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Dwell on the following.

BECOMING JANE

 

1. Read the information about Jane Austen and be ready to discuss it.

Jane Austen (1775-1817), major English novelist, whose brilliantly witty, elegantly structured satirical fiction marks the transition in English literature from 18th-century neoclassicism to 19th-century romanticism.

Jane Austen is often regarded as the greatest of English women novelists on the strength of her six completed novels. Noted particularly for their sparking social comedy and accurate vision of human relationships they're still as widely read today as they have ever been. The seventh child of a country person, Jane Austen was born on 16 December 1775 at Steventon in Hampshire. Her father, the reverend George Austen, was an intelligent and sensitive man, who encouraged Jane in her love of reading. From an early age she was familiar with the works of Henry Holding, Sir W. Scott, Richardson. Her early attempts at writing include burlesques of popular novels. When her father retired in 1801 the family moved to Bath, which was later to feature in the novel "Northanger Abbey" (published posthumously in 1818). After his death in 1805 the family moved first to Southampton and then in 1809 to Chawton in Hampshire, where Jane Austen is known to have written her last three novels ""Mansfield Park" (1814), "Emma" (1816), "Persuasion" (also published posthumously in 1818).

Jane Austen's six complete adult novels were written in two distinct periods. In her first period, from 1796 to 1798, she wrote "Sense and Sensibility" (1811), "Pride and Prejudice" (1813), and "Northanger Abbey" (1818); these novels did not find a publisher for several years after their composition. Austen's second period of productivity began in 1811 after the publication of "Sense and Sensibility". She produced in quick succession her last three novels: "Mansfield Park" (1814), "Emma" (1816), "Persuasion" (1818). Several incomplete works were published long after Austen's death. Her correspondence has also been published (“Letters", 1932; revised edition 1952).

Surrounded by her lively and affectionate family and wholly immersed in her writing and domestic chores, Jane Austen's life is often noted for its lack of events. She did attack several suitors and even accepted a proposal of marriage from one admirer - only to change her mind the following morning. J. Austen's self-contained life often seems reflected in her novels, which, peopled as they are by impoverished clerical families, eligible country squires, foolish snobs, husband-hunting women, seem to portray the world in miniature. Sir W. Scott praised J.Austen for "that exquisite touch which renders ordinary commonplace things and characters interesting". While Somerset Maugham claimed that she had at her command "the most precious gift novelist can possess" that of keeping the reader's interest.



Marriage, property and intrigue lie at the heart of "Pride and Prejudice", J. Austen's most enduringly popular novel. Met with great critical acclaim on its publication in 1813, it is thought to be a reworked version of "First Impressions", an early work, which was refused for publication in 1797.

The works of Jane Austen are very different in style from the romanticism favoured by her contemporaries. With trenchant observation and in meticulous detail, she presented the quiet, day-to-day country life of the upper-middle-class English people. Even the most minor characters are vividly particularised in Austen's lucid style. Her characteristic theme was that maturity is achieved through the loss of illusions.

Dwell on the following.

1. Find the information about the young years of Jane Austen. Be ready to discuss it. Compare her with the characters of her books.

2. Who encouraged Jane in her love of reading?

3. What periods can be distinguished in Jane Austen's life?

4. Why is Jane Austen's life often noted for its lack of events?

5. Why are Jane Austen's novels widely read today?

6. Who peoples Jane Austen's novels? Why does it seem that the author portrayed the world in miniature?

 

3. Choose adjectives and words that can describe the following characters of the film:

Jane Austen

Cassandra Austen

Henry Austen

Mr. Thomas Lefroy

Mr. John Warren

Mr. Wisley

Lady Gresham


Date: 2015-12-24; view: 1030


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