On the plane Ben was reading Ulysses. I know very little about this novel. But i know that one Lost we can’t over look anything. So, can someone explain the plot of this novel. Thanks
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TheSwanStation
11 thoughts on “Ulysses”
From Wikiepedia:
Ulysses chronicles the passage through Dublin by its main character, Leopold Bloom, during an ordinary day, June 16, 1904. The title alludes to Odysseus (Latinised into Ulysses), the hero of Homer’s Odyssey, and there are many parallels, both implicit and explicit, between the two works (e.g., the correspondences between Leopold Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus).
Stand back, I have to make this hole a litle deeper.
Its more than just a novel, this is a piece of art. The allusions Lost gives us are nothing compared to the ones given in this novel. I wasnt just a book for James Joyce. It took him years to write, second longest for him if I recall correctly. At the time of its release, it used more words than any other piece of Literature in existance. Had the Longest sentence in existance.
It was full of debate, banned in several countries due to references to sex, masurbation, rape, and violence.
I cant believe I didnt think of this already…theres a quote..I actually remember the jist of it, but dont want to screw it up so I’ll find a link, or copy and paste or something, if I can find it.
I read this and discussed for weeks, years ago in Literature class. It was the Lost of its time I guess..have to find that quote. So weird I stumbled on Ulysses the other day before the episode aired…and didnt even think to look, because I was sidetracked with another theory.
The only connection I made was when I saw Ben reading it and thought to my self “damn, should spent some time on that”.
At first glance much of the book may appear unstructured and chaotic; Joyce once said that he’d “put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant” in order to attain “immortality”.
The mans an artists, poet, and genius. Closest thing to true greek literature of our time…well, not exactly our time, but you get it..incredible
Ulysses was written to mess with peoples minds – just like Ben. I can’t help but think this was dropped in by the writers to give us something to chase rather than give us any answers or clues.
A.E.S. I am glad you have a little first hand knowledge of this book as it has a few clues(or more). And will probably be the first Novel I’ll have read from Lost.
Was ranked Number 1…..English Novel of THE 20th Century In 1999 By Modern Library, Published again in 1922.
Was praised for it’s many puzzles and various characters. Plagued by bad reviews and nonsense!
Im not going to lie to you OTOS, it is painful, long, and hard to really follow. Funny though, it was pretty much the first book that I read, that carried this sort of style, at such an extreme level. Well, the first that I really understood the way the writing was done. Im not kidding, I gained more from understanding the book than I did the storyline. It combines so many techniques in writing that it truly is baffling, and amazing that it was only written in seven years, long for Joyce though from what I understand.
The book itself wasnt necessarily meant to trick the novice reader, that was the beauty, much like Lost. At the same time, anyone who truly read into things, the educated, literary scholars, people of that nature, had their minds blown.
When I really think about it, it really did produce the same games that Lost does, just without the internet.
When I read it in class, we would read the different stories within the book, then go back and touch on some allusions or references that were made, to gain a better understanding. These, much like Lost, were put in to a certain degree, to help a reader understand. But mostly, as Joyce himself said. They were almost meant to be unanswered. He could lay something out right in front of you clear as day, then make you believe it is something else. The game was to second guess what you believe, and what others believed Joyce was refering to.
Think. If we want to make a story about people going to a strange world, have an idea of a direction we want to go. But want to keep viewers on the edge of their seat until the end, what would you do? Say they wanted the end to be along the lines of a certain book already known, popular, but with a new twist, how do you cover that up?
You use allusions and references fron hundreds of books based on the storyline.
You dont give readers/viewers a chance to be sure, because everytime they are, you introduce something else into the plot.
Its genius, Ulysses and Lost. Ahead of theyre time, before theyre time in this case maybe, but genius none the less. I guaruntee, that reading and understanding this book to the fullest again, wouldnt maybe give you the storyline on Lost, but you would “know” the writers a little better. You would maybe as I have admitted to doing, prepre for constant trickery. I have my own BS security system, as many viewers do, that is constantly going off due to a past of being decieved on the show. Joyce did this to people as well, and leaves me with a little fear of not having ALL the answers we expect, although, I think they’ll cover the major plot points.
Btw, Ben reading a book in reference to a woman named Penelope, right after fulfilling a promise? See, this is why I think like I do.
Yeah see this thread also where this book is spoken about at length, it is very relevant to the points made here.
If you have read either Ulysses or the Odyssey you will have by now likely have identified a number of themes/ideas that might be relevant to Lost. If not they are worth a read if you have the time in my humble opinion.
“Oh Goddess of Inspiration, help me sing of wily Odysseus, that master of schemes!”
From Wikiepedia:
Ulysses chronicles the passage through Dublin by its main character, Leopold Bloom, during an ordinary day, June 16, 1904. The title alludes to Odysseus (Latinised into Ulysses), the hero of Homer’s Odyssey, and there are many parallels, both implicit and explicit, between the two works (e.g., the correspondences between Leopold Bloom and Odysseus, Molly Bloom and Penelope, and Stephen Dedalus and Telemachus).
