austen teachersguide

7/30/2019 Austen Teachersguide

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The CompleTe guide To TeaChing

Emma$Sense and Sensibility$Mansfeld Park$Persuasion$Pride and Prejudice*$Northanger Abb


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AboutTisGuide............................................1

WhyJane?WhyNow?................................... 2

AustenintheClassroom...............................3

JaneAustensLife.............................................4

Miss Austen Regrets..........................................5

NoveltoFilm....................................................6

TeArtofAdaptation....................................8

Self-Discovery................................................10

Persuasion.........................................................12

Sense and Sensibility........................................13

SocietyandtheSelf.......................................14

Emma .................................................................16

Pride and Prejudice.........................................17

SatireandIrony..............................................18

Northanger Abbey...........................................20

Mansfield Park................................................21

SelectedResources.........................................22

Contents

Abou T GudOriginallywritteninconjunctionwiththe2008seriesTe Complete Jane Austen(lmversions

ofallsixJaneAustenworks),thisguidecanbeusedwithearlierMversionsof

Austensworks,aswellasthe2010broadcastof EmmastarringRomolaGaraiandJonnyLeeMiller.MlmsareavailableforpurchaseonshopPBS.org.Youmaywantto

purchasethefollowinglmstousewiththisguide:

Emma(starringRomolaGarai,2010)

Emma(starringKateBeckinsale,1996)

Mansfield Park(starringBilliePiper,2008)

Northanger Abbey(starringFelicityJones,1998)

Persuasion(starringSallyHawkins,2008)

Pride and Prejudice(starringColinFirth,1995)*

Sense and Sensibility(starringHattieMorahanandCharityWakeeld,2008)

Miss Austen Regrets(2008)

TisguideoersideasandtipsonhowtoteachtheworksofJaneAusten,usinglmasanother

avenueintoherworld.Teguidehasbeenorganizedsoitcaneasilybeadaptedforvariousneeds.

SectionsthatexploreuniversalthemesNoveltoFilm,theArtofAdaptation,Self-Discovery,

SocietyandtheSelf,SatireandIronyprovidequestionsandactivitiesthatcanbeusedfor

anyofAustensworks.BeforeandAfterViewingquestionshavebeenprovidedforeachlmso

youcanthoroughlyexplorewhatevertitleyouchoosetoteach.Otherfeaturesincludeanessay

aboutAustenscontinuedpopularity,biographicalinformation,andanexplorationoftheroleof

biographyinanauthorswork.Alistofselectedresourcesandorderinginformationtopurchase

anyoftheAustenlms(includinganeducatorsdiscount)isalsoprovided.

pbs.org/masterpiece/austen 9

V h MasterpiWb Spbs.org/masterpiece/austenSubscribe to the M

newsletter to get the inside sco

on Emm, the Maspc

Book & Film Club, and othe

upcoming M pro

Isabella Torpe from NorthangerAbbey

*Pride and PrejudiceisaproductionofBBCelevisionandBBCWorldwideAmericas,Inc.inassociationwithA&ENetworks. TeMasterpiece broadcastofPride and PrejudiceistherstintheU.S.otherthanonA&EelevisionNetworks.

2010WGBHEducationalFoundation


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hebroadcastEmmaandotherworksofAustenopensthedoorforstudentstothe

worldofJaneAusten.Usingthelmscanignitestudentsinterestinand

understandingofallsixofAustensnovels.rythefollowingsuggestionsforusing

AustennovelsandlmsintheEnglishclassroomandbeyond.

$ Comparethenoveltothefilm.IfyoutraditionallyteachanAustennovel,compare

ittotheMlmversion.Ifyoudonthavetimetoshowanentirelm,watch

selectedscenesandcomparethemtothetext.TeArtofAdaptationsection(pages

89)hasspecicsuggestionstohelpyouexploretheadvantagesanddisadvantagesof

translatingctionintoalm.

$ Minethefilmsfortheirinterdisciplinarycontent. Explorethe

historyoftheNapoleonicwarsthatsetsupPersuasion,theculture

andsociologyofRegencyEnglandthatlimitthefreedomofthe

DashwoodsistersinSense and Sensibility,orthefashionanddesignondisplayinthescenesfromBathinNorthanger Abbey.

$ Pairthereadingofonenovelwiththeviewingofanother.

IfyoudonthavetimetoteachtwoAustennovels,youmaywantto

pairabookandalmbasedonsimilaritiesintheme,suchas:

Coming-of-Age:Northanger AbbeyandPersuasionWealthandPrivilege:EmmaandMansfield ParkAchievingBalance:Sense and SensibilityandPride and Prejudice

$ ComparetheviewingofanAustenfilmwithayoungadultnovel.Foryounger

students,tryPollyShulmansEnthusiasm,aboutapairoffriendswhogolookingfortheirownMr.Darcy(Pride and Prejudice),orLouisePlummersTe Unlikely Romance

of Kate Bjorkman,asend-upofromancenovels(Northanger Abbey).

$ PairtheviewingofanAustenfilmwiththereadingofanother19thcenturywork

aboutwomen,society,andautonomy.ForolderstudentstryHenryJamesA Portrait

of a Lady,ElizabethGaskellsNorth and South,orHenrikIbsensA Dolls House.

$ CompareandcontrasttwoAustenfilms.Consideradaptation,direction,lm

techniques,performances,etc.UseactivitiesandideasfromtheNoveltoFilmsection

(pages67)orusetheMFilm in the Classroomguide,whichcanbeviewed

byselectingLearningResourcesatwww.pbs.org/masterpiece.

$ CompareaMfilmtomodernizedadaptations,suchas Te Jane Austen

Book Club, Clueless,Bride and Prejudice,orBridget Jones Diary(besuretopreviewthese

lmstojudgetheirappropriatenessforuseinyourclassroom).

NorthangerAbbeysCatheri

Morland writes to a friend

T

AC A

Austen in the Classroom

pbs.org/masterpiece/austen 92010WGBHEducationalFoundation


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Why Jane? Why Now?

8

hiletheliteraryartofJaneAustenisremarkable,thefactsofherbiography,at

rstglance,arenot.TecontrasthaslongintriguedAustenreadersandAusten

scholars,andinterestinherlifeistodayalmostaskeenasinterestinherworks.

Datingbacktoherowntime,whenAustensrstfournovelswerepublishedanonymously,wehaveherletters(thosehersisterCassandradidnotdestroyafterherdeath),andA Memoir of

Jane Austen,writtenbyhernephewJ.E.Austen-Leighin1869.Whatthesesourcesrevealis

thatwhileAustendidleadthequietlifeofanunmarriedclergymansdaughter,shefoundearly

encouragementforherartwithinherfamilycircleandastartingpointforhernovelsinher

personalandfamilyhistory.

Bornin1775toGeorgeandCassandraAustenintheEnglishvillageofSteventon,JaneAusten

grewupinahighlyliteratefamily.JanesfatherwasanOxford-educatedclergymanandher

motherwasahumorous,aristocraticwoman.Educatedonlybrieflyoutsideofherhome,Jane

Austenreadfreelyinherfatherslibraryof500books,whichleftherbettereducatedthanmost

younggirlsofthetime.Whileherfamilyneveranticipatedshewouldbeapublishedwriter(notconsideredanappropriateprofessionforayoungladyofherbackground),withinthewalls

oftheirhouseholdshewasencouragedtowrite.Inthislivelyintellectualhouseholdthe15-

year-oldJaneAustenbeganwritingherownnovels;byage23shehadcompletedtheoriginal

versionsofNorthanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice. Herowndelightin

readingandherironicmockingofitsimpactonyounggirlscomesaliveinNorthanger Abbey.

AfterAustensfatherdiedin1805,Jane,hermother,andsisterCassandralivedinasmallhouse

providedbyherthen-wealthybrotherEdwardinthevillageofChawton.WhenJaneAusten

receivedaproposalfromthewealthybrotherofaclosefriend,forwhomshefeltnoaection,

sheinitiallyacceptedhim,onlytoturnhimdownthenextday.Tiswasapainfuldecisionfor

her,assheunderstooddeeplythatmarriagewasthesoleoptionwomenhadforsocialmobility;

shefurtherunderstoodthevulnerabilityofsinglewomenwithoutfamilyestateswhodependonwealthyrelativesforahome.TissubjectisattheheartofSense and Sensibility.

