The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man: Epiphanies

1. The Portrait of an Artist as a Young Man: Epiphanies By Shairee Sanchez, Elaine Johnson, and Nancy Uddin

2. AIM • What is an Epiphany and how has it affected Stephens growth as a young man and artist?

3. DO NOW What are some examples of epiphanies that occoured in A Portrait of an Artist as Young Man. Which one do you think is the most important?

4. What is an epiphany? • A sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience. • A literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight.

5. Chapter 1 • Stephen discovers the power and sounds of language and wordplay which introduces the development and importance of literary art in Stephens life. For example he thinks about the word wine and how the crickets would sound if they could speak. This shows his realization of his power to give things a voice and create his own endings.

6. Chapter 2 • In this chapter Stephen is sexually awakened. Although some might consider him too young his sexual encounters highlight a very common occurrence in the united states today, a teenager having sex. This helps the reader connect the story with real life now. It also allows you to see a shift in the way Stephen regards his morals.

7. Chapter 3 • In this chapter Stephen realizes he has fallen from grace, this is a big epiphany because this is what leads him to become an extremely devout catholic another and creates a big internal conflict for him. The sermon about hell in this chapter opens Stephen’s eye and he views himself as the ultimate sinner. • (He comes to this realization also because of how the priest described hell which also shows his keen ear for literary art.)

8. Chapter 4 • In this chapter Stephen thinks he's destined to learn in the realm of the flesh instead of the realm of God. He realizes that he does not want to be a priest, After living a devout religious life, he feels that it is to extreme and he would have to renounce many things and it will not allow him to live life to the fullest and just be human. • The biggest epiphany of the entire book happens when Stephen is at the beach. And he is thinking about the meaning behind his name and how it connects to the myth of Daedalus and Icarus. While at the beach he sees a girl wading in the water which makes him think of a bird at the same time he was still thinking about the myth and it all comes together that he will be able to fly only if he embraces his secular, Artistic self.

9. Chapter 5 • In this chapter Stephen realizes he is not like others around him (friends & family) he embraces the fact that he is different and becomes his own master letting go of religion and the influence of women around him. Stephen takes control of his own destiny and through other famous artist and their works he is able to figure his own style and write it. This is the last epiphany and this is where he reaches enlightenment and embraces not only himself as a secular man but also as an artist.

10. Why are Epiphanies Important? • It shows a character's growth and transformation, whether positive or negative . • It  gives readers an insight into the mind of a character and shows his/hers cognitive development. • Helps highlight important moments in the book.