Question

James Joyce’s fiction is known for its many allusions. In “Araby,” the dominant allusions are taken from the Roman Catholic religion in which Joyce was raised. Examine this key passage:

"I imagined that I bore my chalice safely through a throng of foes. Her name sprang to my lips at moments in strange prayers and praises which I myself did not understand."

How do religious allusions add to the passage’s meaning?
Question 3 options:


The allusion shows the narrator’s feeling that his love for Mangan’s sister is reverential, almost holy.


The illusion is like a magic trick: now you see it; now you don't.


The allusion shows the narrator’s feeling that Mangan’s sister is just another girl and he doesn't really care for her.


The allusion shows the chalice is what the boy intends to purchase at the bazaar.

Answer 1

The correct answer is the first option:

"The allusion shows the narrator's feeling that his love for Mangan's sister is reverential, almost holy."

The narrator is deeply in love with Mangan's sister. The allusions to the Roman Catholic religion shows the intensity of this love. In a reflection of the Petrarchian and romantic love, the narrator tells us he spends his days admiring her and longing for seeing her.

The metaphor of the chalice through a throng of foes implies that his love and infatuation for her borders idolatry.