Austenkeenlyobservedtheshiftingofsocialclassduringherday.woofher

brotherswereintheRoyalBritishNavyandshesawrst-handtheriseof

navalofcersinclass-consciousBritishsociety.Tosewhoreturnedfrom

theNapoleonicwarswithbothwealthandnotorietywereabletobreak

throughclassbarriersthatwerepreviouslyimpenetrable.Shewrote

elegantlyaboutthisseachangeinherlastnovel,Persuasion.

JaneAustendiedonJuly18,1817,atage41.Sheneverwrotea

memoir,satforaninterview,orrecordedwhethershehadherself

feltthejoysanddisappointmentsoflove.Tebiographicalfactsmay

neveradequatelyexplainthequickwit,thesharpinsight,andthe

deepemotionalintelligenceshebroughttohernovels.Perhapsthat

isimpossible;itislikelythatthenovelswillcontinuetotranscend

ourunderstandingofwheretheycamefrom.

WJane Austens Life

1873 engraving based on a drawing by

Cassandra Austen

Family and MoneyAsakeenobserverofsociallass,JaneAustentranslatedthefechoicesmadebyherfamilyntotheconflictsattheheartofernovels.Tisisparticularlyrueformoneyanditsimpactnfamilies.TeAustenswereountrygentry,andwereacceptedociallybywealthierfamiliesinheneighborhood,buttheywere

otwealthy.Teyhadenougholiveon,andafewhouseholdervants,whichmadethemheequivalentofmiddleclass.ikeMr.BennettinPride andrejudice,GeorgeAustencouldivehisdaughterslittletomarryn,andhadlittlepropertytoleaveohissons.JaneAustensawherelovedbrotherEdwardadoptedyawealthierfamily,theKnightsfKent.AsAustenbiographerarkHonannotesinJane Austen:

Her Life,Telasting,subtle

ectoftheadoptionwastomakeJaneAusten]morefullyawarefhowmoney,land,inheritance,ndsocialadvantageeasilytakerecedence...overfamilylove.

2010WGBHEducationalFoundatio


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LMi Ausen Regret

ittleisknownforcertainabouttheromancesinJaneAustensownlife.Withsome

dramaticlicense,thedocudramaMiss Austen Regretsspeculativelyexploreswhy

JaneAustenchosetostayunmarriedandhowshefeltaboutthatchoice,painting

abackgroundthatilluminatesthechoicesAustensheroinesmakeinhernovels.

Doesbiographymatter?Inthehistoryofcriticaltheory,the

pendulumhasswungbackandforthontheuseandrelevance

ofawritersbiographyinreading,appreciating,andunderstandingaworkofction.

Canyouinferbiographyfromthection(e.g.,Austenmusthavebeeninloveat

somepoint!),anddoesknowingthebiographymakeyouabetterreaderof

it?Orshouldtheworkstandonitsownandbeexperiencedwithoutthe

interferenceofbiographicalinformationandinfluence?

Miss Austen RegretsisoneinterpretationofJaneAustenslife,butwhatelse

canstudentsndout?AfterreadingoneofAustensnovelsorviewingone

ofthelms,studentsarejustaslikelytobeinterestedbyAustenspersonalstoryasothershavebeen.Howdidashelteredspinsterauntcometowriteso

intelligentlyaboutsociety,love,andlonging?Wassheastaidandquietwoman,

aspiritedrebel,orsomethinginbetween?JaneAustenherselfisstillariddle,and

Miss Austen Regretsoersonepossibleanswer.

Be fore Viewing1. Askstudentstotakeastandbywriting

afewsentencesdefendingorrefutingthefollowingstatement:o write convincing

fiction about a subject such as loss, love, orpoverty you must have experienced it yourself.Atthefrontoftheclassroom,identifyoneendofanimaginarylineonthefloorasagree,theotherendasdisagree.Invitestudentstocomeforwardoneatatimeandliterallytakeastandalongthatlinetoshowhowstronglytheyagreeordisagree.Askthemtodefendtheirposition.Asstudentsheartheirclassmatesarguments,theyare

freetomovetheirpositioniftheirownopinionshifts.Attheendoftheactivity,discusshowstudentsfelt.

2. Ifyousawamagazineatacheckoutcounterfeaturingthelifestoryofyourfavoritemusician,athleteoractor,wouldyoubuyit?Why?Whatdoesbiographical

informationtellyou,andisitimportanttounderstandingtheworkorperformanceofthisperson?Whyorwhynot?

After Viewing1. WhydoyouthinkthelmistitledMiss Austen Regrets?DoesJaneregretthatshedidnotmarry?Whatdidthatchoicecosther?Whatdidshegain?Whatpressuresdidshehavetoresist?WhydoyouthinkJaneAusten,asyoucometoknowherinMiss Austen Regrets,marriedoallofherheroinesinhernovels?

2. Inthelm,JanepointsouttoFannyseveraltimesthatlifeandctionarenotthesame.Letherdebatethepointwithherowncharacters!HavestudentsstageanOprahWinfrey-styletalkshowfeaturingJaneAustenandtwoorthreeofhercharactersasguests.akequestionsfromthestudioaudience.

Single women have adreadul propensity or being poor,which is one very strong argument

in avour o matrimony.

Jane Austen,letter to Fanny Knight, 1817

xP M



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Why Jane? Why Now?

8

heseactivitiesaskstudentstoinvestigatethepossibilitiesandproblemsofadaptation:

howdolmmakersbringanoveltothescreen?Whatmaybelost,andwhatcanbe

added?Studyingadaptationdrivesstudentsfromthelmintothetextandbackagain,

creatingopportunitiestothinkaboutthelanguageandstructureofboth.Formoreon lmstudyandthelanguageoflm,seeMsFilm in the Classroom: A Guide

for eachers,availableunderLearningResourcesatwww.pbs.org/masterpiece. Novel to Film

Te Missing Narratorurninganovelintoascreenplayisnotaseasyaspullingdialoguefromthepagesofa

book.InAusten,aswithmostnovelists,

thenarratorswordssupplementdialogueinreportingaction,establishingsettingandtone,givingvoicetounspokenthoughtsandemotions,allofwhichareimportantfordevelopingcharacterandadvancingtheplot.

Screenwritersandlmmakersmustask

themselvesiftheworkdonebynarrationinthenoveltheyareadaptingisworthsaving.Ifso,theymustusetheelementsoflminorder

totransfertothescreenwhatthenarratorprovidesonthepage.

1. Usingachart(seebelow),taketheopeningofthelmyouviewedasacasestudy.Lookcarefullyatthenarratedpassagesintherstfewchaptersoftheoriginaltext.Createalistdetailingwhatthesepiecesofnarration

establishforthereader.Dotheydescribesetting,introduceacharacter,givebackgroundinformation,oridentifythecharactersconflictsandconcerns? Nowre-viewtherstfewscenesinthelmthatcorrespondtothechaptersyoustudied.Asyouwatch,noticehowtheinformationyourecordedwhilereadingisvisibleonthescreen.rytoidentifyhowthepiecesofnarrationarecommunicatedtotheviewerinthenarratorsabsence:inthelocationsandsets,inthecostumes,throughnewlywrittendialogue?Inthefacialexpressionsorphysicalactionsoftheactors,inthewaytheylookandspeaktooneanother?akenotesasyouwatch.

2. Doyoufeelthelmmakershaveadaptedthebeginningofthenovelyoureadeectively?Whyorwhynot?Whataspectsweresuccessfulandwhatdidthelmversionlack?Usingtheirnotesasevidence,havestudentsdebatewhetherornotthebeginningofthelmisafaithfuladaptationofthenovel.

Comparing Novel to FilmNo how non om o lf on lm.

