ðə fˈɜːst pˈeɪdʒ ʌvðə nˈɑːvəl ɐlˈuːdz tʊ ɐ dʒˈaɪənt hˌuːz hˈɛd ɪz æt "hˈaʊθ kˈæsəl ænd ɛnvˈaɪɹənz" ænd hˌuːz tˈoʊz ɑːɹ æt "ɐ nˈɑːk ˈaʊt ɪnðə pˈɑːɹk pˈiː. θɹˈiː"; dʒˈɑːn bˈɪʃəp ɛkstˈɛndz ðɪ ɐnˈælədʒi, ɪntˈɜːpɹɪɾɪŋ ðɪs sˈɛntɹəli loʊkˈeɪɾᵻd ˈɑːbəlɪsk æz ðə pɹˈoʊn dʒˈaɪənts mˈeɪl mˈɛmbɚ.
The first page of the novel alludes to a giant whose head is at "Howth Castle and Environs" and whose toes are at "a knock out in the park (p. 3)"; John Bishop extends the analogy, interpreting this centrally located obelisk as the prone giant's male member.