Jane Austen Alexis Eckman

1. Jane Austen Alexis Eckman

2. Biography • Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire on December 16, 1775. She was the seventh child out of eight. Her parents were Reverend George Austen and Cassandra Austen. Out of all the children there were only two girls, Jane and her sister Cassandra. Austen and her sister were inseparable and did everything together. Although they were a very poor family the two sisters were sent off to boarding school. When Austen got out of boarding school for summers her imagination took over and she would write all the time. Her and her family would also make up and perform their own plays. Austen started taking writing seriously after she wrote her first novel “Love and Friendship.” Austen and her sister were sent of with Mrs. Cawley to learn, after a few months they were sent home. An infectious disease broke out in South Hampton where they were and they didn't want to be sick.Austen then fell in love with a close friend named Tom Lefroy. Lefroy’s family did not like the idea of him being in love; he was supposed to focus on his studies and that was it. They were forced to be away from each other, and shortly after Lefroy died. Austen was heartbroken and then has to move to Bath. There Harris Biggs-Wither proposes to her and she says yes. The very next day she tells him she cannot marry him because she feels no love or connection to him.Austen’s father realizing how talented his daughter was sent a draft of a novel to a publisher, where it was turned down.A few years later her brother Henry sells a copy of Susan (Northanger Abbey) to a publisher. Yet again Austen’s writing is not published.

3. Biography Continued… • In 1805 Austen’s father dies leaving the women in a financial down fall. Her brothers help her mother to survive. Her brother Frank offers them a permanent home in Chawton. Happy to be back in Hampshire, Austen writes to a publisher demanding that they publish her book Susan. They offer her a few pounds, but it is not enough to help her family. In 1811 Pride and Prejudice is published by Thomas Egerton. Austen never put her name as the author so it would be anonymously written. With the novel being published the family began to get a lot of money. Pride and Prejudice sold out and had to have another edition printed. Austen then had her second novel Mansfield Park published by Egerton.Austen wanting to be more popular dropped Egerton as her publisher and went to a man named John Murray. Murray got her third book Emma published.At the age of 41 Austen started to become sicker and sicker each passing day. Eventually she was bound to her bed and stopped writing as much. In 1817 Cassandra and Henry took her to the hospital to find out she had Addisons disease and tubercular disease of the kidneys. Both of which had no treatments at that time. On July 18, 1817 Jane Austen died and was buried in the Winchester Cathedral. After her death Cassandra and Henry sent Austen’s unfinished work to a publisher to be published with her name as the author.Many people believe that Austen's novels referred to her life. In almost every book she wrote, the families either moved or visited Bath; just like her.

4. Characterization • Characterization is used in both of Jane Austen’s books Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility. Characterization is “the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character” (Elements of Literature 1191). There are two types of characterization and Austen uses both of them. Direct characterization is when the writer “tells us directly what the character is like” (Elements of Literature 1191). Indirect characterization is when the writer “describes how the character looks and dresses; how the character speaks; and how the character acts” (Elements of Literature 1191).In Pride and Prejudice Austen describes Mrs. Bennet as “a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper…The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news” (Pride and Prejudice 3). Austen describes Mr. Bennet as hard to understand and sarcastic while Mrs. Bennet is more predictable and serious. Mrs. Bennet’s goal in life is to get all five of her daughters married. You can indirectly tell that Lydia Bennet is very conceited because of the way she talks about herself. She is very confident that Mr. Bingley will want to dance with her at the ball because she is the youngest and tallest of the five Bennet sisters. Mr. Bingley is a wealthy and very handsome young man that all five of the Bennet girls would like to marry.Austen describes Marianne and Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility as two entirely different people. Marianne is more outgoing and more sensible. She falls in love very easily just like her mother. She also gets hurt more because of her ability to love relentlessly. Her older sister Elinor is more caring and tranquil when it comes to love. She tries to fall in love with the perfect guy that she knows will not hurt her and likes to take care of her sisters. Austen describesWilloughby as “uncommonly handsome, received additional charms from his voice and expression” (Sense and Sensibility 27). The fact that he was young and handsome was a plus when it came to being liked by the Dashwoods.

