Portrait Reading

EVERYBODY please read chapter 1 of Portrait for Tuesday/Wednesday. Chapter 1 Notes

You are finding plot references that fit in the following categories: (Make sure these are recorded on a turninable piece of paper)

Water imagery
Bird/Flight
Name/Identity
Word Fascination
Hand/Eye Imagery
Women
Isolation
Religion/Politics

Then, you will read your group's focus chapter and be prepared to discuss/present/lead information during Thursday/Friday. Your presentation/discussion should include additional examples for our categories above in addition to your interesting original thoughts from this chapter. Summaries and notes are available below.

Chapter 2

(no summary needed-you read chapter 1!)

Chapter 2 notes


Chapter 3

The previous chapter ends with an adolescent Stephen paying a visit to a prostitute. We understand this and other sinful behavior continues at the beginning of Chapter 3. At about this time, Stephen's school has a church retreat that presents the young men with some ideas about the end (death and hell). Wow, there are a lot of descriptions about hell! How does the sensory imagery impact Stephen? And what is so important about his creepy goat men vision at the end of the chapter?

Chapter 3 Notes

Chapter 4

The previous chapter ends with Stephen making confession, which absolves him from all of his sins, so Stephen is is a pretty holy place for a lot of chapter 4 which catches the attention of his priests. Note the internal conflict this creates for him and how the image of the girl at the beach is like really important. Can this really be like the most important part of this book? Seriously?

Chapter 4 Notes

Chapter 5 A (end before "towards dawn he awoke")

Stephen has now decided to attend the university, instead of joining the priesthood. How's that working out for him at the beginning of this chapter? How does he feel about his fellow students? And what philosophical concepts does he debate with the dean of studies in the classroom?

Chapter 5 notes


Chapter 5 B (Begin at "towards dawn he awoke."

Stephen has been at the university having philosophical discussions with people and sometimes going to class. But now he is inspired to write a poem! He does! What do you notice about the imagery? He talks about a lot of stuff with Cranly--this is important. And yes, he reveals so mommy issues. What does Stephen decide at the end of the novel? And how does it wrap everything up?

(see link for chapter 5 notes above)