Further Reading. Reading around the text

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Further Reading. Reading around the text"

Herbert Harper
5 years ago
Views:

1 Further Reading Your first job is to study the text. There is no substitute for the work of detailed analysis: that is how you gain the close familiarity with the text, and the fully developed understanding of its content, which make the essays you write both personal and convincing. For this reason I recommend that you take it as a rule not to read any other books around or about the text you are studying, until you have finished studying it for yourself. Once you are familiar with the text, you may wish to read around and about it. This brief chapter is only intended to set you off: there are hundreds ofrelevant books and we can only mention a few. However, most good editions, and critical works, have suggestions for further reading, or a bibliography of their own. Once you have begun to read beyond your text, you can use these and a good library to follow up your particular interests. This chapter is divided into Reading around the text, which lists Jane Austen's other works, and some by other contemporary writers; Biography; and Criticism, which will introduce you to the varieties of opinion among professional critics. Reading around the text Jane Austen published six novels: Pride and Prejudice, Mansfield Park, Emma and Persuasion are the four we have focused on in this volume. The other two are both early works, although Nortbanger Abbey was published posthumously in 1818; while Sense and Sensibility (1811) was her 271

2 272 Further Reading first published work. These novels are all available in Penguin Classics. Three ofjane Austen's shorter works, Lady Susan/The Watsons/Sanditon are also available in Penguin Classics in a single volume together. Among Austen 's contemporaries, it is worth reading some of the novels of her time for the purposes of comparison. Jane Austen frequently satirises or refers to the more lurid settings and far-fetched plots found in novels of the 'Gothic' type. The Mysteries ofudolpho (1794), by Mrs Ann Radcliffe, is a good example of the genre, and is the particular novel Catherine Morland, the heroine of Northanger Abbey, has been reading. However, I would suggest that The Monk (1796) by Matthew Lewis, is one of the most gripping and powerful productions of the 'Gothic' writers; while Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, or the Modern Prometheus (1818), although published after Austen's death, is a classic tale worth reading for its own sake. Jane Austen was certainly a reader of Fanny Burney's novels, which were all published during her life. These all focus on young women at the point where they enter society. You may try Evelina (1778), Cecilia (1782), Camilla (1796) or The Wanderer (1814). Sir Walter Scott was an influentialliterary figure of the time, and his Waverley and Guy Mannering came out in 1814 and 1815 respectively. Jane Austen admired William Cowper's poetry. If you are particularly interested in expanding your knowledge of the period during which Jane Austen lived, a number of books are available which consider her in her historical and social context. Two examples from among these ssefaneausten and the French Revolution, by Warren Roberts (London, Macmillan, 1979), and Jane Austen and Representations of Regency England by Roger Sales (London and New York, 1994).

3 Further Reading 273 Biography When biographers research Austen's life, the main sources of information they turn to are jane Austen's Letters (collected and edited by R.W Chapman, 2nd edn, Oxford University Press, London, 1952), the vast majority ofwhich were written to her sister Cassandra Austen and censored by her after the author's death; the Memoir of his aunt, by James Edward Austen-Leigh, which was published in 1870 and in an expanded second edition in 1871 ; and some other memoirs, not published, written by her nieces Anna Lefroy and Caroline Austen. In a major library there may be the authoritativejane Austen's Life and Letters, by Wand R. A. Austen-Leigh (1913). Several biographies are available, including Jane Aiken Hodge's The Double Life ofjane Austen (London, 1972), Park Honan'sjane Austen: Her Life (London, 1987), and jane Austen: A Literary Life by Jan Fergus (London, 1991). Criticism The critical works sampled in Chapter 10 are: Andrew H. Wright,jane Austen's Novels: A Study in Structure, London, 1953 (Penguin, 1962); LeRoy W Smith,Jane Austen and the Drama ofwoman, London, 1983; and Barbara Rasmussen, 'Discovering "A New Way of Reading": Shoshana Felman, Psychoanalysis and Mansfield Park', from Mansfield Park, ed. Nigel Wood, in the 'Theory in Practice' series, Open University Press, Anthologies of critical essays and articles are a good way to sample the critics. You can then go on to read the fulllength books written by those critics whose articles you have found stimulating. For the volume in which Barbara Rasmussen's article appears, Mansfield Park (see above), the editor Nigel Wood provides an Introduction, and other discussions of the critical approaches the contributors