5. Conflict Conflict is a “struggle or clash between opposing characters, forces, or emotions” (Elements of Literature 1192). Conflict is important in literature because every story needs a struggle. Without a conflict there will really be no story. Conflict keeps the reader thinking, and wondering what the character will do. It is used in Pride and Prejudice from the beginning. Mrs. Bennet and her daughters are trying to convince Mr. Bennet on meeting with Mr. Bingley. They want to go to the ball but they can only go if Mr. Bennet is friends with Mr. Bingley. “‘My dear Mr. Bennet,’ replied his wife, ‘how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them’” (Pride and Prejudice 2). One of the biggest conflicts is money. When Ms. Bingley invites Jane over for dinner she becomes ill. WhenElizabeth comes to help Jane get better she is muddy and a mess. Ms. Bingley is disgusted by the way she looks and doesn’t want to let her into the immaculate house. She believes that the middle class should not associate with the higher therefore she does not agree with her brother and Jane being together. Another conflict is whenLydia realizes that Wickman was bribed to marry. Sense and Sensibility has a lot of conflict in it also. The first conflict in the novel was when the Dashwoods had to leave their home in Norland because of money to live in Barton Cottage. “There were many tears shed by them in their last adieus to a place so much beloved” (Sense and Sensibility 17). Shows how much they loved their house in Norland and absolutely did not want to leave it. A big conflict was when Willoughby stole Marianne’s heart and then deserted her. He told her he was just playing games with her and he had no feelings for her. He then goes to marry Miss. Grey. Another huge conflict was when Marianne found out Elinor knew about Edward and Lucy’s engagement. That was a big conflict because everyone thought that Edward was single and was going to marry Elinor. Edward then was disinherited and ends up married to Elinor.

6. Imagery • Imagery also plays a big role in Austen’s books, it is “the language that appeals to the senses” (Elements of Literature 1195). When you think imagery you think of just sight; but it actually applies to all five senses. WhenElizabethis running through the rain to help her sick sister Jane is and example of imagery. “With weary ancle, dirty stockings, and a face glowing with the warmth of exercise” (Pride and Prejudice 21). Austen also describes the Pemberley House as a large stone building surrounded by woods with a stream in front of it. This shows how the house is secluded and peaceful. Also all the letters in the book are examples. They show how each character feels and how they think about certain situations or parts in the novel.Sense and Sensibility also uses imagery whether it’s about a house or a person. Austen describes the Barton Cottage; she gives you details about how the house is set up and what its condition is. The house is in nice shape for the four women although it is quite small for their liking. Austen also uses imagery when describing Lady Middleton’s mother Mrs. Jennings. She was described as “a good-humoured, merry, fat, elderly woman, who talked a great deal, seemed very happy, and rather vulgar” (Sense and Sensibility 22). She is often known to make many jokes and is very gossipy. Imagery is also used when Austen describes the clouds rolling in when the Bennets are on their walk. Austen tells you exactly how the clouds come in and what happens step by step after that so you can visualize exactly what it looks like.

7. Other Novels Emma This is about a young woman in England named Emma Woodhouse. Emma seems to be a match maker and enjoys helping others find love. Emma helps her one friend Harriet find her love, and makes her reject the man that has already proposed to her. Emma ends up marrying George Knightly who has loved her all along. Sense and Sensibility Mr. Dashwood dies leaving his second wife and their three daughters basically nothing; while his sons and first wife get money and the house. Mrs. Dashwood and her daughters Marianne, Elinor and Margaret have to find a house. Elinor falls in love with an Edward Ferrars, but his family believes she likes him for his money. They then move to Barton Cottage where Marianne falls in love with John Willoughby. Mansfield Park Fanny Price is raised by her very rich aunt and uncle, at Mansfield Park. She grew up with her four cousins and was always treated as inferior to them. Fanny ends up falling in love with the cousin that treats her nicest, Edmund. Henry then proposes to Fanny of all people, and she rejects it. Fanny and Edmund then end up married.

