James Joyce (1914) — a young woman must choose: stay at home, or leave on a ship for a new life
Original version available: read this lesson at B2/C1 level →
This is a famous short story, told here in simple English. Read each part, then stop and talk about the questions. The end is quiet, but important — read slowly and do not jump ahead.
Eveline is a young woman. It is evening. She sits at her window and looks at the street. She is tired, and she thinks about her life.
Her life at home is not easy. She works hard in the house. She also works hard at her job. Her father is often difficult with her. Sometimes he shouts. Sometimes he does not give her enough money for the house.
When she was a child, things were better. She used to play in a field with the other children. Her mother was alive then. But now her mother is dead, and Eveline is tired and sad.
A young sailor likes Eveline very much. His name is Frank. He is kind and friendly. He has a home in another country, far away.
Frank wants Eveline to leave with him. Tonight, they can go on a big ship together. They can start a new, happy life in the other country. "Come with me," he says. "We can be happy together."
Eveline thinks about the good things and the bad things. The new life is exciting. But she is also afraid. She remembers happy times when she was a child. She also remembers a promise. Long ago, she made a promise to her mother to keep the family together. Now she does not know what to do.
Later, Eveline stands at the port. It is night. The big ship is ready. People are getting on the ship. Frank is next to her. He holds her hand.
"Come!" he says. "Come with me now!"
But at the last moment, Eveline is too afraid. She cannot move. She holds the rail with both hands. Frank pulls her hand, but she does not go.
Frank walks to the ship. He calls her name again and again. "Eveline! Eveline!" But she does not move. She watches him go. Her face shows nothing. She stays.
Ten useful words. Tap each card to see what it means and an example sentence.
1. Frank works on a ship — he is a ______. 2. She sat at the ______ and looked outside. 3. She was ______, so she did not go on the ship.
We use used to to talk about the past. It means something was true many times, or for a long time in the past — but it is not true now.
How to make it: used to + verb (base form).
We used to play in the field. (Before, yes — now, no.)
My father used to work here. (Before, yes — now, no.)
It is a habit or a situation in the past, but it is finished now.
1. When she was a child, Eveline in the field. (play)
2. The children there every evening. (play)
3. Her mother alive, but now she is dead. (be)
1. used to play 2. used to play 3. used to be
1. Frank Eveline outside her work every evening. (meet)
2. My family in a small house. (live)
3. I to school when I was young. (walk)
1. used to meet 2. used to live 3. used to walk
In many stories, the big moment is loud and exciting. But this story is different. The writer surprises you with a very quiet ending. Here are two simple ideas.
We wait for Eveline to get on the ship. We want her to be happy with Frank. But she does not go. There is no shouting, no big fight. She just holds the rail and stays. Her face "shows nothing." This quiet ending is a surprise — and it makes us feel sad.
Eveline is afraid. The old life at home is hard, but it is safe — she knows it well. The new life with Frank is exciting, but it is unknown, and that is frightening. At the last moment, fear is stronger. She cannot move. So she stays in a safe life — but it is also a sad life.
Do all three. Use the timer and try to keep talking. The sentence starters can help you begin.
Now tell the story again in your own words. Use short, simple sentences. Try to use four or five words from the Words tab, and tell the events in order.
These steps will help you: a young woman sits by the window and thinks about leaving home · a kind sailor wants her to go away with him · she remembers her hard home and a promise to her mother · at the boat he calls her · she is too afraid and does not go.
Talk about your life when you were a child. What did you "used to" do? Use "used to" three or four times.
Eveline does not go with Frank. Do you think this is a good choice or a bad choice? Say what you think.