The Boarding House b Characters Job Where in | Personality / | Where in the text? | Habits the text? MrMooney | heusedtobea |3-S | disreputable | G—As foreman, thenc. aN, s Mrs Mooney [foo PS RSuB ASAI vac Z Jack Mooney Lee 48 2] _ 9 2 | tatherviolent | lines 29-34 ee ee | 2, 9-30) and vulgar Polly Mooney eee oes 48-48 ae rel ee The residents | axkigg | Bal 24- Z2 | Chur wy | %F CHERKS [PAS 2 Look at the simile the narratoruses to describe Polly on lines 44-5. Study the chart below, then say what the narrator is suggesting about the girl's appearance and personality. (Focus on the contrast between appearance and reality, taking into account the song that Polly sings.) | _... looks like a little madonna ...[7*| beauty and/or oe | Polly has a perverse look Whar do they have in common - moral qual. Nee olomcesS OIG an, Sey Does the adjective refer to her physical appearance or her 97 resulting image character? + acuJames Joyce 3 Now look closely at lines 45-64 which describe the relationship between Polly and her mother, Underline the sentences which in your opinion show most clearly the nature of their relationship. Then complete the table below. Use your own words as far as possible. how Mrs Mooney’s plans for Polly have changed and why what Mrs Mooney has noticed and how she has reacted what Mrs Mooney has decided to do how Polly has reacted to her mother's strange behaviour ™. s Look back at the simile used to describe Mrs Mooney on line 63. Study it with the help of the chart below, How does the language influence your PUY opinion of the character? tf Usetles: Has your initial impression of Mrs Mooney been confirmed? Does the Image create any expectations about how the story will develop? No- How would you expect a mother fo deal with such a delicate matter? deals with moral problems 0s a cleaver What does deals with meat .. this mage suggest? The Boa 5 a Fill in the grid below whil then answer the questions your answers with relevant the text. Time setting Place setting It was a bright Sunday morning of early summer, promising heat, but with a fresh breeze blowing. All the windows of the boarding house were open and the lace curtains ballooned gently towards the street beneath the raised sashes. ! The belfry ? of George's Church sent out constant peals and worshippers, singly or in groups, traversed the church, revealing their purpose by their self-contained demeanour no less than by the little volumes 4 in their gloved hands. Breakfast was over in the boarding house and the table of the breakfast-room was covered with plates on which lay yellow streaks of eggs with morsels of bacon-fat and bacon-rind. Mrs Mooney sat in the straw arm-chair and watched the servant Mary remove the breakfast things. She made Mary collect the crusts and pieces of broken bread to help to make Tuesday's bread- pudding. When the table was cleared, the broken bread collected, the sugar and butter safe under lock and key, she began to reconstruct the interview which she had had the night before with Polly. Things were as she had Suspected: she had been frank in her questions and Polly had been frank in her answers. Both had been somewhat awkward, § of course. She had been made awkward by her not wishing to receive the news in too cavalier a little circus before the 1 sashes: 4 wooden frame which is part of the window (ie. the windows were open) belfry : p. of the church tower where the bells are. self-contained demeanour {clt'mi:na] : (here) serious manner. little volumes ; (here) prayer books, atreaks (striiks) inteqular, thin lines, veer aP STK OOMDMTTORRED i ophoovy ganas» an © second part of the story, 101, Kemember to support 65 70 % 80soy sit om ‘ ‘pam ees s1a1yBnop 184 10} suojd sAevooW suyy B10 JOU, roves mM ~O St yey Spree oz, -sroyySnep atoup z0y puegsny v puy ou plno> cys: spuey ~ oyM “sosarar ySuap-[Iny (-ypse) : sseyB-r9d ‘ounqny 94 104 AouoUL ows panes (Is) : Aq 3nd Jym3S 50 31q Axppes (js) : max98 pood got (uonenys jo “Aaagge “jusput) : 338 a8pajmouy ougnd aq pinom areye aup eu ej aup (@1=y) = [esH],qvd] APHand 1¥04yo |DUOSIad 0 sO UOJOG PUD Alod vaamiag diysuoojal 8) sees ays ‘AjubUO PUD AjaA'ssa15600 