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"He faced about and blessed gravely thrice the tower, the surrounding country and the awaking mountains." (U1.9)
The "Telemachus" episode takes place in and near the Martello tower in Sandycove. This is a map of Dublin & environs, you can zoom in for details. Sandycove is not spelled out, but can be found stretching between Kingstown and Dalkey on the southeast shoreline. The map also shows the location of various Martello towers. |
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"He skipped off the gunrest and looked gravely at his watcher, gathering about his legs the loose folds of his gown. The plump shadowed face and sullen oval jowl recalled a prelate, patron of arts in the middle ages. A pleasant smile broke quietly over his lips.
- The mockery of it! he said gaily. Your absurd name, an ancient Greek!" (U1.30) |
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"Buck Mulligan showed a shaven cheek over his right shoulder.
- God, isn't he dreadful? he said frankly. A ponderous Saxon. He thinks you're not a gentleman. God, these bloody English! Bursting with money and indigestion." (U1.50) |
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"Because he comes from Oxford. You know, Dedalus, you have the real Oxford manner." (U1.53)
The University of Oxford (Oxford, England), is the oldest university in the English-speaking world, dating at least to the 11c. With its rival Cambrige, it is one of the two most selective and prestigious universities in the UK. Oxford has 39 colleges, each with its own internal structure and activities. Currently, Oxford prides itself on having educated 4 British, and at least 8 foreign kings, 47 Nobel prize-winners, 3 Fields medallists, 25 British Prime Ministers, 28 foreign presidents and prime ministers, 7 saints, 86 archbishops, 18 cardinals, and 1 pope. |
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"He mounted to the parapet again and gazed out over Dublin bay, his fair oakpale hair stirring slightly.
- God! he said quietly. Isn't the sea what Algy calls it: a great sweet mother? The snotgreen sea. The scrotumtightening sea. Epi oinopa ponton." (U1.75) |
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"Leaning on it he looked down on the water and on the mailboat clearing the harbour mouth of Kingstown." (U1.82) |
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Kingstown was so named in 1821 (it was previously Dunleary), following a visit by King George IV. The King landed at Howth on August 12th, and made his public entry into Dublin five days later, driving by the North Circular Road to the Viceregal Lodge in Phoenix Park. He left Ireland on September 3rd from Dunleary, the foundations of whose harbour had been laid four years previously. Henceforth Dunleary was renamed Kingstown, and a monument placed to commemorate the event. |
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A SV of the Kingstown monument (1821). It is a granite obelisk on the rocky shore, surmounted by a crown on a cushion. Of note, Kingstown's name was officially changed back to Dunleary (or Dun Loaghaire) in 1921. |
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"A garland of grey hair on his comminated head see him me clambering down to the footpace (descende!) clutching a monstrance, basiliskeyed. Get down, bald poll! A choir gives back menace and echo, assisting about the altar's horns, the snorted Latin of jackpriests moving burly in their albs, tonsured and oiled and gelded, fat with the fat of kidneys of wheat." (U3.114) |
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"Buck Mulligan suddenly linked his arm in Stephen's and walked with him round the tower, his razor and mirror clacking in the pocket where he had thrust them.
- It's not fair to tease you like that, Kinch, is it? he said kindly. God knows you have more spirit than any of them." (U1.147) (Image courtesy of Robert Nicholson) |
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"Parried again. He fears the lancet of my art as I fear that of his. The cold steel pen." (U1.152)
The Linati scheme for Telemachus includes the correpondances Stephen - Telemachus; Antinous - Buck Mulligan. Antinous was the most arrogant of Penelope's suitors, and led a campaign to have Telemachus killed. This engraving (1886) shows Ulysses shooting at Antinous. |
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"His old fellow made his tin by selling jalap to Zulus or some bloody swindle or other." (U1.156)
Jalap is a laxative! From EB 1911: "Jalap is a cathartic drug consisting of the tuberous roots of Ipomaea Purga, a convolvulaceous plant growing on the eastern declivities of the Mexican Andes at an elevation of 5-8000 ft above the level of the sea. Jalap has been known in Europe since the beginning of the 17c., and derives its name from the city of Jalapa in Mexico, near which it grows." The jalap trade was likely a cover for some bloody swindle or other. |
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"Young shouts of moneyed voices in Clive Kempthorpe's rooms. Palefaces: they hold their ribs with laughter, one clasping another. O, I shall expire! Break the news to her gently, Aubrey!" (U2.165)
'Break the News to Mother Gently' in a song from the 1890s with Lyrics by Edward B. Marx and Music by Will H. Fox. The News to Mother is that her soldier son has died. |
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"A deaf gardener, aproned, masked with Matthew Arnold's face, pushes his mower on the sombre lawn watching narrowly the dancing motes of grasshalms." (U1.172) |
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"They halted, looking towards the blunt cape of Bray Head that lay on the water like the snout of a sleeping whale." (U1.181) |