Essential English: Wonderful Writers and Comprehension - Jane Austen

By Gemma Louise Bull

Jane Austen

Key Information 

• Jane Austen was born in Steventon, Hampshire on the 16th December 1775.

• Austen wrote six complete novels. She is the author of some of the most highly regarded and widely read novels written in English.

• As a child, Austen developed a passion for reading as she had access to her father’s library and a library from family friend, Warren Hastings. At the age of 12, Austen tried dramatic writing; she wrote three short plays during her teenage years. Her father was very supportive of her passion for writing.

Recommended Reading:

• ‘Pride and Prejudice’

• ‘Emma’

• ‘Sense and Sensibility’

• ‘Mansfield Park’

Fun Facts

• She wrote about the lives of the British upper class in 19th century rural England, and her novels largely take place in country villages.

• Many of Austen’s novels have been adapted into successful films and TV mini-series.

• All of Austen’s novels are love stories. However, neither Austen nor her sister ever married.

• When she was young, Austen wrote mostly for her family’s amusement. The stories she wrote exaggerated the details of daily life.

An Extract - 'Emma'

Emma is a novel about a 21-year-old woman named Emma Woodhouse, who lives with her father. Although convinced she will never marry, Emma imagines herself to be an excellent matchmaker. Her misplaced confidence in her abilities creates several romantic misadventures.

Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her.

She was the youngest of the two daughters of a most affectionate, indulgent father; and had, in consequence of her sister’s marriage, been mistress of his house from a very early period. Her mother had died too long ago for her to have more than an indistinct remembrance of her caresses; and her place had been supplied by an excellent woman as governess, who had fallen little short of a mother in affection.

Sixteen years had Miss Taylor been in Mr. Woodhouse’s family, less as a governess than a friend, very fond of both daughters, but particularly of Emma. Between them it was more the intimacy of sisters. Even before Miss Taylor had ceased to hold the nominal office of governess, the mildness of her temper had hardly allowed her to impose any restraint; and the shadow of authority being now long passed away, they had been living together as friend and friend very mutually attached, and Emma doing just what she liked; highly esteeming Miss Taylor’s judgment, but directed chiefly by her own.

The real evils, indeed, of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself; these were the disadvantages which threatened to alloy her many enjoyments. The danger, however, was at present so unperceived, that they did not by any means rank as misfortunes with her.

Questions 

1. Which word means the same as ‘indulgent’?

a) Insensitive

b) Stringent

c) Intolerant

d) Lenient

2. What is ‘’sister’s marriage’ an example of?

a) Preposition

b) Apostrophe for omission

c) Apostrophe for possession

d) Contraction

3. ‘her place had been supplied by an excellent woman’ What type of word is ‘an’?

a) Definite article

b) Indefinite article

c) Connective

d) Conjunction

4. How would you describe the relationship between Emma and Miss Taylor?

a) Affectionate and disrespectful

b) Cherishing and empathetic

c) Discourteous and considerate

d) Pleasant and unbalanced

Answers

1. Which word means the same as ‘indulgent’?

a) Insensitive

b) Stringent

c) Intolerant

d) Lenient

Lenient is the correct answer. An ‘indulgent’ person is tolerant and they have a tendency to be ‘lenient’ (forgiving and compassionate).

2. What is ‘’sister’s marriage’ an example of?

a) Preposition

b) Apostrophe for omission

c) Apostrophe for possession

d) Contraction

Apostrophe for possession is the right answer. The apostrophe has been used to show the marriage belongs to the sister.

3. ‘her place had been supplied by an excellent woman’ What type of word is ‘an’?

a) Definite article

b) Indefinite article

c) Connective

d) Conjunction

Definite article (the)

Indefinite article (a/an)

Connective (linking word e.g. also, additionally etc.)

Conjunction (joining word e.g. and, but etc.)

4. How would you describe the relationship between Emma and Miss Taylor?

a) Affectionate and disrespectful

b) Cherishing and empathetic

c) Discourteous and considerate

d) Pleasant and unbalanced

The quote ‘living together as friend and friend’ shows that Emma and Miss Taylor care about each other. The evidence demonstrates that both of the women cherish their relationship.

Similarly, the quotes ‘highly esteeming Miss Taylor’s judgment’ and ‘hardly allowed her to impose any restraint’ show that Emma respects and appreciates Miss Taylor, and vice versa. There is clear empathy between the two women.