British Novel 1900 to 1940

I am currently enrolled in a British Novel class. My introduction to the genre was James Joyce's A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man. This introduction also included a literary technique called stream of consciousness. Through this technique the reader is exposed to a character's disconnected, random thoughts. As the main character grows in self awareness, his development as a writer and artist grow as well. The poem at the end of the book sums up Joyce's story and Stephen's (main character) attainment of personal growth.

Are You Not Weary of Ardent Ways

From A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

By James Joyce

Are you not weary of ardent ways,

Lure of the fallen seraphim?

Tell no more of enchanted days.

Your eyes have set man's heart ablaze

And you have had your will of him.

Are you not weary of ardent ways?

Above the flame the smoke of praise

Goes up from ocean rim to rim.

Tell no more of enchanted days.

Our broken cries and mournful lays

Rise in one eucharistic hymn.

Are you not weary of ardent ways?

While sacrificing hands upraise

The chalice flowing to the brim,

Tell no more of enchanted days.

And still you hold our longing gaze

With languorous look and lavish limb!

Are you not weary of ardent ways?

Tell no more of enchanted days.