Araby

“Araby”

• Genre: Fiction; Modernist short story
• Originally Published: 1914
• Reading Level/Interest: Grades 10-12; college/adult
• Structure/Length: Single short story; approximately 9 pages; approximately 14 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The unnamed adolescent protagonist lives with his aunt and uncle in Dublin, Ireland. He develops a crush on his friend’s sister and promises to bring her a gift from the local bazaar, Araby. The story follows his realization of the harsh realities of life as contrasted with his romantic expectations.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of disillusionment and awakening; poverty; religious undertones

James Joyce, Author

• Bio: Born 1882; died 1941; renowned Irish novelist and poet; key figure in Modernist literature; his work revolutionized the novel form; known for his complex narratives and experimental use of language; considered one of the most influential writers of the 20th century
• Other Works: Dubliners (1914); A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man (1916); Ulysses (1922); Finnegans Wake (1939)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• Love and Religion
• Innocence and Shame
• Death and Absence

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the historical and literary contexts regarding the impact of the Catholic Church on the Irish identity, which incites Joyce’s Modernist prose.
• Analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of Love and Religion, Innocence and Shame, and Death and Absence.
• Research and draft a paper analyzing how Joyce incorporated details from his own life in his literary works, including “Araby,” based on text details.