Gilbert schema for Ulysses


This schema for the novel Ulysses was produced by its author, James Joyce, in November 1921 in order to help his friend, Valery Larbaud, prepare a public lecture on the novel, which Joyce was still writing at the time. The lecture took place on 7 December 1921 at the Maison des Amis des Livres bookshop and lending library, owned and run by Adrienne Monnier. The schema was shown to intimates of Joyce during the 1920s and was eventually published by Stuart Gilbert in 1930 in his book, James Joyce’s “Ulysses”: A Study. Gilbert’s typed copy of the schema is housed in the at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
TitleSceneHourOrganColourSymbolArtTechnic
TelemachusThe Tower8am-White / goldHeirTheologyNarrative
NestorThe School10am-BrownHorseHistoryCatechism
ProteusThe Strand11am-GreenTidePhilologyMonologue
CalypsoThe House8amKidneyOrangeNymphEconomicsNarrative
Lotus EatersThe Bath10amGenitals-EucharistBotany / chemistryNarcissism
HadesThe Graveyard11amHeartWhite / blackCaretakerReligionIncubism
AeolusThe Newspaper12 noonLungsRedEditorRhetoricEnthymemic
LestrygoniansThe Lunch1pmOesophagus-ConstablesArchitecturePeristaltic
Scylla and CharybdisThe Library2pmBrain-Stratford / LondonLiteratureDialectic
Wandering RocksThe Streets3pmBlood-CitizensMechanicsLabyrinth
SirensThe Concert Room4pmEar-BarmaidsMusicFuga per canonem
CyclopsThe Tavern5pmMuscle-FenianPoliticsGigantism
NausicaaThe Rocks8pmEye, noseGrey / blueVirginPaintingTumescence / detumescence
Oxen of the SunThe Hospital10pmWombWhiteMothersMedicineEmbryonic development
CirceThe Brothel12amLocomotor apparatus-WhoreMagicHallucination
EumaeusThe Shelter1amNerves-SailorsNavigationNarrative
IthacaThe House2amSkeleton-CometsScienceCatechism
PenelopeThe Bed-Flesh-Earth-Monologue