Setting Characters Background Costumes Dialogue

Film

Text

Mary and Henry Crawford

n ManseldPark



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Point o ViewWhosestorygetstold,andhowisittold?Whatisthereaderorviewershown,orallowedto

seeandknow?InAustensnovels,weareonlypresentinlivesceneswhentheheroineispresent;anyotheractionissimplyreported,withoutdialogue.Forinstance,weneverseeLucySteelealonewithEdwardFerrarsinSense and Sensibility,orwhatMr.DarcyisuptowhenheisinLondoninPride and Prejudice.Evenwiththehelpoftheomniscientnarratorscommentary,ourpointofviewislimited.

1. Tinkaboutlmsyouveseeninwhicheverysceneisliveratherthannarrated(unlessthereisavoice-overnarration,asinNorthanger Abbey).IfyouwereadaptingAustenforthescreen,wouldyoumaintaintheoriginalrestrictedpointofview,orwouldyoudeliverlivethescenesandeventsthatareonlyreferredtoornarratedinthenovel?Why?DidtheAustenlmyouwatchedpresentasinglecharacterspointofview,ormultiplepointsofview,includinglivescenesinwhichthemaincharacterdoesnotappear?Wasitagoodchoiceforthislm,andwhy?Sharespecicexamplestosupportyouranswer. Nowtryamoreradicalpointofviewshift.

Whatwouldtheopeningofthislmlooklikeifitwereconstructedfromthepointofviewofthecentralmalecharacter?Createastoryboardsketchingordescribingtherstseriesofimagesyouwouldsee.Tenwriteashortscripttoaccompanyit.Youcanndahelpfulstoryboardtemplateatwww.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/learningresources/c_storyboard.pdf.

2. ReaderswhoareveryfamiliarwithAustensnovelswillndscenes,subplots,andevencharactersnecessarilydeletedinthelm

adaptations.Morecontroversially,youmayalsonoticenewscenesaddedtothelms.Watchoneormoreofthenewlyinventedscenes(boxright).Eachoersanalternatepointofview.Afterviewing,writedownasmanyreasonsasyoucantoexplainwhythescreenwriterandthelmmakersmadethischoice.Doyouthinkitwasagoodone?

3. Ascreenwriterwhocreatesanadaptationofanoveloftenfeelsresponsibleforcapturingthebestofwhatthenovelis.However,heor

shemustalsofeelfreetomakechangesintheadaptationprocessifthelmhopestobeasuccessfulworkofartinitsownright.WouldJaneAustenunderstandandapproveofwhatthelmmakershavedonewithhernovels?WritealetterofexplanationfromthescreenwritertoAusten,explaininganddefendingsomeofthechoicesmadeinadaptinghernoveltothescreen.TenimagineandcomposetheletterAustenwouldwriteinresponse.

Added Scenes$ Sense and Sensibility:Teopening

scene:WilloughbyandElizasdaughter.

$Pride and Prejudice:Darcyatthe

fencingstudioinLondon,followedby

hisarrivalatPemberley,whereDarcy

divesintothelake.

$ Emma (1996):Emmaandherfather

passbypoor,workingfamiliesin

theircoach.

$ Northanger Abbey:Catherinesdreams

anddaydreams.

$Persuasion:Openingsequenceinwhich

Anneisdirectingtheclosingupofthe

KellynchHall;CaptainWentworth

watchingAnneplaythepiano;

WentworthandHarvillewalkingthe

clisatLyme,discussingLouisa.

$ Mansfeld Park:MaryandHenry

Crawfordsconversationsasthey

walktowardManseldParkfortheir

rstvisit.

:Someofthelmscontainmaturethemes,images,andlanguage.Besuretopreviewanylmbeforeshowingittoyourclass.


-Airapingights

EducatorsmaytapePersuaSense and Sensibility,Emm

Mansfield Park,andNortha

Abbeyandusethelmsin

classroomforoneyearafte

broadcast.Educatorsmayn

tapeandusethelmPride

Prejudice.



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e Art of Adaptatio

Andw Dv, SnwAndrewDaviesisthescreenwritinggeniusbehindsomeofMsbest-lovedproductions.Hehasadapted

fourofthesixAustenlmsthatwillairinTe Complete Jane Auten:Pride and Prejudice,Northanger Abbey,Sene and Senibility,andEmma.AnAndrewDaviesscreenplayhasadistinctivesignature.Heseeshisjobasmorethantranslatingawrittenpageintoashootingscript

heaimstointerprettheworkformodernaudiencesandhelpviewersexperiencewhathethinksismostengagingandmostrelevantabouttheseclassicsofBritishliterature.

Inarecentinterview,DaviesdescribedhisworkontheAustennovelsandhisadaptationofNorthanger Abbeyinparticular.Hiscommentsoerusefulinsightintotheartofadaptation.

nAusten:All the ix novel are love torie. And thatomething that never goe out of date. In a way theyve got plotlike the trackall the baic torie are in all kind of trahyromantic novel. Young girl who ha diadvantage, thing inher way, get a man who ort of probably rich, handome,loving, etc., etc. Within that, though, Jane Auten manage todo it in a way that doent inult our intelligence. It witty. It

In Fou: Northanger AbbeyTefollowingexcerptsfromthenovelandthescriptforNorthaAbbeyshowhowAndrewDaviesinterpretedAustenswork.

Watchingthesamescenefromthelm(eitherfromtheDVDontheMWebsiteatpbs.org/masterpiece/austen)givesstudentsachancetoseetheentireprocessofadaptation.Tefollowingactivitieswillhelpstudentsanalyzethebenetsacompromisesthatadaptationcanbring.

1. AskstudentstoreadAndrewDaviescommentsaboutadaAustenswork(below).TenhavestudentsreadtheexcerptsfrthenovelandfromDaviesscript(right).Nextwatchtheclipfrthelm.HowdoesDaviesusethescreenplaytoemphasizeanddramatizehisinterpretation?AskstudentstoidentifywhatDahaschanged,addedordeleted.WhydoyouthinkDaviesmadeeachchoicethathedid,andwhatistheeectofeach?

2. DoyouthinkDaviessucceedsinmaking Northanger AbbeabitlikeanAmericanteenagemovie?Doeshemakeitmorefun?Writeamoviereviewthatexplicitlydiscussesthedierenbetweenthenovelandthelm,especiallythefactthatCatherinfantasiescometolifeinthelm.

3. DaviesbuiltthedialogueinExample#2fromaslenderthrinAustensnarration.Wasthissceneanimportantaddition?Worwhynot?

ingeniou. Te plot are believable. Te obtacle eem real andthe outet inurmountable. You get urprie. You get reveral.She technically jut uch a brilliant writer in term of pacing and

plotting. And that jut omething that never goe out of date.

nAdaptation:I try very hard not to think about what Autenpurit or fan of the book are going to ay. I am very concioulyrepreenting the book for a contemporary audience, trying to brinout the theme of the cene and the undercurrent in the bookthat mot peak to u today.

nNorthnger Abbey: [NorthangerAbbey] ha a bit ofreonance with thoe American teenage movie in which terriblethinghappen. So I wa thinking let make it a little bit likethi, and let dramatize Catherine fantaie. Tat, I uppoethe fun bit of it. In a way, it doe have a very eriou point toit becaue he imagine that General ilney i really kind of amonter who ha murdered hi wife. But he dicover that thetruth i rather more ubtle, but no more pleaant really, thatGeneral ilney i a cold and elfih man who more or le worehi wife to death with hi cold nature, that he married her for her

fortune. And o the leon, in a way, i that the crime we aremot likely to come up againt are the crime of the human heart,which dont carry death penaltie.

Catherine Morland and Henry ilney



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Self-Discovery

0

fewchaptersorafewminutesintoaJaneAustennoveloralm,areaderorviewercan

makeaprettyreliableguessastohowthestorywillend:Teheroinewillgetmarriedand

livehappilyeverafter.Butiftheseworksaresopredictable,whydowereadthem,and

whydonewlmversionscontinuetobereleasedyearafteryear?Itsaboutthejourney.In

theselms,Austensheroinesalltravelapathtowardtheend-of-storyweddingthatrequiresthemtolearnanddiscovertruthsaboutthemselveswhotheyare,wheretheycamefrom,andwhattheytruly

need,beforetheycanseewheretheyaregoing.