SIDJaM poner uo ssauiddoy asniry siaiySnop Jay JnOgo PAuOM s} ays ‘AjsnoKUO SE ajqissod so AyusidiJe PUD AjypINb so Paajos a 04 wagoud joryD01d © B18 JI J] SO ‘AOM SyI|-ssaUISNG D UL YK Ell 28160 NOK OP Mojaq Passi} ‘WH epanjoaut sieio10 Oy JO snyo|s |O1ID0s ay snoa0 UlDB| J8PS1 BY! SBOP JOU, GO Sy cosnoy Buipioog ay Jo 396 NOA Op UOIssaidw) JOU, Sal couep ul paquosep Guyias ays] q __sroyyBnep soup 398 jou pjnoo om Mstnj ays SfoxRoUr ouiOs jo FySMOUT ITS pur Jay paysnes avy prioyy wax8 say Jo uorssardxa eaisioap oul, g“ssets arid ay ut fasiay paXaams pur dn poojs ayg jmoy-jey oy) ATON, »-Aq yn yynys yo 91q B pey ay poyadsns ays pur Sung au0 10 ¢ mags pooS v pey ay Mau aug “TPM aq JYyBrU [Te paoaSe ay #1 SeOZOYAA 2 “HS sty Jo sso] ayy ‘sdeysod “uy 10y ueoUE prnom Ayoyqnd pur aoyjo squvyprowr-ourm oyoyze> 3948 e ut sxead usarTTyy soy pacoydura uaeq pey ay ‘sapisog “owos Aq paqueaut weeq pey steep fayeyge aug jo Surpouos mauy asnoy ayy ut s8poy ay TV 1 AOMaNd aovy p[nom ay YUN OU PIP ays “saprey yonut usaaqg aavy prnom se} 4a suod] wejUeg 40 apeay| JA JO UBPHaYg JW UE9Eq PeY IE JT “s19yIO asnoy 6ulpsoog aul quaaaad 0} Sunpar ay) AL] paoios PInom ays ams. 8,uRI0q] II 0} uopyeredar auo pey ays ‘Aouows 2U} 405 [Jam Aras uonsonb ayy, 3 MOA yey os ‘3 pasnge Aqduns p: ypeouag aar 07 uo uonndo jepos ams sea ay “393 TW WIM no ray28 saqnun uaeyue.a aun IY} p Araaar 2 BY UO DOD ¢ ay aouaD0UUT asim Jal yng premme Joy prem[Me apeur wsJames Joyce The Boarding House # 7 a Look back at lines 78-86 and study the chart below. What is the b Look at the list of adjectives below, then say which ones best narrator suggesting about the mother-daughter relationship? describe the relationship between mother and daughter. Look back at Activity 3, choose from the list of adjectives below or add wid oe Ae further adjectives if necessary. FASE. hypocritical) ¢ loving Why was she embaridsseas By ® sincere * respectful by her daughter's | a ‘superficiality? How seriously open ¢ difficult does she view the 4 "Why? 8 What does the reader learn about Mr Doran? Use the table below to wa a ao yee. help you organize your notes. 4 SL acres vr Yeeos > nad uct i Mr Doran Your notes Where in the text? fies you anne she Senuineh E age 34/85 oS did not know about the i Wie a “matter” or did she simply #8 ee usarchowk | AAS pretend nor to know? Can Mrs Mooney’s opinion of him |he* & oe Aen you explain her behaviour? 7 9 Mrs Mooney is sure of her victory. Find and underline the sentences in this "Both hod been _| ami” becou. Hig passage where this is made clear, Why is she so confident of success? somehow @ wsoMex® as 30, af} a awkward ...” dxopoce Becaue sha, qeukS Re. Dekonn Ouad Why does she feel QL undarrrond 7's the beat vinx embarrassed when she falls k wh with her mother about the Coe uly +ho, pe ROK "matter"? Remember how her mother deals with moral problems 7 “oH woe omy copay DA au Do you think she has understood her mother's plans for her? Why is she embarrassed then? Aueininbbassashih owe ronyrow munud 9 Ms © ‘ane nite hci , .James Joyce They used to go upstairs together on tiptoe, each with a candle, and on the third landing exchange reluctant good-nights. They used to kiss. He remembered well her eyes, the touch of her hand and his delirium ... But delirium passes. He echoed her phrase, applying it to himself: What am I to do? The instinct of the celibate warned him.to_hold back. But the sin was there; even his sense of honour told him that reparation must be made for such a sin. While he was sitting with her on the side of the bed Mary came to the door and said that the missus wanted to see him in the parlour. He stood up to put on his coat and waistcoat, more helpless than ever. When he was dressed he went over to her to comfort her. It would be all right, never fear. He left her crying on the bed and moaning softly: O my God! b Whar happened the night before? Whar is Mr Doran doing at the moment? What worries him most? Whar does Polly's visit remind him of? 41 Go through this passage again and underline all the sentences which, express Mr Doran's feelings towards Polly. What is the nature of thelf relationship? The