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What did James Joyce mean by an epiphany in his writing?
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James Joyce
Irish writer James Joyce.
For James Joyce, the term "epiphany" referred to specific, short prose passages he experimented with early in his career. He used the word to describe accounts of moments when the "real truth" about a person or an object was suddenly revealed.1
These epiphanies served as a way for Joyce to capture a manifestation of the essential nature or meaning of something through a brief, striking observation. This concept became a significant element of his literary technique, allowing him to distill complex characters, themes, or settings into concise, revealing moments.2134