James Joyce called Dublin the “center of paralysis (瘫痪),” and complained in a letter: “How sick I am of Dublin! It is the city of failure and unhappiness. I long to be out of it.” He spent the last 30 years of his life settling for periods in Trieste, Rome, Zurich, Paris-anywhere but Dublin.
It is a noticeable irony that his masterpiece Ulysses is not only set in Dublin, but never allows us to forget it. The novel tells the story of the hour-by-hour events of one day in Dublin—June 16, 1904, as an ordinary Dubliner, Leopold Bloom, makes his way through the urban landscape, the journey of a modern-day Ulysses, Streets, shops, pubs, churches, bridges—something of Dublin pops up on nearly every page. The city is always there no matter how difficult to understand Joyce’s prose (散文) becomes.
Bloomsday—June 16—is an annual celebration among Joyce fans throughout the world, from Fort Lauderdale to Melbourne. It is celebrated in at least 60 countries worldwide, but nowhere so imaginatively, of course, as in Dublin. There the events of Leopold Bloom’s day are acted out all across Dublin by anyone who cares to participate.
At lunchtime, it’s traditional to stop off for a glass of wine and a Gorgonzola sandwich at Davy Byme’s Pub on Duke Street, just as Bloom did. In the afternoon, the Ormond Hotel, where Bloom had feelings for the barmaids in the Sirens chapter, is the spot for an afternoon drink.
The years since 1904 have made following Bloom’s exact route impossible—Bloom’s home at 7 Eccles Street no longer exists and the red-light district, in which the unreal Circe chapter takes place, has been leveled; only the street pattern remains.
Bloomsday celebrations also feature readings of Ulysses, James Joyce lookalike contests, various other semi-literary activities, and a good excuse for drinking a few Guinnesses. In the eyes of many, it’s easier and a lot more fun than trying to work your way through the novel.
8. What does the underlined word “irony” in Paragraph 2 refer to?
A.Joyce hated Dublin but showed his love for it in Ulysses. |
B.Joyce complained about Dublin but still spent time there. |
C.Joyce disliked Dublin but his novel set in it was impressive. |
D.Joyce’s prose was hard to understand despite being successful. |
9. The novel Ulysses is mentioned to ________.
A.prove the greatness of Joyce’s literary works. |
B.clarify the misunderstanding about Joyce. |
C.show Joyce’s hidden love for Dublin. |
D.introduce the origin of Bloomsday. |
10. According to the article, Bloomsday ________.
A.started on June 16, 1904 in Dublin. |
B.is a day to celebrate James Joyce and Ulysses. |
C.is celebrated worldwide every other year. |
D.is a holiday for people to fully explore Dublin. |
11. Which of the following is a typical Bloomsday celebration?
A.Taking part in Ulysses reading contests. |
B.Trying to set a Guinness record in drinking. |
C.Following Blooms’s route to visit the red-light district. |
D.Experiencing certain scenes described in Ulysses |