#oldparr

[imaginefinneganswake]

The fall (bababadalgharaghttakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy.

Finnegan’s Wake - James Joyce

ChatGPT40 explanation:

This passage from James Joyce's Finnegans Wake—specifically, "The fall (bababadalgharaghttakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy."—is both famous and complex, characteristic of Joyce’s dense, multi-layered style. Let’s break this down for university students:

Overview

This passage appears early in Finnegans Wake and sets the tone for the entire novel, which is concerned with cycles of history, storytelling, and myth. The text is notoriously difficult, blending languages, sounds, and references from mythology, history, and religion. This particular passage references one of the central themes of Finnegans Wake: the fall—whether it be the fall of man (in a biblical sense), the fall of civilizations, or the cyclical rise and fall of individuals and nations.

Breaking It Down:

“The fall (bababadalgharaghttakamminarronnkonnbronntonnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!)”:

The phrase “The fall” is a central theme of this passage and the novel as a whole. It likely refers to multiple falls:

The Fall of Man from the Bible (Adam and Eve’s expulsion from Eden).

The fall of empires or civilizations.

The fall of characters in personal or mythical stories.

The cyclical nature of human downfall and renewal.

The long, almost unpronounceable word inside the parentheses is a portmanteau—a combination of many words, sounds, and meanings. This gigantic word mimics the sound of thunder, signifying something cataclysmic, like a crash or fall. Joyce called this the "thunderword," and it is repeated in different forms throughout the novel, symbolizing pivotal moments of collapse or transformation.

This word blends multiple languages and references:

"bababadal" can suggest Babel from the Bible, symbolizing the confusion of language and human downfall.

"bronntonnerronntuonn" and other syllables seem to mimic the sound of thunder or an explosion, a symbolic rendering of catastrophic events.

The word also reflects the Tower of Babel, which fell because of linguistic confusion, tying into Joyce's exploration of language's instability.

“of a once wallstrait oldparr”:

“wallstrait” refers to something that was once strong and unbending, like a wall or fortification. It suggests the collapse of something firm and enduring, perhaps an ancient civilization, a historical figure, or a social structure.

“oldparr” could be an allusion to Old Parr, reputedly the oldest man in England (who supposedly lived to be over 150 years old). This character might symbolize longevity, tradition, or a connection to the past. However, even he eventually falls, suggesting that no matter how strong or enduring something may seem, it will ultimately face decline or death.

“is retaled early in bed and later on life”:

“Retaled” is a play on “retold,” meaning this fall or collapse is part of the endless cycle of history and myth, retold again and again. The pun on "retail" also suggests that history is sold, exchanged, or commodified.

“early in bed” could refer to bedtime stories or oral traditions that pass down stories of the past. It might also signify the storytelling nature of human life, where legends and histories are passed down informally, often before sleep.

“later on life” could refer to how these stories influence us throughout life, shaping our understanding of history and identity. It reflects how history and myth are interwoven into our lived experience, guiding our sense of destiny or morality.

“down through all christian minstrelsy”:

“Christian minstrelsy” evokes the tradition of medieval minstrels, who would sing ballads and stories, often with Christian themes. This phrase suggests that the story of the fall has been passed down through Christian history, becoming part of the cultural memory preserved in songs, stories, and religious teachings.

The reference to Christianity places this fall within the grand narrative of Christian theology, particularly the fall of Adam and Eve, but also the fall of kings, empires, and even Christ’s death and resurrection.

How to Explain This to University Students:

The Theme of the Fall:

This passage is about cycles of rise and fall—whether it be an individual, a civilization, or humanity itself. Joyce is deeply concerned with the cyclical nature of history, where empires rise, fall, and rise again.

The fall of "wallstrait oldparr" evokes the collapse of something once strong, but it also implies renewal. Joyce was influenced by Vico’s theory of history, which suggests that societies go through cyclical patterns of growth and decay.

Joyce’s Language Play:

The massive “thunderword” is an example of Joyce’s love of wordplay. It’s not meant to be read in a traditional sense but rather experienced as a sound effect, conveying the idea of a monumental crash or fall.

Joyce combines sounds from different languages, creating a universal moment of destruction that mirrors the confusion of Babel, the thunderclap of Thor, or the collapse of ancient civilizations. This shows how Joyce layers multiple meanings into single words, making his text a deeply multilingual, intertextual experience.

