Grab Bag 1
Where does this short story take place?
Dublin
Why does the narrator want to go to the bazaar?
To get Mangan's sister a gift from Araby. When they talk, she asks if he's going and mentions that she cannot due to a retreat with her school.
Name two things the narrator's love for his friend's sister must compete with in the story.
Answers may include: dullness of schoolwork, his uncle's lateness, the slow Dublin trains, the cold attitude of the lady at the bazaar, etc.
What role does religion play in the story?
It acts as a metaphor for the dedication to routine that dwindles. (Answers may vary)
What is the role of the narrator's uncle in the story? What does he represent? How is that different from the narrator?
The narrator tries to avoid his uncle. When he reminds his uncle that he is leaving to go to the Bazaar that evening, his uncle returns home very late. His uncle represents the effects of a monotonous routine on one’s life. While his uncle has no problem with it, the narrator is disappointed by the routine and how it has affected his personality.
What did the narrator expect Araby to be like? What is it like instead?
The narrator expected Araby to be filled with enchantment and beauty. Instead, he finds out that it is filled with cheap goods and seems to be ordinary.
What does the narrator realize about himself after going to the bazaar?
He realizes that a relationship with his friend’s sister will disappoint him just as the bazaar didn’t meet his expectations of beauty and enchantment. The lights turning off at the bazaar symbolizes him giving up.
How does someone’s belief that they can never be with someone they love make them give up?
How can one's personality be affected by their daily routine?
Answers may vary.