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About this quote

What does it mean?
Joyce claims riddles and puzzles in his work ensure his lasting fame.
In plain terms
I wrote puzzles so professors will study me forever.
What can you take from it?
Complexity can secure legacy.

Where it applies

  • literary study
  • author intent
  • academic research

Putting it to work

  • analyze complexity
  • study author intent

Questions to consider

  • Does difficulty ensure fame?
  • Is intention enough?

Another view

It admits his work is designed to be opaque.

More from James Joyce

  1. Does nobody understand?

    Permalink to quote #18
  2. The demand that I make of my reader is that he should devote his whole Life to reading my works.

    Permalink to quote #20
  3. One great part of every human existence is passed in a state which cannot be rendered sensible by the use of wideawake language, cutanddry grammar and goahead …

    Permalink to quote #17

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