Thursday 5 March 2015

Monday, March 2, 2015, Pages 219 - 221

Read as far as "Time: the present." (221.17)

The summary of Book II, section 1: (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finnegans_Wake#Book_II)
While Book I of Finnegans Wake deals mostly with the parents HCE and ALP, Book II shifts that focus onto their children, Shem, Shaun and Issy.
II.1 opens with a pantomime programme, which outlines, in relatively clear language, the identities and attributes of the book's main characters. The chapter then concerns a guessing game among the children, in which Shem is challenged three times to guess by "gazework" the colour which the girls have chosen.[48] Unable to answer due to his poor eyesight, Shem goes into exile in disgrace, and Shaun wins the affection of the girls. Finally HCE emerges from the pub and in a thunder-like voice calls the children inside.[49]

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