What level is Ulysses by James Joyce?

Grade 8
Ulysses

Should I read Ulysses by James Joyce?

James Joyce’s “Ulysses” is widely considered to be both a literary masterpiece and one of the hardest works of literature to read. It inspires such devotion that once a year, thousands of people all over the world dress up like the characters, take to the streets, and read the book aloud.

What is the meaning of James Joyce’s Ulysses?

In Ulysses, Joyce was attempting to capture the history of both the world and literature as seen through the eyes of his alter ego, Stephen Daedalus, and Leopold Bloom.

Which edition of Ulysses should I read?

When shopping for your copy of Ulysses, you will likely see many options online or in any bookstore. I strongly recommend either the Gabler edition (the most widely used version of the text in Joyce scholarship) or the 1934 Random House edition (corrected and reset in 1961).

Do I need to read the Odyssey before Ulysses?

The short answer to this question is: none. No ancillary reading is necessary to enjoy Ulysses, and I tend to tell first-time readers to actually avoid all the guides and reference books: I think it’s best to just let Joyce’s prose carry you along, and enjoy the ride.

Why is Ulysses so hard to read?

Ulysses is extremely difficult. Part of it is due to Joyce’s great intelligence and excessive erudition. His superb memory made him capable of remembering everything he heard, read, or experienced, and he read everything he could get his hands on. His imagination embellished most of what he wrote.

Why did James Joyce call his book Ulysses?

“Ulysses” is the Latin name for the Greek hero of Homer’s epic, the Odyssey, on which Joyce’s novel is based. By titling his novel, Ulysses, Joyce was harkening back to the start of literature and staking his place in it. But he was also challenging Homer.

Is Ulysses hard to read in English?

Come on, it’s Ulysses. Considered by many to be the second hardest book in the English language (mostly because the hardest book in the English language requires a working knowledge of 8 other languages to read), reading Ulysses is both enjoyable and provocative. Despite its reputation, it’s not too difficult to read.

Are there different versions of Ulysses?

There are two versions of this available: a Vintage paperback, and a Modern Library hardcover.

Should you read portrait of an artist before Ulysses?

The most important precursor to Ulysses is Joyce’s previous novel, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This you probably should read before you start. There are also a number of characters from Dubliners, Joyce’s collection of short stories, that crop up, but it’s not necessary to have read that one first either.