Odysseus is about the return of the hero from the war on Troy. Among other foes he escapes or vanquishes is Cyclops (Mikhail?).
Stand back, I have to make this hole a litle deeper.
Its more than just a novel, this is a piece of art. The allusions Lost gives us are nothing compared to the ones given in this novel. I wasnt just a book for James Joyce. It took him years to write, second longest for him if I recall correctly. At the time of its release, it used more words than any other piece of Literature in existance. Had the Longest sentence in existance.
It was full of debate, banned in several countries due to references to sex, masurbation, rape, and violence.
I cant believe I didnt think of this already…theres a quote..I actually remember the jist of it, but dont want to screw it up so I’ll find a link, or copy and paste or something, if I can find it.
I read this and discussed for weeks, years ago in Literature class. It was the Lost of its time I guess..have to find that quote. So weird I stumbled on Ulysses the other day before the episode aired…and didnt even think to look, because I was sidetracked with another theory.
The only connection I made was when I saw Ben reading it and thought to my self “damn, should spent some time on that”.
AHha..
At first glance much of the book may appear unstructured and chaotic; Joyce once said that he’d “put in so many enigmas and puzzles that it will keep the professors busy for centuries arguing over what I meant” in order to attain “immortality”.
The mans an artists, poet, and genius. Closest thing to true greek literature of our time…well, not exactly our time, but you get it..incredible
Hi all
Ulysses was written to mess with peoples minds – just like Ben. I can’t help but think this was dropped in by the writers to give us something to chase rather than give us any answers or clues.
Thank you TheSwanStation for you inquiry and pp your wrong in my Humble opinion.
Ulysses was and is a masterpiece new to a generation. It was published in 1922
Sorry swanstation for not completing my statement but my Computer is a little haywire presently. What an FFFnn pain.
I ll b bck
A.E.S. I am glad you have a little first hand knowledge of this book as it has a few clues(or more). And will probably be the first Novel I’ll have read from Lost.
Was ranked Number 1…..English Novel of THE 20th Century In 1999 By Modern Library, Published again in 1922.
Was praised for it’s many puzzles and various characters. Plagued by bad reviews and nonsense!
Im not going to lie to you OTOS, it is painful, long, and hard to really follow. Funny though, it was pretty much the first book that I read, that carried this sort of style, at such an extreme level. Well, the first that I really understood the way the writing was done. Im not kidding, I gained more from understanding the book than I did the storyline. It combines so many techniques in writing that it truly is baffling, and amazing that it was only written in seven years, long for Joyce though from what I understand.
The book itself wasnt necessarily meant to trick the novice reader, that was the beauty, much like Lost. At the same time, anyone who truly read into things, the educated, literary scholars, people of that nature, had their minds blown.
When I really think about it, it really did produce the same games that Lost does, just without the internet.
When I read it in class, we would read the different stories within the book, then go back and touch on some allusions or references that were made, to gain a better understanding. These, much like Lost, were put in to a certain degree, to help a reader understand. But mostly, as Joyce himself said. They were almost meant to be unanswered. He could lay something out right in front of you clear as day, then make you believe it is something else. The game was to second guess what you believe, and what others believed Joyce was refering to.
Think. If we want to make a story about people going to a strange world, have an idea of a direction we want to go. But want to keep viewers on the edge of their seat until the end, what would you do? Say they wanted the end to be along the lines of a certain book already known, popular, but with a new twist, how do you cover that up?
You use allusions and references fron hundreds of books based on the storyline.
You dont give readers/viewers a chance to be sure, because everytime they are, you introduce something else into the plot.
Its genius, Ulysses and Lost. Ahead of theyre time, before theyre time in this case maybe, but genius none the less. I guaruntee, that reading and understanding this book to the fullest again, wouldnt maybe give you the storyline on Lost, but you would “know” the writers a little better. You would maybe as I have admitted to doing, prepre for constant trickery. I have my own BS security system, as many viewers do, that is constantly going off due to a past of being decieved on the show. Joyce did this to people as well, and leaves me with a little fear of not having ALL the answers we expect, although, I think they’ll cover the major plot points.
Btw, Ben reading a book in reference to a woman named Penelope, right after fulfilling a promise? See, this is why I think like I do.
Yeah see this thread also where this book is spoken about at length, it is very relevant to the points made here.
If you have read either Ulysses or the Odyssey you will have by now likely have identified a number of themes/ideas that might be relevant to Lost. If not they are worth a read if you have the time in my humble opinion.
“Oh Goddess of Inspiration, help me sing of wily Odysseus, that master of schemes!”
http://www.theoriesonlost.com/2009/02/ben-attempted-to-kill-penny/
I THINK ben reading the book on the plane immediatly after being shown covered in blood after fullfilling a promise by the docks has an extra meaning