effectively. In using personification readers are able to evoke feelings and picture the setting of

the story. Joyce uses personification often in this piece which is why it is so well-known.