Final answer:
The bazaar in 'Araby' by James Joyce represents a marketplace both literally (denotation) and a symbol of exotic allure and escape from reality (connotation) that eventually leads to disillusionment for the narrator.
Step-by-step explanation:
Connotation and Denotation of The Bazaar in 'Araby'
Denotation refers to the literal, dictionary definition of a word, while connotation involves the emotional or cultural implications that the word suggests beyond its direct meaning. In the short story 'Araby' by James Joyce, the word 'bazaar' denotes a type of marketplace with various stalls selling goods. Though this is its denotative meaning, 'The Bazaar' carries significant connotative value for the narrator. It symbolizes the allure of the exotic and unknown, the romantic ideals of the East, and the boy's yearning for escape from his mundane reality. However, upon attending the bazaar, the connotation shifts to one of disillusionment and the sobering realization of the gap between dreams and reality. This reflects the broader theme of idealism confronted with the harshness of true existence present in Joyce's work.