Lecture Notes on "Ulysses" by James Joyce

Introduction

• Ulysses: Novel by James Joyce
• First published: Installments from March 1918 to December 1920 in The Little Review; complete novel published in 1922.
• Setting: Takes place on Thursday, June 16, 1904
  • Significance: Day Joyce met Nora Barnacle (future wife)

Main Characters

• Leopold Bloom:
  • Middle-aged newspaper canvasser
  • Non-practicing Jew
  • Represents Joyce's "everyman"
• Stephen Dedalus:
  • Protagonist from A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
  • Momentarily becomes Bloom's adopted son
  • Represents the alienated artist
• Molly Bloom:
  • Voluptuous singer
  • Planning an afternoon of adultery with her music director

Significance of the Novel

• Regarded as a prose masterpiece of modernism
• Character portrayal: Depth and humor in characters
• Famous for interior monologue or stream-of-consciousness technique
  • Reflects on the randomness of life

Relation to Homer's The Odyssey

• Structural framework: Arranges characters/events around the epic's heroic model
  • Bloom as Ulysses
  • Stephen as Telemachus
  • Molly as Penelope

Joyce’s Creative Process

• Detailed account of a single day in Dublin
• Planned character movements meticulously, likened to playing chess
  • Specific locations in Dublin
  • Dublin becomes a character in the novel

The Mythical Method

• Introduced by T.S. Eliot
  • Uses myth to shape the modern narrative
  • Contrast between modern life and heroic prototypes

Excerpt from the Novel

• Description of Mr. Leopold Bloom's breakfast routine
  • Enjoys various foods, particularly grilled mutton kidneys
• Emphasizes Bloom's everyday life and sensory experiences
  • Interaction with a cat, reflecting on communication with animals
  • Illustrates the mundane yet rich tapestry of life in Dublin

Conclusion

• Ulysses remains a crucial work in modern literature, showcasing Joyce's innovative narrative techniques and deep character exploration.