Boarding House © 12. Mr Doran experiences a moment of ‘epiphany’. With the help of the chart below study how his interior struggle is conveyed in the story. What decision do you think he will eventually take? ([> RC. VI) Whar do his Instinc's tel] him to do? Why? eaten Us@WGEH YOU LR eu How does he feel? (Look ar the modifiers used on lines 151,158 and 183, what do they tell the reader about his personality?) ha leats rapes What holds him bagke J a Lie sak hak pias #0 OY What does he understand? What future life will he choose? Why? t Mr Doran }——»>} 13 Read the final part of the story. What decision does Mr Doran take? Look back at Activity 12. Were your predictions right? is to ULOR! J e. a Going down the stairs his glasses became so dimmed with moisture that he had to take them off and polish them. He longed ! to ascend through the roof and fly away to another country where he would never hear again of his trouble, and yet a force pushed him downstairs step by atep. The implacable faces of his employer and of the Madam stared upon Kis discomfiture. ? On the last flight of stairs he passed Jack Mooney who Was coming up from the pantry 3 nursing two bottles of Bass. They saluted coldly; and the lover's eyes rested for a second or two on a thick 1 longed [logd) | had a strong desire, eco eer whan youl Re 2My's Wolar words sea vill buy _The Boarding House How does Mr Doran feel now that he has come to a decision? Give reasons for your answer (take into account his meeting with Jack Mooney). Study lines 186-96. ew joes the language help you understand Mr Dorgn’s ts rises | Feccaate ho UMaRIEGRAUSS aged honGeee Ge rendeanan| corns Polly in this pee Fill in the table, then answer the questions that follow. where sheisnow Jiw Hz, Boats bode whar she is doing [akals Tanang abook te sstuatisu what she is feeling hoppivess * compare her present mood with how she felt before (lines ee 7 and 185). Can you explain the change? Mxo_ Shea LSC x uasthax * Look back at Activity 2. Does the ending of the story add anythin' to your knowledge of Polly or does it simply confirm your initial impression of her? Vv conus 4 AR WAKOG, UBRRERSd, Whar do you think Mr Doran's and Polly's future lives will be like? Give reasons for your answer. Happy keconse they Upderrarng erckn : tee SEARS , LiFe Wanan Yao Caled 456 Wau in the Jog ek Waghds_ 109James Joyce The Boarding House The Story as a Whole © narrative style: What does the language used reveal about the characters and the events? @ 1 Now study the structure ‘and the narrative style of this short story. Fill in Where in the text? the grids and answer the questions below. How do structure and style influence the reader? (D> RGVEVI) Narrator’s comments and Opinions | lines 42-5, 65-4 character's personality / lines 148-8, 135-442. cultural background Q structure: The events are nor presented in chronological order, How are they ‘arranged in the text? Events Where in the text? Which characters are developed through interior monologue? We, XO distant past Whar is the effect of this? WE UMAR E Ka rnd way am What is the prevailing narrative mode in this story? recent past fictional present * narrative report of events/description of people and places \ free indirect thought 6 How are flashbacks introduced? * dialogue/interaction between characters * narrator's excursus/digression : 2 What themes can you identify in this story? Choose from the characters’ thoughts suggestions below or add your own, Remember to support your * characters’ words choice/s with appropriate quotations from the text. ¢ Does this story have ... ? > people's lives are strongly influenced by their cultural and social environment X an introduction * aclimax * spiritual freedom cannot exist in a provincial city * a conclusion 2% moral raboos and social conventions condition people's decisions J point of view: From which Perspective are events and characters seen? Point of view Where in the text? omniscient narrator val pose les Neousy lines 87-120 Mr Doran ABA-185SJames Joyce @ 3 The narrator makes his presence felt at various points in the narrative Use the table below to help you identify these points. ([> R.C.Il) Narrative perspective Where in the text? examples of verbal irony focus on lines 49-50 examples of situational irony examples of dramatic irany | What are the readers aware of while Mr Doran is nor? exameples of satire The narrator attacks the institution of marriage, (how do the characters view marriage?)