Family and Identity: Who Am I?1. WithintherstveminutesofmostAustenlms,weseetheheroinesurroundedbyherfamily.Replayanearlyfamilysceneforstudentsseveraltimesandaskthemto

observecarefullyhowtheheroinecomparestoeachmemberofherfamily,includingphysicalappearance,clothing,actions,andspeech.Doestheheroinestandapart?How?Canyoutellhowshefeelsabouteachfamilymember?Havestudentswriteadiaryentryfromthemaincharacterspointofview,describingherthoughtsandfeelingsaboutherfamilybasedonthelm.

2.Austensheroinesgetfairy-taleendings,butliketheheroinesinmostfairytales,they

donthavemotherswhocanhelporguidethem.Exploretheeectofthisstorytellingchoiceontheheroinesjourneytoself-knowledgeandhappinesswithawhatif game.Insmallgroups,askstudentstobrainstorm:

) What i...Mrs.BennettwereawiseandcompassionatewomanwithanintellectlikeherdaughterLizziesinPride andPrejudice?

b) What i...Mrs.DashwoodweresomeonetowhomElinorcondedallherthoughtsandfeelingsinSene and Senibility?

) What i...FannysmothersenthergoodadviceinweeklylettersmailedtoManfield Park?

d) What i...EmmaWoodhouseorAnneElliothadbeenraisedbyunderstandingandlovingmothersinEmmaandPeruaion?

) What i...CatherineMorlandsmotherhadtraveledwithhertoNorthangerAbbey?

Haveeachgroupwriteandpresentarevisedplotsummaryforthelmbasedonthewhat

if exercise.3. Intheabsenceofeectivemothers,dothefathersorfatherguresinthelmsllthevoidandhelptheheroinesalongtheirpathtoself-discoveryandhappiness?Askstudentstoidentifyalmortelevisionshowtheyhaveseen,oranoveltheyhaveread,inwhichthemaincharacterhasawiseandlovingfatherorfathergure,onewhodoesagoodjobofhelpingtheheroorheroinelearnwhosheisorwhathecanbecome. Havestudentsimagineascenebetweenthi

idealfathergureandthefatherintheAustenlmtheyviewed,andwriteadialoguebetweenthesetwocharactersorimprovisethescene.WhatshouldtheAustenfatherunderstandabouttheheroinethathedoesnot?Whatshouldhebedoingtoguideandsupporther?HowmighttheAustencharacterexplainanddefendhisactionsandchoices?

Love and Sel-Knowledge:Who Will I Love?1. Whatdoesthemaincharacterinthelmyouviewedlearnaboutherselfoverthecourseofthelm?Askstudentstocreatebeforeandafterportraitstoexplorethisquestiononeofthecharacterwhenthelmopensandonewhenitends.Oerstudentsarangeofforms:



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) apairofwordportraits:alistofwordsdescribingthecharacterarrangedintoagureordesign

b) apairoforiginalsketches,drawings,

orpaintings) apairofdescriptiveparagraphsd) apairofpopularsongs,familiarpoems,

orfoundimagesthatcapturethespiritoroutlookofthecharacterateachpointintime

Insmallgroups,examinethenishedportraitssidebyside.Howdotheydier?Askstudentstoidentifytheexperiencesormomentsofunderstandingthatareresponsibleforthechangetheportraitscapture.Howdidthesechangesmakeitpossibleforthemain

charactertondhappinessandlove?

2. Tepathtolove,inAustenlms,isamaze.Challengestudentstocreateagraphicrepresentationofthepaththecharacters

travelinthelmbydrawingamazethatleadstothehappyending.Wrongturns,deadends,orblockagescanbelabeledorillustratedtorepresentdesires,characters,duties,or

temptationsthatleadthecharactersinthewrongdirectionforatime.

3. Individually,orasaclass,havestudentscreatealistofnovelsandlmstheyarefamiliarwiththattellthelovestoryoftwopeoplendingeachother.Whichonesfeaturemaincharacterswhomustcometotermswiththeirownfamily,itsstrengthsanditsfailings,whileontheirjourney

toloveandhappiness?Lookingovertheentirelist,howcommonarethethemesofidentityandself-discoveryinlovestories?

Catherine Morland and her brother, James Morland.

A woman, especially,i she have [sic] the misortune

o knowing anything,should conceal it as well as she can.

Jane Austen,

Northanger Abbey



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Why Jane? Why Now?

2 8

ady Russell advises Anne

Be fore Viewing1. Askstudentswhattheydowhentheyhaveadifcultdecisiontomake.Dotheyseekoutadvice?Havestudentsrecallatimewhentheyhadtomakesuchadecisionandcreateadiagramthatshowsthestepstheytook.Teyshouldincludethepeopletheydiscussedtheirdecisionwith,notewhytheydidsowitheachofthem,andwhattheircontributionwas.Wasallthisconsultationhelpful?Isthereanyoneintheirliveswhoseadvicetheywouldtakeunconditionally,nomatterwhatotherssaidorwhatuncertaintiestheystillfelt?

2. Atwhatageshouldpeoplemarry?Setupadebateinyourclassroom.Haveoneteam

supportthepositionthatnooneshouldmarrybeforetheyare25yearsoldandhavetheotherteamrefutethisnotion.Givestudents

timetopracticetheirargumentsbeforethedebatebegins.Asaclass,discusssomeofthefactorscouplesconsiderwhenmakingadecisionaboutthetimingofmarriage.

3. LikemanyofAustensheroines,AnneElliot,the

centralcharacterinPeruaion,learnsandgrowsduringthecourseofthenovel.Onthescreen,herslowtransformationfromapassivegirltoamoreindependent,maturewomanisobservablenotonlyinherincreasingly

assertivespeechandbehavior,butinherphysicalcondence,energy,andmovement.Asstudentswatchthelm,askthemtomakenoteofsceneswhenAnnesphysicalmannerchanges.

Peruaion

2

After Viewing1. DiscussAnneElliotstransformationinPeruaion.WhatcircumstancesforceAnnetocomeoutofhershell?Whatarethescenesinthebookand/orlmthatshowthistransformation?

2. ConsidertheroleSirWalterElliotplaysinhisdaughterslife.AnthonyHead,theactorwhoplaysSirWalterinPeruaion,describeshimasthemostobjectionableman,Ithink,inanyofthenovels.Hesbigoted.Hesextremelyclass-consciousandhesafop.Hespentallthefamilymoneyonclothesandpartying.HereallydetestshisdaughterAnne,whoisactuallytheonlysanehuman

beinginthefamily.WriteajournalentryfromAnnespointofviewdescribingherfeelingsaboutthedecisionsherfatherhasmadethathaveaectedherlife.

3. WhenAnneandWentworthrstseeeachotheragain,whatarethebarriersthatstandbetweenthem?Whichonesarecausedbythestrictcodesofthesocietyinwhichtheylive,andwhicharemoreuniversal?Wouldamodern-daycouplehaveasmuchdifculty?DividetheclassintopairsandhavestudentsactoutthescenesinwhichAnne

andWentworthmeet.Havesomegroupsactitoutasitappearsinthebookandlm,andhaveothergroupspretendtheyarereunitinginmoderntimes.

4. PeruaionbeginswithAnneleavingherancestralhomeunmarriedandunsureofherplaceintheworld.Itendswithhertriumphantreturn.Asyouwatchthelm,considerwhatAnnemustaccomplishandlearninordertoreturntoherhome.Usingthelibraryandtheinternet,choosevebooksforAnne,thinkingaboutwhatshelearnedduringthelm.Whydidyouchoosethenonctionorctionbooksyoudid?WhatwouldAnnehavelearnedfromthem?

