James Joyce's “Dubliners” and Sherwood Anderson's “Winesburg, Ohio” are two of the
most famous examples for short story cycles. Both collections were published at the
beginning of the 20th century (Dubliners in 1914 and Winesburg, Ohio in 1919). One
could guess that both collections deal with the same topics and themes due to the fact
that their publication has taken place within five years, and this theory is particularly
right. In addition to that the setting seems to be similar, because both collections of short
stories take place in one town with a set of different characters. During my elaboration I
am going to present the main themes and imageries of the two collections as well as
compare the setting within these short story cycles. These two aspects will be the basis
for my comparison of the two short story collections.
1) Introduction
James Joyce's “Dubliners” and Sherwood Anderson's “Winesburg, Ohio” are two of the most famous examples for short story cycles. Both collections were published at the beginning of the 20th century (Dubliners in 1914 and Winesburg, Ohio in 1919). One could guess that both collections deal with the same topics and themes due to the fact that their publication has taken place within five years, and this theory is particularly right. In addition to that the setting seems to be similar, because both collections of short stories take place in one town with a set of different characters. During my elaboration I am going to present the main themes and imageries of the two collections as well as compare the setting within these short story cycles. These two aspects will be the basis for my comparison of the two short story collections.
2) Comparison of the setting
The first aspect I am going to look at is the setting of the two collections. The first accordance can be found in the names of the collections, which interestingly function as the place of action. “Winesburg, Ohio” takes place in a fictional town named Winesburg in Ohio. The town has several similarities to the actual town of Clyde in Ohio, in which the author, Sherwood Anderson, has grown up. All the stories in the collection are either located in Winesburg or have their beginning respectively their end in this town. Every story is connected to the biggest street in this fictional town, called Main street, which is almost described as a character more than just a simple street. The second mentioned street in the collection is the Back street, which is described as darker and grittier than the Main street. The Back street is the place, where most of the actions happen, that the public eye is not supposed to see. The last aspect of setting, which increases the importance of the Main street as well, is the fact that Winesburg is a small town, where people know each other.
Frequently asked questions
What are James Joyce's “Dubliners” and Sherwood Anderson's “Winesburg, Ohio” and why are they being compared?
James Joyce's “Dubliners” and Sherwood Anderson's “Winesburg, Ohio” are two famous short story cycles published in the early 20th century. This text compares them, focusing on their themes and settings to analyze their similarities and differences.
What is the setting of “Winesburg, Ohio”?
“Winesburg, Ohio” is set in a fictional town named Winesburg, which is similar to Clyde, Ohio, where the author, Sherwood Anderson, grew up. The stories are all located in or connected to Winesburg, particularly Main Street, which is a significant location. The Back street is also mentioned as a darker, less public area.
What is the significance of Main Street in “Winesburg, Ohio”?
Main Street in Winesburg is described almost as a character in itself. It is a central location connecting the stories and highlighting the small-town atmosphere where everyone knows each other.
What is the setting of “Dubliners”?
“Dubliners” is set in Dublin, Ireland, a real city and the capital of Ireland. Unlike Winesburg, which is fictional, Dublin is a real location. The stories take place all over Dublin, not confined to a specific street like Main Street in “Winesburg, Ohio”.
How does the setting of “Dubliners” differ from that of “Winesburg, Ohio”?
“Dubliners” is set in a real, larger city (Dublin) compared to the fictional small town (Winesburg). The stories in “Dubliners” are spread throughout the city, whereas in “Winesburg, Ohio,” they are often connected to specific streets, especially Main Street. Dublin offers more space and doesn't limit the scope of the narratives in the same way.
- Quote paper
- Rouven Dirb (Author), 2010, Comparison of James Joyce's “Dubliners” and Sherwood Anderson's “Winesburg, Ohio”, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/182900
