1. Lesson Topic:
Eveline by James Joyce-
Bridging Text, Context and Theme
Name of Teacher: Susan Strikovsky
Target Class: 10th Grade
Lesson Place in the Curriculum:
Lesson Ten

2. Table of Contents Bridging Text and Context Main Theme : Paralysis
Theme 2 : Escape
Theme 3 : Let Go of the Past
Theme 4 : Epiphany
Examples of Epiphany
Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOT) - Problem Solving
Conclusion

3. Bridging Text and Context
How does the following information
about Ireland add to your understanding of the story Eveline?

4. Bridging Text and Context
Ireland has endured waves of emigration, particularly after the Potato Famine of 1848.
Many left their native land to seek a better life elsewhere.

5. Bridging Text and Context
Ireland was a British colony and the Northern Protestants controlled the economy of the country.
Catholic families often faced hardship. Alcoholism and abuse, were common.
As a result, many of the Irish looked for escape.

6. Main Theme : Paralysis
The protagonist barely moves throughout the story. The verbs which describe her are often verbs of inaction, for example “sat” in the first paragraph.
Verbs are also deliberately presented in the passive form: “Her head was leaned.” This stresses Eveline’s paralysis.

7. Theme 2 : Escape
As a result of the feeling of being enclosed in the small, cramped, stuffy rooms or houses where the Dubliners spend their lives, Eveline fantasizes about her escape and seems to think it will solve all of her problems.

8. Theme 2 : Escape
When it comes time for Eveline to actually board the boat with Frank, she decides against her escape.
This implies that perhaps the idea of an escape was satisfying in itself, but the actual act of escaping is too scary.

9. Theme 3 : Let Go of the Past
Another message in the story is to show us the pitfalls of holding onto the past when facing the future.
Hers is the first portrait of a female in Dubliners, and it reflects the conflict many women in early 20th century Dublin felt between a domestic life and the possibility of a new married life abroad.

10. Theme 3 : Let Go of the Past
One moment, Eveline feels happy to leave her hard life, yet at the next moment she worries about fulfilling promises to her dead mother.

11. Theme 4 : Epiphany
Epiphany means a remarkable moment of sudden insight.

12. Examples of Epiphany
Eveline is moved to action when she remembers her mother saying the phrase, “Derevaun Seraun.”
As Eveline prepares to leave, she experiences another epiphany. “A bell clanged upon her heart.”
The vision is of drowning.

13. Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOT) - Problem Solving
When you have a problem, how do you solve it?
Often you would look at the pros and cons of each choice and write them down.

14. Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOT) - Problem Solving
What would Eveline’s pros and cons be regarding staying or leaving?

15. Higher Order Thinking Skill (HOT) - Problem Solving
PROS
CONS
Lonely life
No mother, brothers left home
Alcoholic father
Chance to be free
All her earnings go to her father
Breaking her promise to her mother to keep the family together
She does not know that life will Frank will be any better.

16. Today’s Lesson was about
Eveline- Bridging Text, Context and Theme
Next Lesson will be about
Novel-Animal Farm
by George Orwell