The Oral Tradition and Retelling of Stories:

The idea that the fall is “retaled early in bed” suggests that it’s part of the oral tradition—stories passed down from generation to generation. In Joyce’s world, history is always being retold, reshaped, and reinterpreted.

The fall is also “later on life,” showing that these stories shape not just childhood but our understanding of history and society as adults. These cycles of storytelling reinforce the mythical and eternal nature of human experience.

Christian Imagery:

The reference to Christian minstrelsy places the story within the Christian tradition of storytelling, where the fall of man, as well as other collapses (such as the fall of empires or figures), is a central theme. Joyce is constantly engaging with religion, history, and myth, showing how they shape human culture.

Big Ideas for Students:

Cyclical History: Finnegans Wake suggests that human history is not linear but cyclical. We rise and fall, civilizations collapse and are reborn, and individuals face moments of triumph and downfall in endless cycles.

Language as a Vessel for Meaning: Joyce uses language as more than a tool for communication—he pushes it to its limits, creating words that blend multiple meanings, sounds, and references. His language becomes multisensory, asking readers to engage not just with the meaning of words but with their sound and texture.

Storytelling and Tradition: The passage shows how stories are passed down through generations, from oral traditions to Christian minstrels, and how these stories shape our understanding of the world and our place in it.

Encourage students to engage with the sound, rhythm, and flow of Joyce’s language and to appreciate how his text blurs the boundaries between myth, history, and personal experience. Finnegans Wake is about the universal cycles of human experience—our falls, our rises, and how we retell these stories across time.

[atsushihamana]

test

riverrun, past Eve and Adam’s, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

Sir Tristram, violer d’amores, fr’over the short sea, had passencore rearrived from North Armorica on this side the scraggy isthmus of Europe Minor to wielderfight his penisolate war: nor had topsawyer’s rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse to Laurens County’s gorgios while they went doublin their mumper all the time: nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe to tauftauf thuartpeatrick not yet, though venissoon after, had a kidscad buttended a bland old isaac: not yet, though all’s fair in vanessy, were sosie sesthers wroth with twone nathandjoe. Rot a peck of pa’s malt had Jhem or Shen brewed by arclight and rory end to the regginbrow was to be seen ringsome on the aquaface.

The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonner ronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy. The great fall of the offwall entailed at such short notice the pftjschute of Finnegan, erse solid man, that the humptyhillhead of humself prumptly sends an unquiring one well to the west in quest of his tumptytumtoes: and their upturnpikepointandplace is at the knock out in the park where oranges have been laid to rust upon the green since devlinsfirst loved livvy.

What clashes here of wills gen wonts, oystrygods gaggin fishy-gods! Brékkek Kékkek Kékkek Kékkek! Kóax Kóax Kóax! Ualu Ualu Ualu! Quaouauh! Where the Baddelaries partisans are still out to mathmaster Malachus Micgranes and the Verdons catapelting the camibalistics out of the Whoyteboyce of Hoodie Head. Assiegates and boomeringstroms. Sod’s brood, be me fear! Sanglorians, save! Arms apeal with larms, appalling. Killykillkilly: a toll, a toll. What chance cuddleys, what cashels aired and ventilated! What bidimetoloves sinduced by what tegotetabsolvers! What true feeling for their’s hayair with what strawng voice of false jiccup! O here here how hoth sprowled met the duskt the father of fornicationists but, (O my shining stars and body!) how hath fanespanned most high heaven the skysign of soft advertisement! But was iz? Iseut? Ere were sewers? The oaks of ald now they lie in peat yet elms leap where askes lay. Phall if you but will, rise you must: and none so soon either shall the pharce for the nunce come to a setdown secular phoenish.

Bygmester Finnegan, of the Stuttering Hand, freemen’s maurer, lived in the broadest way immarginable in his rushlit toofarback for messuages before joshuan judges had given us numbers or Helviticus committed deuteronomy (one yeastyday he sternely struxk his tete in a tub for to watsch the future of his fates but ere he swiftly stook it out again, by the might of moses, the very water was eviparated and all the guenneses had met their exodus so that ought to show you what a pentschanjeuchy chap he was!) and during mighty odd years this man of hod, cement and edifices in Toper’s Thorp piled buildung supra buildung pon the banks for the livers by the Soangso. He addle liddle phifie Annie ugged the little craythur. Wither hayre in honds tuck up your part inher. Oftwhile balbulous, mithre ahead, with goodly trowel in grasp and ivoroiled overalls which he habitacularly fondseed, like Haroun Childeric Eggeberth he would caligulate by multiplicables the alltitude and malltitude until he seesaw by neatlight of the liquor wheretwin ’twas born, his roundhead staple of other days to rise in undress maisonry upstanded (joygrantit!), a waalworth of a skyerscape of most eyeful hoyth entowerly, erigenating from next to nothing and celescalating the himals and all, hierarchitectitiptitoploftical, with a burning bush abob off its baubletop and with larrons o’toolers clittering up and tombles a’buckets clottering down.

