08 Jane Austen

7/29/2019 08 Jane Austen

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Performer - Culture & LiteratureMarina Spiazzi, Marina Tavella,Margaret Layton 2012

Jane Austen(1775-1817)


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Jane Austen

Performer - Culture & Literature

Born in Steventonin Hampshire in 1775.

Her father was the rector of the local church.

Spent her life within the circle of her affectionate

family.

Her sister Cassandrawasher lifelong companion.

Educated at homeby her

father.

Showed an interest in

literatureat an early age.

1.Jane Austens life

The cottage in Chawton where Jane Austen lived the last

years of her life. Now it is Jane Austens House Museum


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Jane Austen


Her earliest writings date from 1787.

After her fathers death the family settled in Chawton,

a small country village.

There she produced her

most mature works. Died in Winchester

in1817.

1.Jane Austens life

The cottage in Chawton where Jane Austen lived the last

years of her life. Now it is Jane Austens House Museum.


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Jane Austen


Northanger Abbey, written in

1798 but published

posthumously.

Sense and Sensibility (1811).

Pride and Prejudice (1813). Mansfield Park (1814).

Emma(1816).

Persuasion(1818, after her

death).

2.Main works

Portrait of Jane Austen


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Jane Austen


From the 18th-century novelists she learnt:

the insight into the psychology

of the characters;

the subtleties of the ordinary eventsof life balls, walks, tea-partiesand visits;

the omniscient narrator;

the technique of dialogue;

the use of verbal and situational irony.

3.The debt to the

18th

-century novel


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Jane Austen


Austens values: property, decorum, money andmarriage.

Austens England: based on the possession of land,parks and country houses.

Marriage: result of the growing social mobility.

The marriage market takes place in London, Bathandsome seaside resorts.

Gossip, flirtations, seductions, adulterieshappen inthese places.

The marriage market produces a range of villains:unscrupulous relatives, seducers and social climbers.

4.Thenationalmarriagemarket


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Jane Austen


In Austens novels

No place for great passion.

Concern with analysis

of character and conduct.Romantic element of happyending marriage betweenthe hero and heroine.

Focus on the steps through

which the hero / heroinereaches this stage.

5.The theme of love


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Jane Austen


Set in Longbourn,Hertfordshire.

Mr and Mrs Bennetand their five daughters

(Jane, Elizabeth, Mary,Lydia and Kitty).

Mr Bingley, a richbachelor, rents the large estate of Netherfield Parknearby.

Mr Bingley falls in love with Jane Bennet.

His friend Mr Darcy, a proud aristocrat, feels attractedto Elizabeth.

Elizabeth cultivates a dislike of Mr Darcy.

6.Pride and Prejudice (1813)


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Jane Austen


Mr Darcy proposes to Elizabeth but she rejects him.

She accuses him of separating Jane and Mr Bingley.

She accuses him of ill-treating Mr Wickham, a youngofficer.

Darcy writes her a letterto reveal that Wickhamis an adventurer withoutscruples.



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Jane Austen


Wickham elopes with Lydia.

Darcy finds them and organises their marriage.

Elizabeth accepts Darcysrenewed proposal.

Bingley and Jane also get married.



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Jane Austen


Themes

The relationship between the individual and society.

The conflict between the individuals desires and theindividuals responsibility to society.

The use that the individualmakes of freedom and itsconsequences.

The contrast betweenimagination and reason.

Love, courtship, andmarriage.



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Jane Austen


Elizabeth Bennet

has a lively mind;

is capable of compleximpressions and ideas;

has a strong spirit ofindependence;

refuses to take on theroles which her familyor society tries toimpose on her;

accuses Darcy of pride.

7.Elizabeth and Darcy

Fitzwilliam Darcy

knows the principles ofright conduct;

isselfish andunsociable;

accuses Elizabeth ofprejudice;

is prejudiced by hisupbringing and disgustedby the vulgar behaviour ofElizabeths mother and

younger sisters.


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Jane Austen


The search for abalance

through

the gradual change ofthe main traits of the

characters personality

leads to

a reconciliation of thethemes that they

represent.

8.The message of the novel


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Jane Austen


Jane Austen is the undisputed master of thenovel of manners.

9.The Novel of Manners

Premise

there is a vital

relationship betweenmanners, socialbehaviour and

character


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Jane Austen


Main features

Set in upper- and middle-class society.

Influence of class distinctions on character.

Visits, balls, teas as occasions for joining up.

Main themes: marriage, the complications of love and

friendship.

Third-person narrator.

Dialogue: the main narrative mode.

Passions and emotions not expressed directly.

Use of irony.

9.The Novel of Manners

08 Jane Austen

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