James Joyce Explored - West Bridgford Methodist Church - Adult Learning

Join us for this introduction course and explore the major works of James Joyce through Joyce's concept of the epiphany and in the context of moderism. By the end of the course, you will have been introduced to Joyce’s major prose works (Dubliners, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, Ulysses, Finnegans Wake) through the study and discussion of extracts and will be in a position to undertake your own further independent reading of these works.

Embark on a literary journey with our Introduction to James Joyce course, designed to delve into the intricate and groundbreaking works of one of the most influential writers of the 20th century. This course begins with an exploration of Dubliners, where you'll uncover Joyce's use of epiphany, stream of consciousness, and symbolism through the reading and discussion of "Eveline". Progressing to A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man, you'll examine the concept of Bildungsroman and how Joyce's early themes evolve, with focused readings from this seminal work.

In the latter sessions, we dive deep into Ulysses, analyzing its complex structure and its relationship to Homer's Odyssey, with discussions on key chapters like Proteus and Calypso. The course culminates with an introduction to Finnegans Wake, where you'll explore Joyce's innovative use of language and narrative techniques. Each session is crafted to provide a comprehensive understanding of Joyce's literary genius, making this course an essential for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation of modernist literature. Join us and discover the profound impact of James Joyce's work on the literary world. This course is for complete beginners, and those wanting to refresh their knowledge of James Joyce.

What will learners achieve by the end of the course?

1. Explain the historical, cultural, and political context in which James Joyce wrote, and how these shaped his literary output.

2. Describe Joyce’s place within literary traditions, including his relationship to realism, naturalism, and modernism.

3. Understand and analyse the concept of the epiphany as a central narrative and thematic device in Joyce’s early and later works.

4. Identify and interpret the use of stream of consciousness as a stylistic technique in Joyce’s narrative prose, particularly in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses.

5. Recognise and discuss the influence of naturalism and symbolism in Joyce’s writing, and how he both adopted and challenged these movements.

6. Define the key characteristics of literary modernism and explain how Joyce’s work embodies and expands this movement.

7. Understand the structure and purpose of the bildungsroman, and evaluate how Joyce engages with this form in A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man.

If you receive certain benefits you will be offered the course for free, however if you have a financial barrier which may prevent you from enrolling on the course, please visit our funding page for further information.

Residency in England

To book and enrol on one of our courses, you must be living in England permanently and live outside of the devolved areas listed below or live within the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) devolved area (Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire).

• Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield

• Cambridgeshire and Peterborough

• Greater London

• Greater Manchester

• Liverpool City Region

• Newcastle Upon Tyne, North Tyneside and Northumberland

• Tees Valley

• West of England

• West Midlands

• West Yorkshire

Residency Eligibility – other criteria

If you are living in the UK on a visa we will require evidence of this in order to be funded for the course, you can upload this evidence when you apply for the course. (completion of a questionnaire will be required).

Some exceptions may apply for example

• Your visa expiry date must be beyond the end of your course

• Asylum seekers must have lived in the UK for 6 months or longer while their claim is being considered by the Home Office

• You are receiving local authority support under section 23C or section 23CA of the Children Act 1989 or the Care Act 2014

Any learner who is not funded full cost fees would apply to these courses.