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Sene and SenibilityBe fore Viewing1. Whyaresiblingssodierent?Askstudentstothinkaboutsiblingstheyknow

whosepersonalities,habits,temperamentsorinterestsareverydierent.Withoutusingnames,havestudentscreateatwo-columnchartonwhichtheylistwordsthatdescribeeachsibling.Wherepossible,listwordsthatshowhowthetwosiblingsaresimilarordierent.Askforvolunteerstopresentthesiblingstheywroteabout.Whatfactorsdostudentsthinkaccountforthedierencesbetweenthesiblings?Isitinnatepersonality,birthorder,orotherfactors?RemindthemtokeeptheseideasinmindastheywatchorreadSene and Senibility.

2. Whatarethemodernrulesofdating?ReadingorwatchingthelmofSene andSenibilityshowsthatinAustenstimetherewereverystrictrulesofcourtshipforthoseofherclass.Mostoftheserestrictionsarefar-removedfromthewaypeopledateandlovetoday.WhataretherulesofdatingandcourtshipamongteenagersinAmerica?Asagroup,discusstheserulesandmakealistofthem.Whomakestheserulesandwhatistheirpurpose?Aretheytoorestrictive?Are

theytooliberal?Shouldtheybequestionedoraccepted?Why?

After Viewing1. ForthisactivityyouwillneedacopyofthebookJoyful Noie: Poem for wo VoicebyPaulFleischman(Harperrophy,1992).Apoemfortwovoicesshowstwodierentpointsofviewandismeanttobereadaloudbytwopeople.Tewordssometimesoverlaporstandalone,buttogetherthetwopeople

Where so many hours havebeen spent in convincing mysel

that I am right, is there notsome reason to ear I may be wrong?

Jane Austen,Sense and Sensibility

createabeautifulsound.SincetheDashwoodsistersaresocloseandyetsodierent,theymakegoodsubjectsforapoemfortwovoices.Arrangestudents

intopairsandaskthemtoreadaloudanexampleofapoemfortwovoices.Oncetheyhavepracticedwiththeformat,askeachstudenttowriteapoemfortwovoicesabouttheDashwoodsisters.MakesurebothElinors

andMariannesperspectivesarerepresented.Whenallofthepoemsarewrittenhavestudentsreadthemaloud.

2. StudentswillcreateapicturecalledTeDosandDontsofellingSecrets,basedonthecharactersin Sene andSenibility. Havestudentsidentifythesecretorsecretseachofthefollowingcharactersholdsand/oraskssomeoneelsetohold:EdwardFerrars,LucySteele,Willoughby,

ColonelBrandon,JohnDashwood,Elinor,Marianne,RobertFerrars.Askstudentstodrawafaceforeachcharacterandincludeaspeechbubbleinwhichtheywriteadooradontforeachcharacter.

3. WhatwouldhappenifElinorandMarianneweresuddenlytransportedintomoderntimes?Giventhepersonalities,strengths,weaknesses,andskillsthesewomendisplaythroughoutSene and Senibility,whatwouldstudentsimagineeachcharacterdoinginmoderntimesandwhy?Askstudentstocreateasocialnetwork-typeWebpage(somethingthatmightappearonFacebookorMySpace)thatincludesdetailsaboutMarianneorElinorsliving,working,andromanticsituationsinthe21 stcentury.

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Elinor and

Marianne Dashwood



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ftherstchallengeforJaneAustens maincharactersislearningabout theself,thesecondislearninghowto

navigatein,through,andaroundthecomplexsocialandculturallandscapeinwhichtheyliveandlove.Austenneitherwhollyacceptednorwhollyrejectedthestandardsofbehavior,socialstructure,andvaluesofhertime.Butinhernovelssheexploreshowthesestandardsandinfluencescanbeeitherharmfulorhelpfultoindividualsandtosociety.TefollowingactivitiescanbeusedtoexploresocietysinfluenceinthecontextofbothAustensworldandours.

Lie in Regency EnglandInordertounderstandthewaycharactersbehaveinJaneAustensworld,studentswillneedtofamiliarizethemselveswithsomeoftherealitiesandassumptionsthatgovernedbehaviorinearly19thcenturyEngland.AustensnovelsconcernthemselveswiththelandedgentryinEnglandwhosesocialsignicancederivedprimarilyfromtheirinheritedproperty,thehistoryoftheirfamilies,andtheirembodimentofidealizedmoralsandmanners.Tissocialclass,whichwaslowerinprestige

thanthenobilityoraristocracy,hasnoexactparallelinmodernAmericansociety.CrucialforAustenpersonally,aswellasforhercharacters,wasthefactthat,forbothlegalandcustomaryreasons,wealthwasnotsharedequallyamongallthemembersofgentryfamilies.Womenwereoftenobligedtoseeknancialsecuritythroughprosperousmarriages,evenatthecostoftheirownhappiness.Austenwasespeciallyinterestedinthebehaviorofthosecharacterswho,forreasonsofbirthorchance,ndthemselvesonthemarginsofthegentry,either

clingingtoformerrespectabilityorhopingtoelevatethemselvesintothissocialclass.Socialconventionsgovernedeveryaspectofgentrylife,fromeverydaycourtesiestotheprofessionsconsideredsuitableformen(onlybeingagovernessorteacherwasconsideredmarginallysuitableforagentlewoman).UsethefollowingactivitiestolearnaboutAustensworld.

Society and the Self

4

1. Asaclass,havestudentscreateA SurvivalGuide to Auten World.OrganizestudentsintosmallgroupsandaskthemtoselectatopicfromtheSurvivalList.UsingtheResourcesonpage22,askstudentstondouteverythingtheycanabouttheirtopicandcreateapage,withtextandillustrations,thatdescribesthe19thcenturystandardsrelatedtotheirtopic.(Forexample,underthetopicofSocialCalls,oneruleis:Aladymaynotcalluponanygentleman.)Tepageshouldalsoincludespecicexamplesfrom

anAustenlmthatrelatestotheirtopic.Haveeachgrouppresenttheirpage.Onceallofthepageshavebeenpresentedtheycanbecompiledintoaclassbook.

Sir Walter Elliot and his daughters in Persuasion

1t h Cent urySociet yWealth:Inheritedwealthisuperiortowealthearnedthroughusinessoraprofession.

ocialclass:Youshouldremaininhesocialclassyouareborninto,

nlysocializewiththoseoftheameclass,buttreatthosebelowouwithrespect,notcontempt.

Courtshipandmarriage:Unmarriedmenandwomenmustlwaysbechaperoned.Courtshipformalandphysicalcontactismited.Marriageisaneconomicrrangementtopreserveorncreasewealthinfamilies.

enderroles:Mensandwomensolesarestrictlyproscribedalongenderlines,fromeducation

ndworktopropertyrightsandpeech.

arentsandfamily: Parentsemandandreceivedeferenceandespect.Teyhaveastrongvoicenthechoiceofmarriagepartners.



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Survival ListArtsComingOutintoSociety

(Forwomen,beingpresentedaseligibleformarriage.)CourtshipandMarriageDancingEducationEtiquetteandIntroductionsFashionandasteFoodMilitaryService

TeRulesforSocialCalls

2. Imaginethatyou(oroneofhercharacters)

weresuddenlytransportedintoAustensworld(RegencyEngland),andshe,intoyours.Fileanewspaperortelevisionnewsreportthatfocusesonwhatispositiveaboutherworld.Whatwouldshelikeabouttherules,socialcustomsandvaluesshendsinyours?

Austen and SocietyTroughhercharacters,JaneAustenalternatelydefendsandcriticizesthesocialcustomsofhertime.Asshewrites,Austenestablishesthatcertainattitudesarexedandcannotbe

ignored.Infact,thosecharactersinhernovelsthatchallengeconventionendupdisgracedandunhappy.Atothertimes,throughwittycommentsandactions,hercharactersrevealtheabsurdityofsomeofthesocialcustoms.Usethelistofstatements[box,page14]tohelpstudentsexplorehowimportantwealth,status,marriage,andloveweretoAustenasexpressedthroughhercharacters.

1. HowdoesAustencriticizethesocietyinwhichhercharacterslive?Whichofhercharactersopenlyobjecttoorviolateitsconventions?Howandwhendotheydoit,andwhatistheresult?Livingintodaysworld,wouldAustenscharactersstillencounterthesameproblems?

