The Guide to James Joyce's Ulysses

Joyce’s Odyssey. A celebration of human ingenuity in Ulysses and an indictment of the mediocrity of generative AI

“…In the "Oxen of the sun" chapter, Joyce crafts 32 parodies that trace the evolution of literary style from ancient pagan chants through Middle English, followed by the Latinate styles of Milton, imitations of satirists like Swift, and 19th-century novelists like Dickens. This chapter showcases Joyce's virtuosity in various writing styles, simultaneously advancing his narrative and paying ironic homage to the literary traditions that culminated in Ulysses (Hastings, 2022).…”

“…Despite these challenges, Ulysses has ascended to become one of the most highly regarded novels of the 20th century. 16 June 1904, the day Joyce and his future wife, Nora Barnacle, had their first date and the day the book's action takes place, Journal of Applied Learning & Teaching Vol.7 No.1 ( 2024) is commemorated globally every year as Bloomsday through festivities in bookshops and pubs (Hastings, 2022). More than 300 books and more than 3,000 scholarly articles are devoted, partly or entirely, to Ulysses (Birmingham, 2014).…”

“…That is a glacially slow average 'writing' speed of 13-14 words per hour (that presumably includes researching and editing). For instance, he devoted an entire day to perfecting these two sentences (Hastings, 2022): "Perfume of embraces all him assailed. With hungered flesh obscurely, he mutely craved to adore" (Joyce, 2008a, 8.638-39).…”

“…Joyce viewed his work as a meticulously buffed mirror reflecting reality. If the reflection appears repugnant, the fault lies not with the mirror (Hastings, 2022). Joyce held the principle of free expression in high regard.…”