Evaluate the narrator’s description in this passage . Do his emotions seem realistic? Explain your answer that first love can cause feelings much like this. 2 . Recall that similes are figures of speech in which two things are compared using the words like or as . Identify the two similes in the last sentence . What do they reveal about the relationship between the boy and Mangan’s sister? The two similes in the last sentences are the comparison of the narrator’s body to a harp and the comparison of the girl’s words and gestures to fingers playing the harp strings. The boy feels totally out of control of his emotions; Mangan’s sister is in a sense able to manipulate his emotions as a harpist might manipulate the strings to produce the sound she desires

Question

Evaluate the narrator’s description in this passage . Do his emotions seem realistic? Explain your answer that first love can cause feelings much like this. 2 . Recall that similes are figures of speech in which two things are compared using the words like or as . Identify the two similes in the last sentence . What do they reveal about the relationship between the boy and Mangan’s sister? The two similes in the last sentences are the comparison of the narrator’s body to a harp and the comparison of the girl’s words and gestures to fingers playing the harp strings. The boy feels totally out of control of his emotions; Mangan’s sister is in a sense able to manipulate his emotions as a harpist might manipulate the strings to produce the sound she desires

Joyce uses religious references throughout this passage . Why do you think he chose to do this, and how do they relate to his use of epiphany? The religious references show the influence of the Catholic religion on all aspects of the narrator’s life. Joyce might have also wanted to depict the level of devotion the boy felt to his first love, indicating that the power of love is a kind of religious
experience.
Students’ essays should include details about housing, jobs, the educational system, and class differences in Dublin around 1900

Answer 1

In Dublin around 1900, housing conditions were generally poor, with many people living in overcrowded tenements. Jobs were often low-paying and unstable, with many people working long hours in factories or as domestic servants. The educational system was limited, with only a small percentage of children receiving a formal education beyond elementary school. Class differences were stark, with a small wealthy elite at the top and a large working class struggling to make ends meet.

These details help to paint a picture of the social and economic inequality that existed in Dublin during this time period. They also highlight the challenges faced by ordinary people who were trying to improve their lives and achieve social mobility. Additionally, they provide context for understanding the narrator's own background and the limitations he faced in pursuing his dreams and desires.