I recently read about my new class on Joyce at Trinity. The list of Joyce books was monstrous, and led me to believe that the professor was either a) insane or b) a great practical joker. The reason I am positive of one of these two things is:
He included Finnegan's Wake on the syllabus, hereby known to me as Finnegan's What the Fuck. This bloviated manuscript is nearly unreadable in any language. As far as I can tell most literary people believe Joyce had either gone insane at this point in his life, or he found it extremely funny to release completely nonsensical drafts to the literary world. His brother is on record saying he was mad when he wrote it. I recently read the first page which includes such literary gems as:
"The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonner-
ronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthur-nuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy."
"Sir Tristram, violer d'amores, fr'over the short sea, had passen-core rearrived from North Armorica on this side the scraggy isthmus of Europe Minor to wielderfight his penisolate war: nor had topsawyer's rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse to Laurens County's gorgios while they went doublin their mumper all the time: nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe to tauftauf thuartpeatrick"
Once again, I will repeat... WHAT THE FUCK?
In other class news, I have yet to complete my spring class, which ended with a paper none of us were really sure how to write. The lack of specificity, or even a cohesive assignment is maddening. So, for now, I sit with a harsh I on my transcript. I'm stalled out on page 9 of a suggested 20 page paper. I'm thinking I might hit page 15 and turn it in as is. Oh the life of a graduate student.
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5 comments:
"None of us?" I would agree there was not a lot of direction on the final paper, but there was just as little if not less in blog class at the end, a class you adored. Maybe it's motivation?
Two things:
First, I am also still writing my end of class paper from the spring semester, and yes, it has everything to do with motivation.
Second, I'm taking English 801 with Steadman this semester. Please... any advice? It looks like a bitch of a class.
Though Joyce is worse. You were more insane than he was for taking the damn class.
-Matty
Pop me an email JD, I still have a book I have to return to you. I would be happy to give you any advice on surviving that class, but you're taking it with Elin so you should probably be fine.
Dude, this was Matty. Not JD.
Sorry, I combined two comments into one
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