James Baquet

    Today we’ll begin looking at some of the “Greatest Books of the 20th Century” listed by the Modern Library publisher.

    Top of the list — and many end-of-the-century lists — is James Joyce’s “Ulysses.”

    Some scholars of the “Great Books” have characterized the Western literary and philosophical tradition as a “Great Conversation,” in which the great writers “discuss” the great ideas of civilization. “Ulysses” typifies this idea perfectly.

    We have discussed Joyce (1882-1941) before, noting that he is considered one of the greatest authors of the 20th century. As such, he was fully conversant with the Western tradition, incorporating both its themes and many of its symbols and metaphors into his work.

    The very name “Ulysses” harks back to the dawn of Western civilization. “Ulysses” is another name for “Odysseus,” hero of “The Odyssey.” An alternative form of his Greek name was “Oulixes.” The Romans used this as the base of the Latin form “Ulysses.” The Greeks believed that Homer, author of “The Odyssey,” was the first and the greatest of their epic poets. “The Odyssey” was the second of his major works after “The Iliad,” to which it forms a sort of sequel.

    Joyce’s book, then, published in 1922, alludes to Homer’s in a most delightful way. The action covers one day — June 16, 1904 — in the life of Leopold Bloom, a man from Dublin, Ireland. That day is now celebrated in Dublin as “Bloomsday.”

    The book echoes Homer’s work in many ways. The main characters correspond to those in “The Odyssey,” for instance. Bloom, of course, is Odysseus; his wife Molly represents Odysseus’s long-suffering wife Penelope. Stephen Dedalus, a sort of surrogate son to Bloom, stands in for Telemachus, the son of Odysseus who goes in search of his long-lost father.

    Meanwhile Joyce’s chapters themselves are named after the characters of Homer’s great work--in case anyone missed the connection. Included are major characters like Calypso, the Cyclops, and Nausicca, as well as minor ones like the Oxen of the Sun and the Lotus Eaters.

    Vocabulary:

    Which word above means:

    1. described qualities of

    2. enduring problems patiently

    3. the beginning, literally, sunrise

    4. refers to casually

    5. returns to an earlier subject

    6. match (with)

    7. last few years of a hundred

    8. not seen for a long time

    9. familiar (with)

    10. including, putting together