-hiay heat 4 8S CORATCION What is the effect of these ‘intrusions’ by the narrator. Choose from the suggestions below, support your choice with relevant quotations from the text. * the narrator wants to distance himself from the values of his characters which he does not share * he does not want to influence the readers by openly revealing his negative attitude towards the characters ‘Khe wants to appear a detached and neutral observer of human vices, who narrates events as objectively as possible 4 Prepare a short talk about this story to present in class, (you have about ten minutes preparation time). Follow the guidelines provided below. © start with a general presentation of the setting, characters and main events ¢ describe the characters’ relationships with each other and analyse the means of characterization talk briefly about the structure of the story and the role of the narrator and how these are linked to the themes and ‘message’ of the story * say what impression we get of people and life in Dublin * finally, say if you have enjoyed reading this short story and why 112 be killed me is that) 4 a Listeni you, main possClay S b the character oe a Where in the text? | Personal inference? name Ge age ses physical appearance Ee place of workijob | 25 36 | family situation/ | social status religious beliefs ZEB - 38 colleagues’ 5A So opinion of her ¢ the physical settings | Places Reasons for being there People she meets eR UO oon Wi Es VaReeig| WOK Lets, ISH week hoe be deoots | Aenp A the tstrram [ohes S GWG te 8 Hoh a Ler ob penye | KR buying Ane Ramcake| GAR jong, Relay the 2nd tram [sks 3 FAVS te _ FRnkCer Onn Duwcs 123James Joyce 2 One of the provisional titles that Joyce chose for this story was ‘Hallow Eve’, 8 the story is set on October 31st, which is Halloween. “Halloween is the Irish pagan feast of Samhain, when the forces of light yield to those of darkness”. 1 According to ancient superstition, on this night the dead awaken and rise from their tombs. It is a night of sabbar, when ghosts and Witches mix with living beings. However it is at the same time the eve of All Saints’ Day, an important day in the Christian calendar. This duality is also present in the text. Look at the ways in which the feast is celebrated. The table below will help you order your notes. Your Notes Where in the text? pagan celebration feligious celebration focus on the reason why Maria changes the hand of her alarm. clock 3 Duality and ambiguity are also present in the characterization of Maria, Think abour the following points and divide your answers into ! witch-like or saint-like qualities as in the table below. Use your own. words, but be prepared to refer to the text. TL her name (what does she share or would like to share with her | Namesake, the Virgin Mary?) “L# her reaction to men and marriage # her actions and thoughts when she is alone in her bedroom. (How conscious is she of her physical appearance?) My her Job, role and behaviour at work (what she feels about the matron, the women and Ginger Mooney) Gr her physical description loyce makes us notice particular details through repetition) bs her living between Catholics and Protestants 4/6 7 eo ME TRAN to giPAR Gu ¥*) Maria as a saint Clay 4 Maria misses out the second verse of the song she sings. This verse has been reproduced below. Read it carefully, then say if in your opinion it was a conscious omission or unconscious mistake on Maria's part. Take into consideration what you know about her and what you have been able to infer so far about her personality. Z Rawk 14+, wos A CoMSOHS Cassio “I dreamt that suitors besought my hand, becssxye. We. That knights upon bended knee, de 2eOM, ee And with vows no maiden‘ heart could withstand, 2 Sak Tow That they pledged their faith ro me. 1S ww = And | dreamt that one of this