2. HowdoesAustendefendthesocietyinwhichhercharacterslive?Whichofhercharactersviolatestandardswithnegativeresults?SomeexamplesmightbeFrankChurchill,MaryCrawford,orMr.Elton.WhichofAustenscharactersdefendarulewhenothersviolateit(e.g.,Fanny,Mr.Knightley)?Namethestandardandexplainwhythecharacterthinksitisworthupholding.

3. Socialstandardsandcodesofconductarealwayschanging.ComparethesocialrulesfromAustenstimetothoseinthe20thand21stcenturies.Interviewaparentoragrandparentandaskthemwhatrulestheyhadtofollowintermsofdating,tablemanners,modesofdress,marriageproposals,oranyothersocietalrulesthatappearinAustensworld.Ask:Whatweretheexpectationsfordatingandmarriage?Howweretheyexpectedtotreattheirparents?Hassocialclassdenedorlimitedtheirexperiences?Havestudentssharetheinterviewswithoneanother.Asaclass,discusshowsocietyhaschangedandinwhatwaysithasremainedthesame.Wherewouldstudentsratherbe:inRegencyEngland,20thcenturyAmericaor21stcenturyAmerica?

Lady Bertram, Mrs. Norris, and Pug ofManseldPark



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Be fore Viewing1. JaneAustenisfamousforhernovelsrstlines,especiallyinPride and Prejudice:Itisatruthuniversallyacknowledgedthatasinglemaninpossessionofagoodfortunemustbeinwantofawife.Tereaderimmediatelyknowsthesubjectofthenovel.WhatdoestherstlineofEmmatellus?Askstudentstoreaditandpredictwhatthelmand/ornovelwillbeabout.

2. LikemanyAustennovels,Emmatellsthestoryofhowa

characterlearnstoseeherself,others,andherrelationshipsmoreclearly.Whileviewing,askstudentstorecordthemomentswhenEmmahasarevelation,smallorlarge,whenshesuddenlyseeswhatshehadbeenblindtobefore.ellstudentstheywillbeusingthesenotesforanactivityafterviewing.

After Viewing1. Becauseofthefamilyshewasborninto,Emmaenjoyshighsocialstatus,powerandinfluence.Sheisalsoclever,funloving,fullofenergy,andalovingauntanddaughter.Butwhenwemeether,hermajoroccupationismatchmaking,whichleadshertomeddlewithpeopleslivesanddoharm,ratherthangood.WhydoesntEmmausehertalentsandgoodfortuneforsomethingelse?Askstudents,IsEmmatoblame,orisithercircumstances?DoesEmmaspositionintheworldgiveherfreedomandopportunity,ordoesitlimit

herchoices?Havestudentscomparehertoothercharacters,suchasmalecharactersortowomenofdierentlevelsofwealthandsocialstanding.HowdoesEmmacompare?

6

2. TeEmmaweknowattheendofthenovelhastraveledagreatemotionaldistancefromtheyoungwomanwemeetin

theopeningscenes.Howdidshegetthere?Drawinguponthenotestakenwhileviewing,askstudentstocreateacartoonstriptoshowEmmasjourney.Studentswillgenerateaseriesofdrawingsthatshowsignicanteventsinthestoryandaddacaptionexplainingeachscene.Createadisplayofstudentwork.

3. ExploretheroleofMr.Knightley.Havethemanswerthefollowingquestions:

)WhatdoesKnightleyseeandunderstandthatEmmadoesnot?

b)WhatvaluesandideasdoesKnightley

standfor?) Youhearnothingbuttruthfromme,

KnightleytellsEmma.Whattruthsdoeshetellher?

TenaltruthEmmadiscoversisthatsheloveshim;marriagetoMr.Knightleyistherewardattheendofherlearningcurve.Ishetoogoodtobetrue?IshetoogoodforEmma?

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Emma and Mr.Knightley

Mr. Woodhouse



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Be fore Viewing1. TetitleofJaneAustensrstdraftofPride and PrejudicewasFirt Impreion.akeaquickyesornoclassroompollwithashowofhands:Whenyoumeetsomeonenew,areyourrstimpressionslikelytoproveaccurate?Countandposttheresultsofthepollanduseitasaspringboardintodiscussion.Whatarerstimpressionsbasedupon?Makealistandthendiscussthevalueorreliabilityoftheitemsonthelist.Doweevermeetsomeonenewwithoutprejudginghimorherinsomeway?Isitpossiblenotto?

2. Pride and Prejudiceissetinaworldinwhichmoneyandsocialclassdetermine,

amongmanythings,whohaspower,whoisrespected,andwhompeoplemarry.Isthatstatementtruetodayornot?

After Viewing1. WhatisElizabethsrstimpressionofDarcy?Whatinformationdoesshebaseherimpressionupon?

2.AfterElizabethreadstheletterDarcywritesher,shetellsJane,tilthatmoment,Ineverknewmyself.Similarly,whenElizabeth

Pride and PrejudicerejectsDarcy,hebeginstoseehimselfdierentlyaswell.Whatdoeseachlearn?Isittruethatthebetterweknowourselves,thebetterwebecomeatseeingotherpeople?Why?Askstudentsiftheyhaveeverexperiencedthisthemselves.

3. WhenconfrontedbyLadyCatherineneartheendofthelm,ElizabethdeclaresherselfDarcysequal,eventhoughtheirfamilyincomesarefarfromequal:Heisagentleman,Iamagentlemansdaughter.Baseduponyourviewing,whatdoyouthinkAustensviewwasoftheclasssystemofhertime?Whataspectsofthesystemdoesshechallenge?Whatdoessheseemtoaccept?

4. InwhatwaysisElizabethoutofplace

withinherownfamily?Inwhatwaysdoesthefamilyshewasbornintolimitwhatshecandowithherlivelymind?Howdoesshefeelabouthermother,father,youngersisters?WhatdoDarcyandPemberlyrepresenttoElizabeth?AskstudentstoselectascenefromthenovelorlminwhichElizabethmustcopewithherfamilyandwriteamonologueforher.WhatisElizabeththinkingandfeelingatthatmomentandwhy?

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f somereadersaredrawntoJane Austenforhercompelling lovestories,thereareasmanywho

readandrereadherforthesatireandironythatarewovenintothem.Likemostformsofcomedy,satirereliesonexaggeration.Satirebringshumanweakness,ignorance,andcrueltyintothelightandletsuslaughatthem.Weeasilyrecognizefoolishnessintheexaggeratedcharactersthewritercreates,andwhensatireworkswell,asinAustenswork,werecognize

ourownoccasionalfoolishnessaswell.Attheheartoftheappealof

Austensworkisherabilitytoblenddrama,light

comedy,andsharpsatire,acombinationsheintroducedtotheEnglishnovel,pavingthewayforwritersfromDickensinthe

VictorianeratoJ.K.Rowlinginourown.

Ironyisaboutreversal:Whatwethinkshouldbe,isnot;whatweexpecttohappendoesnot;whatsomeonesaysistheoppositeofwhatheorshemeans.Playful,verbalironyisnotdifculttospotinAustenswork.Lesshumorous,andmoredeeplyburied,isthedramaticironythatseemstoshowtheworldasupsidedown,atleastwhenthestorybegins. 1. Readthefollowingdenitionofsatirealoud:Satire is a literary work that ridiculesits subject through the use of techniques such asexaggeration, reversal, incongruity, and/or parodyin order to make a comment or criticism aboutit.Explorewithstudentswhymanysatiresontelevisiontodayareanimations(Family Guy,

Te Simpsons).Whyisanimationagoodvehicleforsatire?Whatdowemeanwhenwecalla

Satire and Irony

8

charactercartoonish?AreAustenssatirical

characterscartoonish?WouldtheAustenlmyouviewedworkwellasananimatedlmoragraphicnovel?Whyorwhynot?ExperimentbychoosingascenefromthelmandcreatingasatiricalcartoonfeaturingacharacterorcharactersdrawndirectlyfromAustenorbaseduponhercharacters.