Of the first was he to bare arms and a name: Wassaily Booslaeugh of Riesengeborg. His crest of huroldry, in vert with ancillars, troublant, argent, a hegoak, poursuivant, horrid, horned. His scutschum fessed, with archers strung, helio, of the second. Hootch is for husbandman handling his hoe. Hohohoho, Mister Finn, you’re going to be Mister Finnagain! Comeday morm and, O, you’re vine! Sendday’s eve and, ah, you’re vinegar! Hahahaha, Mister Funn, you’re going to be fined again!

[noise-vs-signal]

Finnegans Wake

“riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs.

Sir Tristram, violer d'amores, fr'over the short sea, had passencore rearrived from North Armorica on this side the scraggy isthmus of Europe Minor to wielderfight his penisolate war.

Nor had topsawyer's rocks by the stream Oconee exaggerated themselse to Laurens County's gorgios while they went doublin their mumper all the time: nor avoice from afire bellowsed mishe mishe to tauftauf thuartpeatrick: not yet, though venissoon after, had a kidscad buttended a bland old isaac: not yet, though all's fair in vanessy, were sosie sesthers wroth with twone nathandjoe. Rot a peck of pa's malt had Jhem or Shen brewed by arclight and rory end to the regginbrow was to be seen ringsome on the aquaface.

The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntqnnerronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthurnuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy. The great fall of the offwall entailed at such short notice the pftjschute of Finnegan, erse solid man, that the humptyhillhead of humself prumptly sends an unquiring one well to the west in quest of his tumptytumtoes and their upturapikepointandplace is at the knock out in the park where oranges have been laid to rust upon the green since devlins first loved livvy.”

The first page of ���Finnegans Wake” by James Joyce (1939).

The Dream Language, the Green Language, the Language of the Birds, the Language of the City.

“Dreams are messages from the Deep”.

[vangelaq-blog]

Porque eu estou APAIXONADA na minha cristaleira com bar! 🥃🍹 @piink_pug & @lunaa_pug Marcenaria: @marcenaria_joas Projeto: @iohanainteriores #sextafeirasualinda #bar #pug #adegaclimatizada #blumenau #cristaleira #espelhos #bebida #whisky #vinho #oldparr #chivas #jackdaniels #pugbrasil #johnniewalker #espumante #cristaleiramoderna #lunaa_pug #piink_pug #bar #cristaleira (em Blumenau, Santa Catarina, Brazil) https://www.instagram.com/p/Caa39TqFei-/?utm_medium=tumblr

[marcolopezcantante]

Con Despecho para tod@s ustedes Dios le bendiga #colombia #copas #mascopas #licor #borracho #clubdiscoteca #musico #conciertos #espetaculos #popularparabeber #oldparr #cerveza #bavaria #something #wisky #ronviejodecaldas #solomusicapopular #canalcantinazo #cantinazo #canalmigentetv (en Santiago de Cali) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRRnkWFjjoB/?utm_medium=tumblr

[ultramaga]

I skimmed "War and Peace", and I think it greatly helps to watch the movie first, and maybe second and third, but good grief I hate Finnegans Wake. Named after

Finnegan's Wake. Why did they remove the apostrophe? It's art, don't ask questions. Although critics have described it as unintelligible, Joyce declared that "every syllable can be justified". Yes, justified by an arsehole as an act of assholery.

The fall (bababadalgharaghtakamminarronnkonnbronntonner- ronntuonnthunntrovarrhounawnskawntoohoohoordenenthur- nuk!) of a once wallstrait oldparr is retaled early in bed and later on life down through all christian minstrelsy. The great fall of the offwall entailed at such short notice the pftjschute of Finnegan, erse solid man, that the humptyhillhead of humself prumptly sends an unquiring one well to the west in quest of his tumptytumtoes: and their upturnpikepointandplace is at the knock out in the park where oranges have been laid to rust upon the green since dev- linsfirst loved livvy. I can only assume that he was very, very drunk.

lmao, next up Tolstoy whichever one you like

[amaralalexandro]

[maltmemorandum]

Old Parr 12 year old Bot.1980s.