noble host® Came forth my hand to claim; 4 Yet | also dreamt, which charmed me most, That you lov'd me still the same" 5 Throughout the story, there are several instances of failure linked to Maria. Use the table below to help you identify them. uae bet word focus on lines 98-112 whar she fails to understand eee unsoxtons, © what she fails to do what she misinterprets o Most of the events in the_stary are presented in chronological order. What period of time is commen DA Fthe course of the narration some significant details about the characters past are revealed. Say what they are and why they are important, then highlight them in the text and say which of the four narrative techniques listed below is used to introduce them. ([> R.C.V) * omniscient narrator's intervention * direct interior monologue 2% conscious association of ideas (something in the present that reminds her of the past) * interaction with another character maiden ; (here) virgin, chaste. withstand | resist, host) group of people, Pai mowJames Joyce @ 7 Joyce uses language in such a way as to place his characters in a clearly defined social and geographical milieu and to provide them with a particular level of education. Find evidence of this in the story by underlining relevant phrases and expressions. Whose point of view is adopted in each case? To what extent do you perceive the narrators presence? (> RCV) Nary'S— \bxy ‘Gout > 8 Look carefully at the description of the game of divination (lines 159-76). The objects in the saucers are symbols which stand for something else Why does Maria not appear to understand the symbolic meaning of what she touches? Look at the possible interpretations below and say which one/s you agree with. Give reasons for your answers. (You may like to refer back to Activities 2-5.) * she is like a saint, detached from the world, as a result physical death does not worry her SC she is superficial and ignorant and fails to understand what is happening around her * she is sterile and proud and does not see that she is already symbolically (ie. spiritually) dead * her unselfishness would not allow her to spoil other people's enjoyment of the party with thoughts of death * she has rejected her womanhood (in particular her sexuality) and is unable to recognize her destiny (death) even on Halloween when the dead awaken TELEMANN ijeettinnn aernetev Harrap, ee yee + EE EEE "rT Clay @® 9 Look at the end of the story. Joe experiences a moment of ‘epiphany’, which can be identified in his words "[...] there was no time like the old 090 and no music for him like poor old Balfe [...)’. The chart below will help you understand what Joe becomes aware of. ([> RC Vi+Vil ) | His failure in his family, wr resyet (rol ee Focus on lines 149-55,Ke. 3 Faqs 8 Ss eT bio rage | Ee el What has he understood a | about Maria? Mag.* $ % Joe | Whar is his life as a Ferien like? Focus on lines 134-9. s ; in his Cudleansy public life Consider his links with the Protestants. Is he loyal to his country? Whar does he / regret? i \ 10 Maria, however, in contrast to Joe, does not experience an ‘epiphany’. | She gains no further knowledge of herself or awareness of her situation at any point in the story. Focus on what you have learnt so | far about her attitude to life, then say which human ‘type’ Joyce intended to represent through her. ([> RC V+) Awa AYER oh 4 | Wesson od deen nde oud | 11 Why do you think Joyce eventually chose to call this story ‘Clay’? What, WS. is the connection between the title ond the content? Can it help with WASRAY a possible interpretation of the story? ne | Beconse com be wodilied auc 30 dees ory with horsell 2 Wa BRendS fo har beovcxs hock ore wot hors _ Yee de a emma Ie eet oy riedJames Joyce The Story as a Whole Before working through the following set of activities, read the sections Ourside Fiction: The Writer and the Real World (pages 131), and The Critics and the Writer (pages 132-3). Then in your own words explain: * why Joyce chose his own city ang his felaw Stag gee aeblget for his collection of short stories pve ea C8 O_O * how the language and narrative style he uses relates to his artistic We