MB UNIUD

Read and analyse a complete short story by another 20th-century author, James Joyce. The story, Eveline, was published in a famous collection called Dubliners in 1914. It is set in Dublin and Evelin is a 19 year old girl facing a crisis moment in her life. Like in the story you read by K. Mansfield, the relationship of the girl with her parents, particularly her father, is a central issue.

 

a) Use the questions as simple guidelines to reading and understanding.

1. What is the story about?

Eveline is nineteen years old and lives in Dublin with her drunk father, her brothers and sisters. After her mother's death she have to look after her brothers and sisters. She works in a Store where she is treated in a bad way. After work, her father pretends that she gives him all the money earned to go to bars and drink. One day Eveline meets a Boy, Frank. They decided to run away together but while Eveline was about to board the ship, changed its mind and decided to stay in Dublin, leaving her boyfriend alone on the ship.

2. Who are the characters?

The main character is Eveline. After we meet her father, people who attend the shop, her boss and Frank.
Eveline: a nineteen girl who have to look after her brothers and sisters and her father.
The drunk father: He pretends to Eveline that she gives him all the money to go to bars to drink.
Frank: a sailor who love Eveline but he doesn't able to convince Eveline to run away with him.
The boss: he treats Eveline very badly, he doesn't respect her.

3. How is the story told?