My Parr refreshed by bamboo charcoal. Slightly negative old bottle fragrance remains but, roast malty and raw sugar, touch of balsamic vinegar with soil and hint of herb aroma. Disgusting metallic smell disappears ! With smooth mouthfeel, touch of orange jam then intense bitter sweet malty flavor with soil and smoke. Bitter sweet and burnt malty, spice, earthy soil and smoke remains longly.

[elalambique]

Venta de licores 🥃🍺Snacks 🍫Cigarillos 🍸🥤Siguenos en Fb: El Alambique - Licores 24 Horas Ibague WhatsApp 314 397 0328 . @elalambiquesas_ibague . . . . . #ibague #cerveza #tequila #whisky #aguardiente #vodka #snack #24 #redbull #instagood #goodvibes #happy, #like4like, #followme, #summer, #friends #elalambiquesas #love #verano #oldparr #guaro #brindis #licor #style #amor #beerlover #bbc #ibagué #tecate Medios de pago: Efectivo , Transferencia Bancaria Formas de hacer pedido: -Whatsapp -Mensaje Directo -Chat Página Web El exceso de Alcohol es perjudicial para la salud. Prohíbase el expendio de bebidas embriagantes a menores de edad. (en Ibagué, Tolima) https://www.instagram.com/p/B3Loovyg3hx/?igshid=1sh95hsfrdc5

[debriinhareis]

Quando alguém errar, abra mais os braços do que a boca. - Pelas lentes milagrosas da @ppriaraujo 😍 #rrm #oldparr #ruiva #boanoite #dlbares #camarote #job (em Parque Permanente De Exposições) https://www.instagram.com/p/BxJCWAHFrly/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=16iwtmhov6kke

[ofertazos]

Brindemos juntos por estos #3AñosDe𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚 💛 Para ellas o para ellos, quiero que esta promoción sea la raíz del disfrute de este fin de semana en mi terraza🍾🥃 #OldParr & #JPChenet para que desde este jueves celebremos la vida🥂 @siemprecatalina #ofertazos #maracaibo #maracaibocity #maracaiboventas #ventasmaracaibo #mcbo #mcbocity #zulianos #ofertazosmcbo #deliverymaracaibo ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ 🚨 El contenido de este post es exclusivo de la cuenta y por cuenta del anunciante. (en Maracaibo, Venezuela) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cp1USyuOZW0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[ladelahache]

Si hablamos de felicidad, el alcohol es una de ellas.

[jumpiarp]

#PreciosDeLocura😵🙊 👉 #JumpiOferta👈  #ofertasfindeaño🎉 #licores #whisky #oldparr #18años #750ml #blendedscotchwhisky #original S/388.80 soles #JumpiArp🇵🇪 😜 👍 ☝👏 🛍 🔯 Producto 100% original y nuevo 🔯 🛍 📦Envíos todo Perú 🚚🛫🇵🇪 💰Deposito,Pagos en efectivo o tarjetas 💳 📱Pedidos Whatsapp 993867263 /914199952 📩jumpi.arp@gmail.com / ventas@jumpiarp.com 🔥🔥hasta agotar stock🔥🔥 . .👇 #licores #lima #trujillo #chimbote  #chiclayo #cajamarca #piura #talara #tumbes #cusco #ayacucho #ica #nazca #arequipa #iquitos #tarapoto #pucallpa (en JUMPI ARP) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cm5Fhk4LL2K/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[yosshyy23]

#suunto9peakpro #suunto ベルト変えてみた 久しぶりの #oldparr https://www.instagram.com/p/CkS3iGYr7VF/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[javogye]

Cake de vino tinto y nuez relleno de arequipe #tgif #friday #newweek #newgoals @sweetdreams_ec #sweetdreams_ec #workingfromhome #pastry #pastrylove #pastrylife #whisky #scotch #scotchwhisky #oldparr #fondant #guayaquil #ecuador #picoftheday #followme #likeforlikes #redvelvet #vanillacake (at Guayaquil, Ecuador) https://www.instagram.com/p/CeEc1n6L0jd/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[dasnet2002]

Por donde empezar? #oldparr #whisky #compassbox #bulleit #aberlour #bourbon (en El Palomar, Buenos Aires) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7PPBppDeyZ/?igshid=14bhq65qx5lr3