So, I decided that since there's only like 15 stories in the book we have to read, I'm going to read one every day or almost every day when I go to sleep. I've read two so far. I'm not really liking it yet, but we'll see. I think I've gotten into "poetry mode" and now I'm used to it, so it's weird reading something longer and... less meaningful. The first two stories I've read have been kind of pointless to me, but I don't know if that's becasue I have started to like the poetry we've read, or if they really are just not very good. Anyone have any opinion about them so far? I'm probably the only loser who has read them anyway :)
Hope everyone is having a wonderful break!
This sounds like a great strategy, Lena. We haven't read a collection of short stories yet, so it will take a while to get into the writing style. The book divides into three sections - childhood, adolescence/young adulthood, and adulthood. Each section portrays the various struggles people experience during those periods of life. Hopefully this helps.
ReplyDeleteSome food for thought: 'Liking' the stories isn't as critical as 'appreciating' what Joyce is trying to do with the characters. Also, James Joyce was writing about the people of his hometown even though he left Ireland in his twenties to live in Switzerland and France. He paints a pretty accurate portrait of Ireland during the early 20th century for not actually being there.
CORRECTION: the book divides into four sections: Childhood, Adolescence, Maturity, and Public Life. See the breakdown below:
ReplyDeleteChildhood, contains "The Sisters," "An Encounter," and "Araby"
Adolescence, is made up of "Eveline," "After the Race," "Two Gallants," and "The Boarding House."
Maturity, also is made up of four stories, "A Little Cloud," "Counterparts," "Clay," and "A Painful Case."
Public Life, is made up of "Ivy Day in the Committee Room," "A Mother," "Grace," and "The Dead."
Are we supposed to be annotating the stories?
ReplyDeleteGood question, Kelsey.
ReplyDeleteMy advice would be to annotate as needed. Your annotations are never checked for a grade, but it helps to take notes on a text especially one with as many historical and cultural references as Dubliners.
We will be discussing the stories in literature circles at the start of the semester, so my advice would be to have as through an understanding as possible.
When in doubt, annotate :)
Also, do we need reading logs and vocabulary lists? Or are we just doing the Paralysis/Epiphany paragraphs fro each story?!
ReplyDeleteWe are just doing the Paralysis/Epiphany paragraphs.
ReplyDelete