8. Continued… Northanger Abbey Catherine Morland is a very tomboyish girl that loves to read Gothic novels. She is invited to go to Bath for a celebration where she meets Henry Tinley. When Catherine is invited to live with the Tinley’s at Northanger Abbey, she is a little afraid. At the house she finds a few rooms that are forbidden. She then concludes that because Mr. Tinley is no longer upset over the death of his wife, that he murdered her. Catherine tells Henry about her suspicions and Henry becomes angered. He then forgives her and they get married. Pride and PrejudiceMrs. Bennet and her daughters try to convince Mr. Bennet to introduce himself to Mr. Bingley. They want to go to the ball and possibly meet a husband. Mr. Bingley is interested in the eldest Bennet daughter Jane. Jane goes to visit Mr. Bingley’s sister despite a rain storm, and ends up sick. Elizabeth Bennet comes to help her back to health. Meanwhile Mr. Darcy notices and starts to fall in love with Elizabeth. Later Darcy proposes to Elizabeth but she refuses, saying that Darcy ruined Jane and Mr. Bingley’s relationship. Darcy apologizes, and they end up married along with Jane and Mr. Bingley. Persuasion Anne Elliot was persuaded to cut off her engagement with Mr. Wentworth. Her mothers friend Lady Russell believes she should marry a man that has money. Wentworth then starts to flirt with Anne’s cousin Louisa Musgrove. Louisa ends up marrying Mr. Benwick, Wentworth’s friend. Anne end up marrying Wentworth.

9. Pride and Prejudice • Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is about a family and their need to get their daughters married. Mrs. Bennet and her five daughters hear about the arrival of a new wealthy man, Mr. Bingley. Mr. Bingley ends up dancing with Jane Bennet the whole night while his best friend Mr. Darcy dances with Elizabeth Bennet. Jane goes to visit Mr. Bingley’s family despite the rain. She then is stuck at Bingley’s estate with his family because of a cold from the rain. Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth who turns him down. While Elizabeth is visiting the Collins she runs into Mr. Darcy, whom she hasn’t seen in months. After rejecting Darcy months later she accepts his proposal. Jane and Bingley end up marrying and so do Elizabeth and Darcy.Pride and Prejudice was a very good novel; it had a lot of surprises in it. It is a very good example of situational irony because lots of unexpected things happened. Austen had me very interested in the characters because they are so realistic; therefore I could not put the book down. If you are interested in romance novels then this is the book for you. There is constant love and hate, and many misconceptions.

10. Sense and Sensibility • Sense and Sensibility starts off with a lot of death. Henry Dashwood’s son John inherits all his money, while his newest wife and three daughters Margaret, Marianne and Elinor are left with basically nothing. The women go to live with their relatives the Middletons at Barton Park. After a fall in the rain Marianne falls in love with the man who saved her, Willoughby. They become engaged and Willoughby is sent off to London for business. He leaves Marianne behind and never returns. Elinor who is madly in love with Edward Ferrars finds out that that he is engaged to someone else. In the end Edward proposes to Elinor; and long time friend Colonel Brandon proposes to Marianne. Sense and Sensibility is a great novel if you want to read about love. This novel has most of the same qualities as Pride and Prejudice. It has a lot of situational irony and a lot of heart break. The two sisters Elinor and Marianne are two totally different people therefore you get a view from both different perspectives. You can put yourself in either of their shoes depending on who you think you are more like.

11. Web Quest For Fun! • Jane Austen Web Quest.doc

12. Works Cited "Jane Austen - Biography, Timeline, Books, Movies, Quotes, Fashion." Jane Austen - Biography, Timeline, Books, Movies, Quotes, Fashion. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.janeausten.org/>. "Jane Austen Info Page." Jane Austen | The Republic of Pemberley. N.p., n.d. Web. 20 May 2012. <http://www.pemberley.com/janeinfo/janeinfo.html>. Austen, Jane. Pride and Prejudice. New York: Dover Publications, Inc, 1995. Print. Austen, Jane. Sense and Sensibility. New York: Dover Publications. Inc, 1996. Print. Elements of Literature Sixth Course Literature of Britain with World Classics. New York. Holt Rinehart and Winston. 2003. Print Sanditon, a Lady". In the winter of 1816 she started. "Jane Austen biography." Jane Austen Society of Australia (JASA). N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2012. <http://www.jasa.net.au/jabiog.htm>.