View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. Who saved Joyce's draft of PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST AS A YOUNG MAN when he tossed it into the fire?

2. Which of Joyce's brothers died young?

3. Joyce had physical problems with iritis and _________________.

4. Where did the Joyces move when World War I broke out?

5. Why did the manager of the school love Joyce?

Short Essay Questions

1. How was Joyce perceived in the literary community in Dublin in 1902?

2. What role did Stanislaus play in Joyce's life in 1905-1906?

3. What type of writing did Joyce find interesting at this time and which author even sent Joyce a letter?

4. Describe the salient points of Ellmann's explanation of Joyce's writing of "The Dead".

5. Describe Joyce's father, John's, young life in Ireland.

6. What was Joyce like as a college student at University College in Dublin?

7. Describe Joyce's personal and professional challenges when he returned to Paris in 1903.

8. What was the nature of Joyce's work in the 1907-1909 period?

9. What was Joyce's relationship like with his father and how many siblings did Joyce have?

10. What did Joyce do when he still had money problems upon his return to Trieste?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the significance of the book's title. Why does the author call it simply JAMES JOYCE? What was he trying to emphasize with this emphatic style? Suggest three alternate titles for this book with supporting rationale for each.

Essay Topic 2

It has been said that James may have suffered from mental illness in his lifetime, thus his propensity for creating brilliant work. Explain whether or not you think any mental illness shaped Joyce's life and work.

Essay Topic 3

Explain the concept of loneliness as it exhibits in the book. Why would writers have a lonely life even though it may have seemed exciting and glamorous to other people? Why would Nora have had an especially lonely life being the wife of James Joyce? Explain the loneliness and the methods and attempts to overcome it.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,172 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample