Seminar Paper

1. Seminar Paper • Due: 10th of June (but you can hand in on June 2nd): on that day I’m asking each of you to take 10 minutes to report on your paper • 15 pages or more, plus works cited • write on one novel from this seminar or, one close to these novels from the long 18th century • work up a topic and read appropriate criticism and/or archival texts • develop a reading of some aspect of the novel • Caution: this is an apprentice piece. I don’t want any late papers!

2. Evelina Questions for discussion and visualizing the plot

3. Some questions for discussion • How do father-figures shape Evelina and her life? • How does Evelina respond to her father problem? • What is the effect upon the action of Evelina’s second trait—her beauty and its power? • What is the source of Evelina’s embarrassment? • How does Burney deliver on her promise: “To draw characters from nature, though not from life, and to mark the manners of the times, is the attempted plan of the following letters.” (Preface, 55) • How does Evelina change as she experiences the world and progresses through the story? • How does Evelina’s Oedipal problem get resolved? What are the factors that bring a resolution? • What does a visualization of the whole plot allow us to see?

4. The plot mechanics of Evelina in 10 stages • The past introduced into the present: Reverend Villars’ account of Evelina’s origins • Lady Howard-Villars: negotiating Evelina’s entrance into the world • Evelina’s first encounters with admirers under the protection of Mrs. Mirvan • London-Howard Grove: the traumatic and complicating meeting with Mme Duval & the “sport” with Duval orchestrated by the Captain • Howard Grove & Berry Hill & Paris: Negotiating with Duval and Sir John Belmont • London with Duval: the Branghtons and Mr. Macartney and Willoughby • Berry Hill: Evelina’s depression • Bristol Wells / Clifton: Evelina pursues her cure: Rev Villars warning letters; Lord Orville’s jealousy of Macartney and Willoughby • Clifton: Orville and Evelina reach a mutual ‘understanding’ • Bristol Wells: recognition by Sir John Belmont and receipt of Villar’s congratulation

5. Place: Berry Hill & Howard Grove Satiric Target: the Destructive effects of libertine ways I. The Translation of the Past into the Present Mrs. Evelyn (tavern girl) Mr Evelyn (the libertine) Sir John Belmont Miss Caroline Evelyn Madam Duval Messieur Duval Reverend Villars tells narrative of Evelina’s Origins: tutor to Mr. Evelyn, ‘father’-guardian to Miss Caroline & Evelina Evelina Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Madam Duval Lady Howard Howard Grove Paris M. Du Bois Captain Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, Tom, Miss Biddy, Polly Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Lovel Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Clifton

6. Place: Howard Grove Satiric Target: Reverend Villars’ anxiety II. Negotiating Evelina’s entrance into the world Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

7. Place: London Satiric Target: the Entertainments and Pleasure seekers of London III. Evelina Sees London and is Admired Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

8. Place: Howard Grove Satiric Target: Madame Duval is the “sport” of Captain Mirvan IV. Captain Mirvan versus Duval Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

9. Place: Howard Grove & Berry Hill & Paris Crisis: Evelina’s return ‘home’ versus the claims of the fashionable world V. Negotiating communications with Sir John Belmont Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green “NO!” Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan Evelina Madam Duval Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

10. Place: London Satiric Target: the ambition of the Branghtons VI. Life with the “bad” grandmother Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

11. Place: Berry Hill Focus: broken and restored communication with Villars as therapist VII. Evelina’s depression Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

12. Place: Bristol Wells and Clifton Satiric Target: the cruelty of high life VIII. Evelina’s goes to a ‘spa’ for treatment Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

13. Place: Bristol Wells and Clifton Satiric Target: the cruelty of high life Place: Clifton Crisis: Villar’s warning letter; Willoughby’s attack; Orville makes his sentiments for Evelina known IX. Lord Orville Evelina “I revere you! I esteem and I admire you above all human beings!—you are the friend to whom my soul is attaches as to its better half…” Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley

14. Place: Bristol Wells Crisis: Recognition Scene; Villar’s Letter Accepts Orville X. The Problem of Two Fathers is Resolved Mrs. Selwyn Berry hill Sir John Belmont Reverend Villars London Polly Green Madam Duval Paris M. Du Bois Howard Grove Lady Howard Capt Mirvan Mrs. Mirvan Mr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Evelina Miss Maria Mirvan Mr. Smith Lord Orville Yes ! Mr. Macartney Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent Sir Clement Willoughby Lord Lovel Bristol Wells Mrs. Beaumont Clifton Mr. Coverley “My God! Does Caroline Evelyn still live!.... I see, I see thou art her child! …I cannot bear to look at her!”