4 274 Further Reading adopt, which are very helpful if you are entering the world of contemporary literary criticism, with its hotly debated competing theories. The New Casebooks series (general editors John Peck and Martin Coyle) published by Macmillan, collects a variety of critical articles together, and provides an introduction which discusses the critical history of the text. There are volumes On Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park and Persuasion. Each of these volumes also gives usefully selected suggestions for further reading. Finally,Jane Austen in the Modern Critical Views series (ed. Harold Bloom, New York, 1986) contains several stimulating contributions. The following full-length critical works may also be of interest and should be stimulating whether you agree or disagree with the writer's analysis. Barbara Hardy's A Reading ofjane Austen (The Athlone Press, London, 1979) is a full study of Jane Austen as a literary artist; Margaret Kirkham's jane Austen: Feminism and Fiction (Harvester, Brighton, 1984) is one of the most respected studies of Austen from a feminist point of view. Susan Morgan's In the Meantime: Character and Perception in jane Austen's Fiction (Chicago and London, 1980) and Tony Tanner'sjane Austen (London, 1986) are further suggestions. When you are in a library, use the catalogue system resourcefully to locate further interesting critical work on Jane Austen. There are numerous books which appear to be on different subjects - the history of the novel, women writers, and so on. A large number ofthese contain chapters or essays about]ane Austen which may bring an illuminating angle to bear upon her writing.

5 Anglo-American War, the 224 Austen, Cassandra (Jane 's sister) Austen, Charles (Jane's brother) 220 Austen, Edward, (Jane 's brother) 220 Austen, Francis (Jane's brother) 220 Austen, George (Jane 's brother) 220 Austen, Heruy (Jane 's brother) 220 Austen, James (Jane 's brother) 220 Austen, Jane affection for heroines 'change of attitude' in 185, contribution to feminine perception 244 courtship fables 243 decision [0 limit subject-matter 23~1 development of 'mod em ' characterisation life novels read to and by family and friends revision and polishing of manuscripts 266 writing at Chawton 228 Lady Susan/Sandttonffbe Watsons 272 Nortbanger Abbey 225, , 233-4, 243,271 Sense and Senstbt/tty 225, 243, 271 Austen, Rev. George (Jane's father) 220, 221 Austen-Leigh, James E, Memotr 226, 273 Austen-Lelgh, W and R A,Jane Austen's Life and Letters 273 Bath 221, 223 Bronte, Charlotte 245~ Burney, Fanny 232, 272 Change , life-experience, imponance of reactionary attitudes, criticised 173 stagnation and decline Chapman, R W (ed.),janeausten's Letters 96,223, 226, 227-8,23~1,242 Characterisation 2~5 characters' styles of speech 30 'psychological' dimension, the 28, 62 secondary characters throw light on principals 3~1 'subtext ' 40 summary of a character's circumstances 38,45,49,53,64 Chawton Conage 222, Communication between characters, lack of 9-10 Cowper, William 272 Crosby and Cox 225 Defoe, Daniel 232 Dickens, Charles Hard Times 243 OurMutual Friend 243 Dualities ~2,9~1, 194,214,216 appearances/truth or principle 91, 194 closed/open thought systems 159, 194 heirarchy/individualism (or equality) ,194 reactionary/modem 194 seriousllively 9~1 Index 275 stability/change 91, 194 Egenon, Thomas 225 Eliot, George, Mtddfemmcb 243 Emerson, Ralph Waldo 245 Emma p. 7, opening of the novel, commentary 1~15 p. 21, Harriet is introd uced, commentary pp. 55-8, Emma and Mr Knighdey argue about Harriet, commentary 4~9 p. 160, Emma and Frank Churchill meet, commentary 74-8 Ch. 47, Harriet reveals her love for Mr Knighdey, analysis 85-9 pp. 27~1, the ball at the Crown, commentary pp. 73-4, Emma and Harriet on old maids, commentary p. 319, Mrs Churchill 's death, commentary p. 321, Emma turned away from seeing Jane, irony analysed breaking the bad news motif 87-9 discussed by Andrew H Wright discussed by Leroy WSmith 25~1 Emma,over-dramatlsing Emma, rationalislng 31-2 Emma, divening her emotions 46, Emma visiting the poor 94-5 Frank Churchill, discussed Miss Bates Mr Knighdey, discussed 18~1 social change in Emma 166 Feiman, Shoshana 262 Fielding, Henry 232, 238 Tomfones 232-3,234-7 French Revolution, the 224 Gender 'acco mplishments' 'closed' male belief systems 148, , 156-7, 158 commerce and gender 136-7, 14~1, 155 heroines' natural development warped 144, 158 patriarchal power 146-9, 158 place of women, the 13~ 1 stereotyping of women 119 stereotypes, the power of warfare, between Emma and Mr Knighdey Goth ic novels Hancock, Eliza (later ElizaAusten) 224 Heroes 18~3 Industrial Revolution, the 224 Irony alternative terms 5, 17, 22-3, 26 definition 198 di1liculty of perceiving truth, an ironic theme 211 In and between words 5-7 ironic structure: the author's double-bluff 72-3, 152, 197-8

6 276 Index James, Henry 246 Kipling, