...Word Choice and Syntax Jane Austen originally wrote Pride and Prejudice in 1813 as a novel of manners. Included on pages 11 to 12 is a passage Austen utilizes to depict major themes that recur throughout the novel. She did this by using dialogue between Elizabeth and Jane, as well as Elizabeth’s thoughts. Syntax, a cynical tone, and background imagery of the Bingley sisters are used to suggest that listening to society’s expectations of manners is necessary, but should be limited and that before Elizabeth decides to judge others based on their actions, she must look within herself and realize her own flaws. At the beginning of the passage, Elizabeth expresses her doubts about Jane’s judgements of the Bingley sisters. According to Elizabeth,...
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...Pride & Prejudice: Marriage Austen uses the marriages of Charlotte, Lydia, Jane, and Elizabeth in “Pride and Prejudice” to show the good and bad reasons behind typical marriages during the late 18th century in England. The marriages of those four characters illustrate the different motives women had behind getting wedded. Charlotte Lucas accepts Mr. Collins’ hand in marriage as soon as he proposed to her even though she had only known him for a short period of time because he was financially stable. Charlotte is described to be simple with no outstanding qualities; as she is twenty-six years of age, she has a different opinion on marriage from the Bennet daughters as they are younger. She marries Mr. Collins for practicality and survival as she tells Elizabeth, “I ask only a comfortable home; and considering Mr. Collins's character, connections, and situation in life, I am convinced that my chance of happiness with him is as fair as most people can boast on entering the marriage state.'” (P&P pg 124) Her family members are happy when they hear the news as they no longer need to support her – her new husband will take care of her and finances. Women married at a young age; Charlotte’s age was considered old, and it being rare to find a groom for an old bride, Charlotte’s brothers were relieved that she would not die unmarried. Austen uses the marriage of Charlotte and Mr. Collins to represent women that marry wealthy men in order to be financially secure, which...
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...1) Jane Austen * Biography Jane Austen is one of the most read writers in England. She was born on the 17th of December in 1775 in Steventon, Hampshire, in a large family with six brothers and one sister, which formed part of the Landed Gentry (well-born and well-bred people of high social class in England). Jane went on with her education by herself by reading books which her father, who supported her a lot, gave her from his large library. Her family produced plays and Jane Austen took part in these. Most of them were comedies which gave Jane the opportunity to develop her comic and satirical senses. During her lifetime she was not famous because she wanted to keep anonymity. So, instead of writing her name on the books, she just put "by a lady". It is only in the 19th century that she got famous when her nephew wrote A memoir of Jane Austen. This book even included some of her writings that were never published before. She never got married, although she was once proposed to and she never had any children. During the year of 1816, Jane Austen’s health became worse and she died in July in 1817 at the age of 41 years old. But the exact reasons of her death remain vague, some say it was Addison syndrome, other say Hodgkin’s disease, there are several hypotheses. The famous English author is buried in the North aisle of Winchester Cathedral. * Main works She started by writing poems when she was 12 years old. By the time she was 18, she started creating longer and...
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...The Use of Irony in Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen: “The most unlearned and uninformed female who ever dared to be an Authoress” Irony serves as a fundamental literary tool for authors. It enables them to express their themes and views through characters whose words are often inconsistent with their actions, and in situations where the intended result differs from the actual result. Irony works in a clever manner by showing the reader what the author wants to express by making these inconsistencies apparent to the reader, if not to the characters themselves, and exposing it, more often than not, in a satiric fashion. Yet, while irony works with satire, the power it holds for those who wield it well is no laughing matter. Famous writers such as the sardonic H.L. Mencken and Jonathan Swift, a true satiric master, have used irony to promote real, legitimate change. In Swift’s case, his famous piece, “A Modest Proposal,” used extreme satire and irony to promote change in Irish policy. Perhaps the greatest satirist of all time, William Shakespeare used irony in almost every piece he created. In his play Julius Caesar, the speech he has Mark Antony give in which he repeats the phrase “but Brutus is an honorable man” when he is trying to convey the exact opposite serves as a truly timeless example of this literary tool. It is unique in that it does not simply throw the author’s point of view directly in the reader’s face, but rather enables the reader to discover the author’s...
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...remarkable similarities to today’s world. Social norms are defined by Kendall, Murray, and Linden in Sociology in Our Times as “established rules of behavior or standards of conduct” (664), while a social value is defined as “a collective idea about what is right or wrong, good or bad, and desirable or undesirable in a particular culture” (668). These terms can be used fairly interchangeably; they both mean basically the same thing, with norms being the actual behaviors that are dictated by values. Such norms and values are shown in a multitude of ways throughout Pride and Prejudice. There are norms associated with most every aspect of society, including the norms for class, money, gender, and marriage most commonly explored in Austen’s novels. Austen shows society’s values both through satire and through presenting what she considers to be the better alternative. The society of Austen’s time no doubt differs from today in many ways; however, when the actual values of society are closely examined, it becomes apparent that there are some fundamental similarities. Money and class had a very strong influence on what was deemed ‘proper’ during the 19th century. The higher one’s class and economic level, the more highly respected one would be in society. Darcy, with his £10 000 a year and landed gentry background, is the social superior of the Bennets, who make only £2000 a year and have connections to relations in the lower class. This social superiority is part of why Darcy initially considers...
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...Introduction: Jane Austen’s novel “Pride and Prejudice” is generally speaking a love story of two couples: Elizabeth and Darcy in the first place and the love story of Jane and Darcy’s friend Bingley. The novel reveals how young people want to be happy no matter to what class they belong to and the obstacles they have to face belonging to the upper society of England. Throughout the symbolist of Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley the author shows the reader that sometimes even the smallest events can change the life-story of a person. Jane Austen’s in her novel “Pride and Prejudice” is not overfilled with excessive symbols as the message of the novel is easily revealed through Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley. This is primarily due to the fact that it is basically is major change and resettlement of the book. Before Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley the basic accent was made on the dialogues among the characters. The fact that Elizabeth actually travelled to Darcy’s estate can be compared to a literal approaching of the two central characters. As Jane Austen does not use a lot of descriptions of the surroundings so Elizabeth’s visit to Pemberley become an actual dramatic change of the novel. Another moment of symbolism of this visit is the fact that Elizabeth finds herself of Darcy’s territory as if she almost refers herself of being his “property” too. As Mr. Darcy is on his territory he reveals himself as confident and gentle as he had never been before. The fact that Pemberley turn...
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...created by the author. How the reader perceives the characters plays a large role in the readers understanding and connection to the text. In Pride and Prejudice Jane Austen’s development of many characters draws certain emotions from the reader. The personalities of many characters in Pride and Prejudice become infuriating and bothersome as the novel progresses. Austen’s creation of ridiculous and exaggerated characters such as Mrs. Bennet, Mr. Collins, Miss Bingley, and Lady Catherine create negative reader bias towards the characters and their actions in the novel. The ridiculous behavior of Mrs. Bennet is introduced early in the novel and with her unpleasant manner she is soon viewed as wacky and overwhelming. The reader quickly becomes aware of Mrs. Bennet’s obsession as, “The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news” (7). This shortly becomes the extent and complete preoccupation of Mrs. Bennet throughout every activity, creating an overwhelmed and smothered feeling by the reader. As her daughters progress in society and marriage opportunity drift closer, Mrs. Bennet’s extremity increases, “Can I have the carriage?” “No, my dear, you out to go on horseback, because it seems likely to rain; and then you must stay the night” (31) After this conversation, Jane makes the trip and catches a bad cold; she is then forced by her mother to stay there in the hope of furthering her relationship with Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennet’s...
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...Exploring Feminist Identities: Empowerment Through Duality Female writers constantly try to negotiate their identities in a society that exalts male opinion. That the protagonists of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Chopin’s “A Pair of Silk Stockings” are married women places both discourses within a patriarchal, institutional framework. Immediately, a critique of marriage arises, and we are forced to examine how women are oppressed, either by patriarchy or by stereotypes placed on them as mothers and nurturers. It is evident that both stories serve to highlight the plight of women, though it remains arguable whether a solution is proposed. Gilman’s nameless protagonist goes mad, while Chopin’s “Little Mrs. Sommers” dreads going back to the boring routine of a housewife. The conclusions, as such, do not seem to empower women, but suggests a futility of fighting against patriarchy. Even if the madness of Gilman’s nameless protagonist is seen as a form of transcendental sanity as suggested by some critics, how empowering is it for females to be represented as mad? Besides, her transcendence - if it is interpreted as such – is temporary, for she might be placed in an asylum for further treatment. Consumerism too, is only a temporary relief for Mrs. Sommers’ mundane existence, for her money will run out eventually. The fact that both women are married is an important consideration in this analysis. Marriage inscribes patriarchy into the narrative, because it forces the identity...
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...A ROOM OF ONES OWN [* This essay is based upon two papers read to the Arts Society at Newnharn and the Odtaa at Girton in October 1928. The papers were too long to be read in full, and have since been altered and expanded.] ONE But, you may say, we asked you to speak about women and fiction--what, has that got to do with a room of one's own? I will try to explain. When you asked me to speak about women and fiction I sat down on the banks of a river and began to wonder what the words meant. They might mean simply a few remarks about Fanny Burney; a few more about Jane Austen; a tribute to the Brontës and a sketch of Haworth Parsonage under snow; some witticisms if possible about Miss Mitford; a respectful allusion to George Eliot; a reference to Mrs Gaskell and one would have done. But at second sight the words seemed not so simple. The title women and fiction might mean, and you may have meant it to mean, women and what they are like, or it might mean women and the fiction that they write; or it might mean women and the fiction that is written about them, or it might mean that somehow all three are inextricably mixed together and you want me to consider them in that light. But when I began to consider the subject in this last way, which seemed the most interesting, I soon saw that it had one fatal drawback. I should never be able to come to a conclusion. I should never be able to fulfil what is, I understand, the first duty of a lecturer to hand you after an hour's discourse a...
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...Some definitions of literary devices, techniques and style from searching via http://www.ferretsoft.com/ LITERARY DEVICES http://mrbraiman.home.att.net/lit.htm Literary devices refers to any specific aspect of literature, or a particular work, which we can recognize, identify, interpret and/or analyze. Both literary elements and literary techniques can rightly be called literary devices. Literary elements refers to aspects or characteristics of a whole text. They are not “used,” per se, by authors; we derive what they are from reading the text. Most literary elements can be derived from any and all texts; for example, every story has a theme, every story has a setting, every story has a conflict, every story is written from a particular point-of-view, etc. In order to be discussed legitimately, literary elements must be specifically identified for that text. Literary techniques refers to any specific, deliberate constructions of language which an author uses to convey meaning. An author’s use of a literary technique usually occurs with a single word or phrase, or a particular group of words or phrases, at one single point in a text. Unlike literary elements, literary techniques are not necessarily present in every text. Literary terms refers to the words themselves with which we identify and describe literary elements and techniques. They are not found in literature and they are not “used” by authors. Allegory:...
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...* introduction Study habits are the ways that you study - the habits that you have formed during your school years. Study habits can be good ones, or bad ones. Good study habits include being organized, keeping good notes, reading your textbook, listening in class, and working every day. Bad study habits include skipping class, not doing your work, watching TV or playing video games instead of studying, and losing your work. It means you are not distracted by anything, you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework. Basically it means that you are doing the best you can to get the grades you want. It means you are not distracted by anything, you have a certain place to go where it is quiet everyday where you study and do homework. The manner with which you consistently use to study for school or college or even for next day lesson plans if you're a teacher. Study Habit of every student is one of the most important factors that affect his or her understanding regarding a certain subject. It means, if a student possesses poor study habits, she has a greater chance of getting failing grades, if compare to a students who has a good study habit. But “habit” as it was defined from the Introduction to Psychology, means “a learned, or fixed way of behaving to satisfy a given motive”. By this definition alone, we can say that the person involves is the one making or forming his own habit. Maybe, habits can be affected by outside interference...
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...Dorie Love-Ashby P. Elmore Composition II 1302-7420 5/25/11 FAULKNER Faulkner was born in 1897, to a genteel southern family. His father, Murry Cuthbert Falkner, was a railroad worker, owner of a cottonseed oil and ice plant, livery stable operator, hardware store employee, and secretary and business manager at University of Mississippi. His mother was Maud Butler Falkner. Falkner grew up and spent most of his life, off and on, in Oxford, Mississippi. He trained for the Royal Air Force in Canada, and later the British Royal Air Force during World War I, but the war was over before he saw action. After the war he briefly attended the University of Mississippi. He married Lida Estelle Oldham Franklin, June 20, 1929. The Faulkner works were greatly influenced by his family history. The area in which he lived had a great deal to do with his sense of the doleful position of Black and WhiteAmericans. This also influenced his sense of humor and is said to be the legacy of earlier writers like Mark Twain. Faulkner was best known for his novels, but he also wrote short stories, poetry and occasional screenplays.. Film versions have been made of several of his works: Sanctuary (1961), Intruder in the Dust (1949), The Sound and the Fury(1959), The Reivers (1969), and Pylon (1957; or Tarnished Angels). Others (Requiem for a Nun, 1951, and "Barn Burning") have been filmed for television. (Pierce, Constance, and Heller) Faulkner received the 1949 Nobel Prize for Literature for "his...
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...Taylor (1912-1975), the author the novels The Soul of Kindness and Blaming, is a refined stylist whose swift flashes of dialogue and reflection and deft sketches of the wider background give vitality to her portrayals of well-to-do family life in commuter land. Some of her later novels are In a Summer Season (1961), and The Wedding Group (1968.) Elizabeth Taylor has humour and compassion as well as disciplined artistry, and has logically been compared with Jane Austen. So has Barbara Pym (1913-1980) who tasted fame, sadly enough, only at the end of her life (her real name was Mary Crampton). Another restrained and perceptive artist, she is a master of J f ingenuous and candid dialogue and reflection which are resonant with comic overtones. Critics I called her "modern Jane Austin. Excellent Women (1952) and A Glass of Blessings (1958) were reprinted in the late 1970s when Philip Larkin and David Cecil drew attention to the quality of her neglected work. Later novels, The Sweet Dove Died (1978) and Quartet in Autumn (1978), are no less engaging in their blend of pathos and comedy. One might well put beside these two English writers the Irish writer Mary Lavin (1912-1996), whose short stories focus on the ups and downs of family life with quiet pathos and humour. Her novels, The House in Clewes Street (1945) and Mary O'Grady (1950), are family histories presented with psychological sensitivity and a delicious vein of irony. The public domain intrudes more into the...
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...100 Best First Lines from famous Novels 1. Call me Ishmael. —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851) 2. It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. —Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813) 3. A screaming comes across the sky. —Thomas Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow (1973) 4. Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendía was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice. —Gabriel García Márquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude (1967; trans. Gregory Rabassa) 5. Lolita, light of my life, fire of my loins. —Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita (1955) 6. Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. —Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina (1877; trans. Constance Garnett) 7. riverrun, past Eve and Adam's, from swerve of shore to bend of bay, brings us by a commodius vicus of recirculation back to Howth Castle and Environs. —James Joyce, Finnegans Wake (1939) 8. It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. —George Orwell, 1984 (1949) 9. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair. —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859) 10. I am an invisible man. —Ralph Ellison...
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...short stories. Be ready to listen to students’ views and opinions, and encourage them to work out the answers. It is our sincere hope that the activities and worksheets in this guidebook will act as a springboard for your own ideas and methods of exploring the individual stories. SHORT STORY What is a Short Story? Can you explain what makes a short story? Well, a short story is a short piece of fiction aiming at unity of characterization, theme and effect. It aims to produce a single narrative effect with the greatest economy of means and utmost emphasis. Did you know that modern short story writers tend to base their narratives on their own experience? Here the focus is much more on the less spectacular aspects of life, on the significance underlying what is apparently trivial. The result of such...
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