2. Nameandlisteachofthecharactersinthelmyouviewedthataresatirizedinsomeway.(SomeofAustensmostsatirizedcharactersareMr.CollinsinPride and Prejudice,JohnTorpeinNorthanger Abbey,Mr.ElliotinPeruaion,

andMrs.EltoninEmma.)Writethenamesonindexcardsanddistributethemtovolunteerswhowillthenleavetheroomandre-enterincharacter,usinggesture,costume,monologue,

It is certain that

[ Jane Austen] by her own artistictalent made interesting what thousands

o superfcially similar peoplewould have made dull.

Verbal Iroy:speechinwhichwhatissaidistheoppositeofwhatismeant

Dramat ic Iroy:whenthereaderoraudienceunderstandsmoreabouttheeventsofastorythanthecharacterin

thestory.

Anne Elliot in Persuasion

G. K. esterto1922



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orothercluestothecharactersidentity.Studentswillguesswhothecharacteris.Howdidstudentsmaketheidentication?How

muchdoesAustenexaggeratehercharacterstraitsandbehaviors?Whatattitude,behavior,orvalueisshetakingaimatthroughhersatire?

3. AskstudentstoidentifyseveralinstancesofdramaticironyintheJaneAustenworktheyarestudying.UsetheevidencetheygathertostageamocktrialofAustenonthechargeoftheuseofirony,callingbothcharactersandexpertdetectivewitnessestopresentevidence.Replayforstudentstherstveminutesofthelmandthenaskstudentstodetectdramaticirony.Askstudentstoidentifywhatswrongwiththispicture?Lookforvisualcluesaswellasthecharactersspeech,clothing,andmannerisms.Askstudentstoanswerthefollowingquestions:

$Aretherevaluesthatcharacterssaytheybelievein,butdonotfollow?

$ Aretherecharacterswhoarelowerinsocialclasswhoseemtohavebettervaluesorstrengthofcharacterthanthoseabovetheminwealthandsocialstanding?

$ Whattruthsaboutcharactersortheirsituationarehiddeninplainsight?

$ Askstudentstorecalltheeventsthat

followintherestofthelm.Areanyironiesexposedorrightedbytheend?

$ Isthereanythingthatremainsironicallyupsidedownevenafterthehappyromanticwedding?


Jn Aun on

YouubJaneAustenhasmadeitintothedigitalage!UsethefollowingarticleAutenon Youube fromTe New York imetondshortlmsonYouubeaboutAustennovelsandlms.(www.nytimes.com/2007/07/29/movies/29webjame.html).Manyofthesehavebeencreatedbyhighschoolstudents.StudentswillndeverythingfromAusten-relatedmusicvideosandmontagesbuiltwithclipsfromthelmstoremakesofmovietrailers,suchasPride and PrejudiceasatalesetintheAfricansavannah.TeYouubelmscanbeusedintheclassroominfunandinstructiveways:

$ asanintroductiontoAustenandtheperiodinwhichthelmsareset

$ asartifactsofthecurrentAustenmania

$ asexamplesofsatire:studentscanidentifywhichlmsaresatirical,

andwhy$ asexplorationsofthemes:whatdoestheselectedmusicemphasizeorcelebrateaboutAusten?

Invitestudentstoselectandsharetheirfavorites,andtomakeandposttheirownvideosasasupplementaryactivityoraculminatingproject.

Asalways,whenusingtheInternetwithstudents

previewsitestobesuretheyareappropriateforyourclassroom.



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Be fore Viewing1. Tegothicnovel,aliterarygenrethatoriginatedinEnglandinthe18thcentury,featuresmysterioussettings,unexplainedorsupernaturalevents,andanatmosphereofhorrorordread.Te Myterie of Udolpho,agothicnovelbyAnnRadclie,publishedin1794,isthefavoritebookofCatherineMorland,themaincharacterinNorthangerAbbey.Modernhorrorctionandlmsarethedescendentsofthistradition.Askstudentsiftheyarefansofthehorrorgenre.Cantheyexplainitsappeal?Whydotheythinkpeoplereadthesebooks,andwatchtheselms?Whatemotionalorintellectualneedsdotheseworkssatisfy?

2. GothicnovelswerethepopcultureofJaneAustenstime.Foreshadowingdebatesinourowntime,parentsandeducatorsworriedabouttheeectthisnewculturalformwouldhaveonyoungpeople.Whatformsofpopularcultureworryparentsandeducatorstoday?Asaclass,makealist.Nexttoeachitemorname,notewhattheoldergenerationseesasthepossiblenegativeinfluence.

3. InNorthanger Abbey,CatherineleavesherfamilyandtravelstoBath,whereshe

makesnewfriendsinacompletelyunfamiliar

Northanger Abbey

0

environment.Isiteasyordifculttomakegoodchoicesaboutnewfriendsinthiskindofsituation?Howdonewfriendshipsdevelop,andwhichoneslast?Keepthesethingsinmindasyouwatchthelm.

After Viewing1. HowdoesCatherinesreadingofgothicnovelsaectherthinkingandherbehavior?DoyouthinkthatAustenexaggeratestheinfluenceofCatherinesreading?Returntothelisttheclasscreatedofpopculture.ArepeopletodayinfluencedasstronglybypopularcultureasCatherineis?How?

2. WhyisCatherineunabletoseethat

IsabellaTorpeisnotatruefriend?Whatelsedoesshefailtoseeandunderstand?IdentifyandcomparethedangersandvillainsCatherineimaginewiththerealdangersandvillainsshefailstorecognizeorcomprehend.

3. Neartheendofthelm,HenrytellsCatherine,Teworstcrimesarethecrimesoftheheart.WhoarethecriminalsinNorthanger Abbey?Whatmotivatestheiractions?DoesAustencondemtheconnectionbetweenmoneyandmarriagethatwassomuchapartoftheworldshelivedin,ordoes

sheacceptitasareality?

4. Northanger AbbeyisasatireinwhichAustenpokesfunatthegothicnovelgenre.Recentlytherehavebeenseverallminwhichscreenwritershavetakenaimatpopularlmgenres:forexample,horrorlms,actionlms,andteenmovies.Whatcommonfeaturesoflmsineachgenredotheyexaggerate?Isthesatireallinfun,ordotheselmstrytomakeaseriouspointaboutthegenre?UsingNorthanger Abbeyandthesecontemporarysatiresasmodels,askstudentstodeviseapitchforasatiricallmthatpokesfunatapopulartelevisionshoworgenre,suchasarealityshow(American Idol) oracontinuingdrama(Lot).Tepitchcanbeawrittenproposal,orameetinginwhichthey,thelmmakers,meetwithastudioexecutivetoselltheiridea.

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Henry ilney and

Catherine Morland

TeMysteriesofUdolpho

by Ann Radclie



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Manfield ParkBe fore Viewing1. Manfield ParkcanbeseenasaCinderellastory.Identifytheelementsofthiskindofstory.Whatothermoviesortelevisionshowsusethoseelements?

2. Whoisthestereotypicalpopularguyorgirlincontemporarylm,television,andyoungadultliterature?Havestudentsshareexamplesandexaminethecharactersqualities.Wheredothesecharactersfallshort?Dothesecharacterseverchange?Dotheygetahappyending?Inatypicalhighschool,istherealityofwhoispopularsimilartotherepresentationinbooksandmedia?Explain.

3. Anoldproverbsays,Patienceisavirtue.Askstudentsiftheyagree.Askthemtodescribeatimeintheirliveswhenbeingpatientwasagoodchoiceandatimewhenpatiencewasnotrewarded,orwasamistake.Doesourcultureencourageordiscouragepatienceandwaiting?

After Viewing1. TeCrawfordscomedownfromfashionableLondonandshakeupthemoreconservativecountryworldofManseldPark.

AreMaryandHenrylikeable?WhyisMaryattractedtoEdmund,andhowdoesshewanttochangehim?WhydoesHenrybecomeseriouslyinterestedinFanny,andhowdoeshehopeshewillchangehim?Canyouthinkofalmoraworkofliteratureinwhichagoodcharactersavesorredeemsabadone?WhydoesntthathappeninManfield Park?Doyouwishithad?

