 Department of English

 Comilla University
 Batch: 18th Session: 2023-24 Course Code: ENG 1104
 Course Title: Introduction to Fiction

 “Araby”
 James Joyce

 Name:Mst.Amena siddiquee Nipa

 Roll:12401004

 What do you know about the life and works of James Joyce? (Write about his early life,

origin, upbringing, philosophy, major works and writing style)

 Ans:James Joyce was an Irish modernist writer.He was born in 1882,in Dublin, Ireland.

His father name is John Stanislaus Joyce.His father wasn’t financially stable. And his

mother, Mary Jane Murray,was a devout catholic.Joyce was the eldest of ten children in

middle class Catholic family. He was an exceptional student,excellent in languages and

literature.

James Joyce was a great writer.He has some major works in literature.His major works

are “Ulysses”(1922), “Dublin”(1914), “Chamber Music”(1907) etc .

His works provide a clear reflection of Dublin and its people.He is known for his

innovative narrative techniques, such as stream of consciousness, exploration of the inner

thoughts and experiences of his characters.His writing style is based on stream of

consciousness,innovative language, myth,realism.Moreover, his experiences combined

with his exposure to catholicism and irish nationalism influenced his writing.
  Do you find any impact of James Joyce’s life and philosophy in Araby?

Ans:The story of “Araby” is related to his childhood memories, personal experiences and

artistic perspectives. Joyce’s works are based on his life.North Richmond street, being

blind,catholic household and the bazaar reflect his childhood environment and family.In end of

the story narrator realized that his thought,hope are meaningless.It is represent his thoughtful

mind.That’s why,James Joyce’s life and philosophy is deeply impact in “Araby”.

 What is the plot of Araby?

Ans:The short story “Araby” is about a young boy who live in Ireland.He was going

through his puberty.He has an infatuation with the girl who was his friend's

sister.Mangan was narrator's friend.The narrator was waiting to see Mangan's sister but

he felt hesitate to talk to her.One day the girl willingly talked to him.She said that he was

going to “Araby”.She disappointed that she couldn’t go to “Araby”.The boy agreed to go

the bazaar because of making her happy.He promised to bring her a gift.He was faced

some difficulties for going Araby.When he arrived Araby the stalls were closed and he

failed to bring any gifts for her.It makes him so disappointed.

 What is/are the theme/themes of Araby?

Ans:The main theme of “Araby”is about teenage infatuation or adolescence period.The

story is also highlights the narrator's loss of innocence.

Another theme is his sprit for adventure.We can see the narrator liked the book “The

Memoirs of Vidocq”which is a adventurous story.

 The other theme in “Araby” is gender issue.The narrator's experiences with Mangan's

sister contribute to understanding of gender and sexuality.We saw in “Araby” that

Mangan's sister couldn’t go Araby. In that time,their social system didn’t allow it.

 Who is the protagonist in the story?

Ans:The protagonist in the story is the nameless narrator who lived with his uncle and

aunt.Protagonist is a main character of a story.In “Araby”,North Richmond Street,

Christian Brothers playing, obsessed with Mangan’s sister, love and bitter experience is

related the narrator.It’s all about narrator’s experiences and teenage infatuations.So,the

nameless narrator is the protagonist in the story of “Araby”.

 Write about the rising action, falling action, and climax in Araby.

Ans: Rising action: When the narrator had an infatuation with the girl who was his

friend's eldest sister.He wanted to talk to her.One day she willingly talked to him.She

asked him to go to the bazaar.And the narrator agreed to go Araby just make her

happy.It’s a rising action.

Falling action:When the narrator is going to bazaar.It’s a falling action.In that

time,narrator find the harsh reality and meaningless idealization.

Climax:The narrator arrives araby and see that all the stalls are closed.At end of the story

disillusionment marks the climax.His realization is the climax of the story.

 Why Mangan’s sister has no name in the story?

 Ans:Mangan’s sister has no name in the story because she was an imagination of the

narrator’s. Also she is an universal figure.The narrator doesn’t reveal her name. Because

he want the readers create their own fantasies and desires on her.

 What symbol does ‘Araby’ carry in the story?

Ans:The bazaar araby is a symbol of the narrator’s excitement, adventure and

disillusion.In every different parts of this story have different reflection of emotions.In

the beginning Mangan’s sister talk to him about Araby. And the narrator thinks that he is

impress her.It is a symbol of excitement and adventure. But the last part of the story the

bazaar is a symbol of disillusionment.

 How is the tone of story set at the beginning?

Ans:At the beginning, there was a somber,gloomy and dull tone. the blind street of North

Richmond was very quiet and dark.The former tenant of his house,a priest had died in the

back drawing-room.That’s why, the beginning tone is gloomy and dull.

 Write about the setting in the story.

Ans:The setting of the story was urban Ireland.It represented the culture,environment and

social status.The blind street of North Richmond and detached from its neighbours in a

square ground is a beginning setting. Another setting was the bazaar Araby.

 What are few literary terms used in the narrative the story?

Ans:The narrator are used some literary terms such as:

 Simile: “her name was like a summons to all my foolish blood” and “But my body was

like a harp and her words and gestures were like fingers running upon the wires” are

some similes in the story.In this line narrator compares his body to harp

Metaphor: “North Richmond Street, being blind” is a example of metaphor.It’s also a

personification.

Personification : “The other houses of the street, conscious of decent lives within

them,gazed at one another with brown imperturbable faces” and “North Richmond Street,

being blind” are the example of personification. Where the writer personify objects to

creat a sence.

Irony : “He had been a very cgaritable priest”.In this line writer uses irony because he

wasn’t a charitable priest.

 Why do you think the narrator isn’t given any name?

Ans:By leaving the narrator’s name,the writer allows the readers to easily introduce

themselves into the character. Actually,the nameless narratir in “Araby” is a technique of

literature.It emphasizes the human experiences.Sometimes, the absence of name sign of

deep issuses,like struggle,excitement and disillusionment. Another reason is first person

narrative where people don’t annou ce themselves.

 What is stream of consciousness? Do you find it in Araby?

Ans:Stream of consciousness is a narrative method in modern fiction. It is a development

process of human thoughts. It describe the unbroken flow of perceptions,feelings and

thoughts. I find stream of consciousness in “Araby”.

In “Araby” firstly narrator had described the full thought process before explained the

main story.Then excitement, adventure and disillusionment thoughts are flows.