Modernist Movement · English Literature

In James Joyce's 'A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man', the term 'epiphany' refers to:

  1. A religious conversion experience at the climax of the novel
  2. A sudden 'showing forth' of the essence of a common object or situation
  3. A fatal moral error or tragic mistake made by the protagonist
  4. The dramatic introduction of a transformative character in the final chapter
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Correct answer: A sudden 'showing forth' of the essence of a common object or situation

Joyce used 'epiphany' to describe the moment when the 'soul' of the commonest object seems radiant. These moments of sudden insight are crucial to Stephen Dedalus's development as an artist and serve as structural turning points in Joyce's fiction.

Difficulty: Medium Question 10 of 20

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