Chapter One--Early Years

Helpful information for following images and themes can be found  at Pink Monkey's Story Summary  (Barron's Book Notes).

Who are Charles Parnell and Michael Davitt ?

Study Questions for Chapter One:

1. Stephen's father Simon Dedalus, Simon's friend John Casey the ex-Fenian, and the family governess Dante Riordan, a devout supporter of the priests who disowned Charles Parnell over his adultery with Kitty O'Shea, get into an argument over religion and politics during a Christmas dinner.  What are their respective positions, and what effect does the arguing have on young Stephen?

2. Aside from learning a bit of Latin and such, Stephen undergoes an intense brand of “socialization” at Clongowes. Discuss one or two of his experiences with adults and/or his fellow students—is the future artist Stephen like other kids, or is there something special about his thoughts and sensibilities (his way of feeling, hearing, seeing, interpreting what others say, etc.)?

3. Stephen's first experiences with the opposite sex deserve some attention. How does he relate to his playmate, Eileen Vance, and what associations does he make between her and the liturgical phrases “ Tower of Ivory ” and “House of Gold”? 

4. Fathers Arnall and Dolan give Stephen his first taste of discipline at Clongowes. What is the occasion of this “initiation,” and how does Stephen respond to his punishment? 

Following are helpful definitions for some troubling phrases and vocabulary in Chapter One:

press: closet 

cachou: a candy and breath freshener 

prefects: teachers who work as housemasters and supervise outside activities 

the third line: Clongowes children under thirteen 

greaves in his number and a hamper in the refectory: shinguards in his locker and a private supply of treats in the dining hall 

peach on: to "tell on" 

rector: administrative head of the college 

soutane: black gown with sleeves 

Hamilton Rowan... ha-ha: Patriot and friend of Wolfe Tone, in 1794 supposedly took refuge from soldiers in the castle and threw his hat on a bank or dry moat as a decoy 

hacking chestnut: dried chestnuts were attached to strings and swung sharply against one another; the one that does not break is the winner 

lower and third lines: see 8.25; the lower line is boys from thirteen to fiteen 

suck: a sycophant, a boy who "sucks up" to a teacher 

York... Lancaster: the two English houses opposed in the War of the Roses 

a wax: a rage 

elements: English, math, geography, history, Latin 

higher line: boys fifteen to eighteen 

a cod: a joke or prank 

hob: shelf at back or side of a fireplace 

ironingroom: room where armor was formerly stored 

cars: horse-drawn vehicles 

Brother Michael: a man bound to the Jesuit order by vows but not educated as a priest would be; usually assigned housekeeping duties 

cope of black and gold: a long vestment in the colors appropriate for a Funeral Mass 

boss: a sort of hassock or footrest 

a birthday present for Queen Victoria: Casey was probably picking oakum as hard labor in prison for political activities 

jack foxes: male foxes 

Ally Dally: the best 

pandybat: a stiff, reinforced leather strap 

pope's nose: part of the turkey's rump 

Tower of Ivory. . . House of Gold: epithets for the Blessed Virgin Mary from the Roman Catholic Litany of Our Lady 

tig: a game like hide-and-seek 

whiteboy: member of a group working for land and tax reform sometimes using terrorist means 

fecked: stole 

scut: literally, tail of a rabbit; here, "turned tail and ran" 

boatbearer: one who carries the container of incense before it is lighted 

censer: vessel in which incense is burned 

sprinter: someone training in short-distance bicycle racing 

prof: captain of cricket team 

rounders: British ball game 

square: the school latrine or urinal 

smugging: probably a mild sort of homosexual play 

The Calico Belly: joke on Caesar's Comentarii de Bello Gallico (Commentaries on the Gallic Wars) 

six and eight: number of blows with the strap given as punishment 

prefect of studies: assistant to the rector in charge of academics 
monstrance: vessel of precious metal in which the host is displayed 

provincial. . .general: highest jesuit authority in Ireland, ultimate Jesuit authority, in Rome 

saint Ignatius Loyola: (1491-1556) founder of Society of Jesus (Jesuit Order) 

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam: For the Greater Glory of God, the Jesuit motto. Students in a Jesuit school might abbreviate the phrase "AMDG" and attach it to their compositions. 

gallnuts: rounded growths on trees caused by insects 

long shies: long hits by the batsman in cricket