II.2: Night Lessons (pp. 260–308)
The second chapter of Book II is a virtuoso experiment in form: the children do their homework, with Shem's notes in the left margin, Shaun's notes in the right, and Issy's footnotes at the bottom.
Quick Reference
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Pages | 260–308 |
| Vico Age | Aristocratic (Age of Heroes) |
| Time | Night (homework time) |
| Setting | Upstairs in the pub |
| Main Characters | Dolph (Shem), Kev (Shaun), Issy |
Synopsis
The Homework (pp. 260–287)
The children—Dolph (Shem) and Kev (Shaun)—study various subjects: mathematics, geometry, grammar, history, letter-writing.
The Marginalia
- Left margin: Shem's smart-aleck comments
- Right margin: Shaun's pompous professorial notes
- Footnotes: Issy's irrelevant chitchat and observations
The Geometry Lesson (pp. 287–304)
Dolph teaches Kev Euclid, specifically how to draw ALP's genitals geometrically. Kev is scandalized and hits Dolph.
The Historical Names (pp. 305–308)
The margins fill with historically significant names—Cato, Nero, Aristotle, Caesar—as the chapter concludes.
The Unique Layout
This chapter mimics a schoolbook with marginalia:
- The central text is the "official" lesson
- The margins contain the children's notes
- The footnotes are Issy's commentary
At the midpoint ("half time"), Shem and Shaun switch sides—what was left-margin becomes right.
Key Themes
1. Education as Conditioning
Irish schoolbooks were "instruments of cultural conditioning"—shaping religious and political identity.
2. The Body in the Text
The geometry lesson explicitly draws ALP's body. Knowledge of the mother becomes knowledge of sex.
3. Shem vs. Shaun in Academia
- Shem/Dolph: The subversive student, writing smart-aleck notes
- Shaun/Kev: The pompous orthodox student, scandalized by knowledge
4. Issy's Voice
The footnotes give Issy her own textual space—often irrelevant, sometimes insightful.
Notable Passages
The Geometry Diagram (pp. 293–294)
A diagram showing how to construct ALP's delta (pubic triangle).
Kev Strikes Dolph (p. 303)
Shaun hits Shem for the obscene lesson.
The Final Footnote (p. 307)
"I've lost the place, where was I?"
The List of Names (p. 306)
"Cato. Nero. Saul. Aristotle. Julius Caesar..."
Characters in This Chapter
| Character | Appears As | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Shem | Dolph | Left marginalia / teacher |
| Shaun | Kev | Right marginalia / student |
| Issy | Herself | Footnotes |
| ALP | Geometrical figure | Subject of lesson |
Publication History
Published separately in 1937 as Storiella as She is Syung, emphasizing the importance of the footnotes (Issy's voice).
Scholarly Interest
This chapter is of special interest to scholars of:
- Irish education history — Joyce's critique of national schools
- Textual studies — The use of page space
- Gender studies — Issy's marginal but persistent voice
Audio Resources
| Resource | Notes |
|---|---|
| One Little Goat | Video with subtitles |
| Patrick Healy reading | Complete audio |
| Waywords and Meansigns | Musical settings |
Reading Tips
- Read the center first — Then read the margins
- Don't skip footnotes — Issy's voice matters
- Watch for the switch — Shem and Shaun change sides at "half time"
- Follow the geometry — The diagram is meant to be understood
Further Reading
- Campbell & Robinson, A Skeleton Key, Chapter 10 commentary
- McHugh, Annotations to Finnegans Wake, pages 260–308
- FWEET — Search "260.01" onward
- Zachary Paul Smola, "Pedagogy And Identity In 'The Night Lessons'" (thesis)
See Also
- II.1: The Mime — Previous chapter
- II.3: In the Pub — Next chapter