资料文本英国文学lecture12austen.pptx

Jane Austen（1775-1817） Background questionsJane Austen’s life and her achievementsHer worksThe characteristics of her novelsJane Austen’s life and literary achievementsThere are only two first-hand views of Jane, both done by her sister Cassandra. Life daughter of a country clergyman all her life doing small domestic duties in the countryside and never marriedHome educated and writing at an early ageOnly write about the small circles she lived inAltogether she wrote 6 novels.Northanger AbbeySense and SensibilityPride and PrejudiceMansfield ParkEmmaPersuasionAchievementsDepiction of upper-middle-class English societysharp attention to the details of everyday life an astute observer of human nature She herself compared her work to a fine engraving made upon a little piece of ivory only two inches squareHer novels as satirical romancesCharacteristics of her novelsMainly concerned about human beings in their personal relations, with family and neighbors. Love story as the major framework of her novels, women who pursue happy marriages as the major characters. A narrow range of life is depicted in the novel—the provincial life of the nineteenth-century England, all concerning three or four gentry families. Her novel as an art. The plot appears natural and unforced; characters fit into the plot perfectly. She paid much attention to achieve the balance between fact and form. Pre-reading questions:How much do you know about the story of Pride and Prejudice? In your opinion what are the themes of the novel? List some of them and explain your points.Which character in the novel impresses you most? How do you like Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet?ThemesHuman nature Love and marriage.Property, class, women’s positionSelected reading: Chapter I of Pride and Prejudice by Jane AustenCentral issues of concern: lively dialogue, vivid characterization; theme of property and marriageAfter-reading discussion Summarize Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet’s character, and discuss how they are present