The Boarding House

Joyce ends the story before Polly speaks with Mr. Doran. What is the significance of this conclusion? What effect does it on the story, and why?

Why does Joyce choose to include this particular story in his larger work, Dubliners? What does this add to the book, and why is it important to represent Dublin as Joyce saw it?

Does Polly intend to “trap” Mr. Doran like her mother wishes to, or is she truly the archetype of a naive young girl? What does fulfilling or undermining that archetype mean for her character?

Analyze the story’s point of view. Why does the narrative mainly reflect Mrs. Mooney’s perspective rather than Polly’s? How does that affect the story and inform its key themes and motifs? How would the narrative—and it’s broader meaning—change if the story were told mostly told from Polly’s perspective?

Occupations are very important to the story’s plot and character development. What does this say about Dublin culture at the time? How does British rule and influence affect this obsession with status?

Why does Joyce include Mr. Doran’s confession to the priest? What effect does this information have on the reader’s perception of Mr. Doran and the choice he is trying to make?

Discuss why Joyce had Mrs. Mooney separate from her husband instead of presenting her as a widow. How does the knowledge that Mr. Mooney is still alive affect the reader’s perception of Mrs. Mooney’s character and her relationship with the other male characters in the story?

How can readers see the beginnings of Joyce’s stream-of-consciousness style in this story? Can readers see traces of that development in his later works like A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man and Ulysses?