Joyce’s Aural Modernism: Hljóð (Musical Sound)

Joyce’s aural modernist technique, whereby terms and phrases morph upon hearing, is a vital dimension of his literary output. In Dubliners, for example, this transformation results in the phraseology “Derevaun Seraun! Derevaun Seraun!” in the short story “Eveline.” Its construction communicates meaning on an entirely different level, one of equal importance to the Irish writer, if not more so. This section suggests how this oft-debated phrase exemplifies Joyce’s musical construction. Rather than a corrupted Irish or English term, it is a series of musical notes composed by Joyce to vocalise the visceral quality of grief that surpasses pain, language, and emotion. Alongside assessing the musicality of the short story “Eveline,” this chapter analyses select poetry from his collection, Pomes Penyeach and Giacomo Joyce.