The story revolves around young Stephen Dedalus. It is believed that the character of Stephen Dedalus is a fictional alter ego of James Joyce and it is an allusion to Daedalus, who is believed to be the consummate craftsman of Greek Mythology.

The novel is written in a modernist style. This biographical novel draws its major inspiration from James Joyce's life.

Stephen is quite skeptical about the Catholic and Irish conventions. He happens to have been brought up under these conventions. He questions them and rebels against them when he is no more a child. Eventually, he decides to leave Ireland and goes on a self-imposed exile to lead his life full of love of art.

Literature Help: A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man
Copyright
Chapter One: Introduction
Chapter Two: Plot Overview
Chapter Three: Characters
Chapter Four: Plot Summary
Chapter Five: Writing Style and Analysis