2. FannyPricehasbeencalledtheleastlikeableofJaneAustensheroinesbecausesheistoopassive,consistent,andgoodnotinterestinglyflawed.Doyouagree?AsagroupbrainstormalistofwordstodescribeFanny.HowisshelikeorunlikethemaincharactersinotherAustennovelsorinothernovelsyouhaveread?IsBilliePiper,whoplaysFanny,invisibleenoughtofadeintothebackgroundwhencomparedtoMary?WhatotheractressesmightyoucastasFanny?

3. AskstudentstopickoneofthecharactersinManfield Parkandcreateascrapbookpagethatrepresentshisorherinterests,personality,andactionsthroughoutthenovelorlm.Usemagazineclippings,drawings,andquotesfromthebookorlm.rytomakethescrapbookpagereflectthecomplexityofthecharacteritrepresents.

4. WhatelementsoftheCinderellastoryarepresentinManfield Park?IfFannyPriceisCinderella,whoisherFairyGodmother?DoesEdmundndandrescueher,ordoessherescuehim?

5. Atdierentpointsinthelm,threeofthecharactershavemomentswhentheylookatFannyandsuddenlyseeherastheyhavenotbefore.Whenisthismomentforeachcharacterlistedbelow?WhatdoesherecognizeinFanny,andwhywasheblindtoitbefore?Askstudentsto

drawagurerepresentingeachcharacterandllinthoughtbubbleshowingwhatheisthinkingatthismomentofrealization.

) Henry

b) LordBertram

) Edmund

Fanny Price and Henry Crawford

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Mary Crawford



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Web SitesTeAustenBlogwww.austenblog.comTisWebsiteoerscommentary

andnewsaboutAusteninpopularculture.

TeJaneAustenCentreinBathwww.janeausten.co.ukTissiteprovidesbackgroundonRegencyEngland,articlesonAusten,reviews,andanonlinesequeltoNorthanger Abbey.

JaneAustensistoryofnglandwww.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.htmlHostedbytheBritishLibrary,thissiteisaninteractiveversionof

AustenshandwrittenHitory ofEngland(aparodyoftheschoolroomhistorybooksofhertime),writtenwhenshewas15.

Mollandswww.mollands.netAnonlinecommunitynamedforashopinBaththatappearsinPeruaion,thissiteprovidese-textsofAustensworksandworksabouther,links,messageboards,printablecards,andillustrations.

Selected Resources

2

icetiesandCourtesies:MannersandCustomsintheimeofJaneAustenchuma.cas.usf.edu/~runge/MasonJA1.htmlTisWebsiteprovidesquotesfromandlinkstomanyresourcesaboutpropersocialbehaviorinRegencyEngland.

Aegencyepositoryregencylady.net/repositoryTissiteprovidesinformationonmanyaspectsofRegencylife,includingart,literature,politicalandmilitarymatters,andmore.

TeepublicofPemberleywww.pemberley.comTiscomprehensivesiteprovidesdetailedinformationonAustensnovelsandletters,acompletelistingoflmadaptations,andbiographicalandculturalbackgroundtothenovels.

BiographiesAusten-Leigh,J.E.A Memoir of JaneAuten and Other Family Recollection.OxfordUniversityPress,2002.TiseditionoftherstAustenbiographycombinesthememoirofhernephewJamesEdwardAusten-Leighwiththe

recollectionsofhissisters,AnnaLefroyandCarolineAusten.

Honan,Park.Jane Auten: Her Life.St.MartinsPress,1987.ConsideredthedenitiveAustenbiography,thisbookemphasizeshowthebroadhistoricalandsocialcontextofRegencyEnglandinfluencedAusten.

Spence,Jon.Becoming Jane Auten.ContinuumPublishing,2007.Te2007lmBecoming JaneisbasedonSpencesbiography,whichmines

Austenslettersandwritingforcluestothepeopleandevents,thatshapedherasawriter.

omalin,Claire.Jane Auten: A Life.Knopf,1997.TisbiographyexamineseachofthenovelsinthecontextofAustenslifeeventsandinfluences.

Austen and Her WorldBlack,Maggie.Te Jane AustenCookbook.McClelland&Stewart,2002.TisbookincludesGeorgian

andRegencyrecipessetinthecontextoftheerassocialanddomestichistory.

Hughes,Kristine.Life in Regencyand Victorian England: From18111901.WritersDigestBooks,1998.TisresourceprovidesdetailsaboutdailylifeinEnglandduringthisperiodinhistory.

KlingelRay,Joan. Jane Auten forDummie.ForDummies,2006.AfunandinformativeguidetoAustensnovelsandtheintricacies

ofAustensworld,byaformerpresidentoftheJaneAustenSocietyofNorthAmerica.

LeFaye,Deirde.Jane Auten: TeWorld of Her Novel.FrancesLincoln,2006.AnAustenscholarandbiographeroershistoricalandculturalbackgroundtothenovels.

Pool,Daniel.What Jane AustenAte and Charles Dickens Knew.ouchstone,1994.Tisguideprovidesdetailsaboutdailylifein

19th

centuryEnglandinshort,easytoreadchapters.

Ross,Josephine.Jane Austens Guideto Good Manners: Compliments,Charades, and Horrible Blunders.Bloomsbury,2006.TisguidetocorrectsocialbehaviorinRegencyEnglandisbasedonthecorrespondencebetweenJaneAustenandhernieceAnna.

Sullivan,Margaret.Te Jane AutenHandbook: A Senible Yet ElegantGuide to Her World.QuirkBooks,

2007.Tishandbookoersstep-by-stepinstructionsforleadingaproperaristocraticlifeinRegencyEngland,frommannerstodressing,dining,andcourtship.

Enter Te JASNA Essay Contestwww.jasna.org/essaycontest/inde.html

TeJaneAustenSocietyofNorthAmerica( JASNA)isdedicatedtotheenjoymentandappreciationofJaneAustenandherwriting.Itpublishesanannualjournal,Persuasions,andanewsletter.TeJASNAholdsanannualessaycontestopentostudentsatthehighschool,college,andpost-graduatelevels.Fullinformation,includingwritingtopicsandprizes,isavailableatwww.jasna.org/essaycontest/index.html.



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Austen and FilmFlavin,Louise.Jane Auten in theClaroom: Viewing the Novel/Reading the Film.Peter

Lang,2004.TisguideoersapproachestoreadingAustensnovelsandviewingtheirlmadaptations.

Golden,John.Reading in theDark: Uing Film a a ool inthe Englih Claroom.NCE,2001.Tisgeneralresourcehelpsteachersincorporatelmintothestudyofliterature.

Parrill,Sue.Jane Auten on Filmand eleviion: A Critical Studyof the Adaptation.McFarland,

2002.TisisacomprehensivelmographyofAustensadaptations,organizednovelbynovel,withcomparativeanalysis.

roost,LindaandSayreGreeneld,eds.Jane Auten inHollywood.UniversityPressofKentucky,2001.Tiscollectionincludes13essaysonrecentadaptationsofAustennovels.

Just or FunFowler,KarenJoy.Te JaneAuten Book Club.Plume,2005.Tisisanovel,anexplorationof

Austenswork,andaresourceforyourownAustenbookcluballrolledintoone.

Henderson,Lauren.Jane AutenGuide to Dating.Hyperion,2005.TisbookdrawsonthewisdominAustensnovelstoadvisethosesearchingfortheperfectmatetoday.IncludespersonalityquizzestorevealwhichAustencharacteryoumostresemble.

Hannon,Patrice.101 Ting YouDidnt Know about Jane Auten:

Te ruth about the World MotIntriguing Romantic LiteraryHeroine.AdamsMedia,2007.TisbookoerstriviaandtidbitsfromAustenslife.

Sutherland,JohnandDeirdreLeFaye,So You Tink YouKnow Jane Auten? A LiteraryQuizbook. OxfordUniversityPress,2005.TisbookoersquizzesonAustensnovels,ontheactionsandmotivationsofcharacters,andonthemeaning

ofevents.

oracompletelistofMDVDs&videos,visit

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