Uses OU bs. WAR feo purpose a MED eee REPrO Sew 1 One of Joyce's main artistic concerns at the time he wrote Dubliners was to promote his readers’ awareness of themselves and the world around them. Did you experience an ‘epiphany’ while reading this story? If so, what did you become aware of and at what particular moment in the story? Concentrate on the following points: ([> R.C. Vi+ VIL) * how details about the characters and their personalities are gradually revealed to the reader * what aspects of his fellow citizens Joyce is presenting * the way Joyce depicts life in Dublin 2 At the time he was writing Dubliners Joyce was also concemed with | denouncing the ‘moral paralysis’ that in his opinion, affected. eople of Dublin. How is this (dea cqnveyed ip, ‘Clay? * * pes tig, longa aUe” of Ray - ; % You may have to answer questions about ‘Clay’ in an examination, Prepare a brief talk with the help of the guidelines below. * start with a brief summary of the plot, including time and settings study Maria's personality; say how she is characterized describing any duality or ambiguous aspects of her character * think abour the possible interpretations of the text: discuss them. ‘and say how you think the text should be interpreted (support youl answer with relevant quotations) * discuss the style and the narrative techniques used; think about thr point of view and role of the narrator and say how these aspects of the text influence your interpretation of the story * falk about Joyce's artistic aims as set out in the extracts from his letters that you have aq it fine SEE —<—i—i The Boarding House and Clay Building up Relationships 1 Both stories show Joyce's links with Realism and Noturalism. Analyse this aspect with reference to the two short stories you have read. Realistic/Naturalistic elements The Boarding House influence Mr Doran's final decision? 's the setting functional to characterization? Yeo | kcouar. wie 3esj-tha {hang Peas. 3S ps ob Veut 2. In both stories religion and the Catholic Church are shown to be a powerful influence on the characters’ lives, nonetheless almost all the characters involved commit deadly sins. Analyse which sins they commit with the help of the table below. What does this contrast between the teachings of the church and the actual behaviour of the characters imply? (Does Teligion provide spiritual guidanc lo Dubliners live according to the Catholic Church’s moral teachings? ‘What is Joyce's implicit judgement on the j?. \¢ influence and the power of the Church {nfelande) 6 > eM ) To what extent do social conventio so [& sk ict A= Clay The Seven Deadly Sins | The Boarding House Pride x Covetousness ! x Lust Envy Gluttony 2 Anger x Sloth 3 SK Clay nose ['kavitosnas] ; the strong desire to have wealth or possessions, esp those belonging to another person,James Joyce 3 Some of the major themes of Dubliners are developed in both stories. Find out whar they are with the help of the rable below: The Boarding House Clay moral paralysis Ho wLOIOYy e Se oe corrupt and hypocritical | human relationships frustrated need ro escape eS s spiritual sterility We Esa s Pe | conor) Fay contrasr benween, coos As oe appearance and reality — Hyak “Sieben Sstgeud toh oud Va ORS 4 Joyce himself defined his style in Dubliners as one of “scrupulous meanness”. In your own words, soy what you think he meant and find examples of this “meanness” in the two short stories you have studied. ae Ty uweoms thek La hos 26 om ok he bulbs Oud wo USt @ 5 Read the a extract from a critical essay on Dubliners, then discuss it with reference to the two short stories. “Joyce does not judge. His characters live within the human constraints in space and time and within their own city. The quality of the language is more important than any system of ethics or aesthetics. Material and form are inseparable. So happy is the union of subject and object that they never become statements of any kind, but their richness and truth are representations of particular lives - and all of life.” 1 2 Adwk Ss aa paces 8 ee costae Ae WEN ears she hi oe 1 McGAHERN, ‘Dubliners’ in James Joyce: The Artist and the Labyrinth. * 130