[ 3 / biz / cgl / ck / diy / fa / ic / jp / lit / sci / vr / vt ] [ index / top / reports ] [ become a patron ] [ status ]
2023-11: Warosu is now out of extended maintenance.

/lit/ - Literature

View post   
File: 567 KB, 444x562, file.png [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
11844065 No.11844065 [Reply] [Original]

What books does one have to read before tackling Ulysses?

>> No.11844072

>>11844065
Read Ulysses first and then go back and read the related material during the 2nd reading of Ulysses. Try to have at least the Odyssey and Hamlet read before your 3rd reading of Ulysses.

>> No.11844079

Ulysses itself, at least 12 times. Only then are you truly ready to tackle Ulysses. First you walk up politely to Ulysses. You let it talk to you, and you don’t say anything back. This is the first read. Then you deign to nod your head at parts. This is the second read. Third: you say “ok”, “sure”, “uh-huh” at parts. Fourth: you ask it to clarify certain points more. Fifth: you admit there are certain parts you can’t understand. Sixth: you smirk amusedly and contemptuously at parts but don’t say anything negative. Seventh: you occasionally try to hold back contemptuous laughter. Eighth: an angry expression passes over your face at times. Ninth: you outright disagree with Ulysses on certain parts. Tenth: you get in a heated debate with Ulysses. Eleventh: you get in a shouting match with Ulysses. Twelfth: you do the above and you push Ulysses’s shoulder. Only then are you truly ready to tackle Ulysses.

>> No.11844119

>>11844065
I would suggest reading A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man by Joyce, since it prepares you for some of the themes that manifest in Ulysses. Also, read Ulysses with The New Bloomsday Book: A Guide Through Ulysses, it really helps for a first reading.

>> No.11844127

>>11844065
Just read it. It holds up on a first read-through without having to do research or even by delving deeply into the themes presented. Afterwards, if you liked it or are curious, then check out some secondary materials or podcasts and read the books mentioned yourself

>> No.11844129

>>11844079
ok now this was based

>> No.11844134

>>11844079
upvoted

>> No.11844139

>>11844065
The Pseud Bible

>> No.11844169

>>11844079
take my upvote

>> No.11844174

You're supposed to be familiar with the canon and political history of Ireland, but since you're not don't bother with pre-readings. You can't really prepare yourself uly because the writing is so experimental and the prose gets so abstracted that in many chapters you're going to be pulled so far into allegory under the crushing weight of myth, you'll forget to keep track of what is happening in the world in the eyes (as opposed to the minds) of bloom or daedalus their distinctions become tenuous, actions shrouded heavily in metaphor, themes conveyed in style; plot points hidden in structure, but some really really beautiful sentences that will stick with you, you're meant to get lost

>> No.11844177

It really isn't that bad if you just let it take you along for the ride. It's a lot clearer on the second read.

>> No.11844182

Just pretend it's all a monologue inside of your head

>> No.11844241

>>11844065
Nothing. It's just a work of fiction and a shitty one at that. Unless it's a sequel, which it isn't unless Odyssey is considered its' prequel, you don't have to do any reading beforehand ever. Kill yourself if you have this preliminary reading mentality when it comes to something as meaningless as reading fiction.

>> No.11844280
File: 86 KB, 455x675, 1499726838824.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
11844280

>>11844241
>Fiction is meaningless

Imagine being this retarded

>> No.11844293

>>11844280
There are exceptions but this trash isn't one of them. 99,99% of fiction is meaningless

>> No.11844297

>>11844127
this, I studied it, if you really want to autistically understand nearly everything Don Gifford's guide is good, but you'd be missing the point at that stage

See also the Bloomsday Book

>> No.11844313

>>11844293
So what's the 00.01% then big guy?

>> No.11844318

>>11844297
>>11844127
I'd also recommend reading along with the audiobook to keep a solid pace going, trust me that it helps, they broadcast the entire book on RTE (the major news and radio syndicate in Ireland) on Bloomsday in 1982 for the 60th anniversary, we're talking multiple narrators, atmosphere, the works.
The entire thing is on youtube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY1E-NqPcP0&list=PL2pH-DD1pFYaerbwInIQoLzoGAZfMi10L

>> No.11844510

>>11844241
>What is intertextuality?

>> No.11844693

>>11844065
Dude just shut up and go for Ulysses, this is not a fucking videogame.

>> No.11844699

>>11844313
Grimm’s Fairytales, act three of King Lear and the Marquis de Sade’s collected works are unironically the only literature worth anything. The rest is drivel and noise.

>> No.11844704

>>11844318
Thanks, (You)

>> No.11844806

Aside from Re Joyce are there any essential indepth analysis of the book?

>> No.11844817

>>11844806
How in depth? Kenner’s Ulysses is a good readable read with lots of insight that gives an overview of the novel without getting too bogged down in theory or on any one theme

>> No.11845065

>>11844065
Ulysses is the Ready Player One of the 20th century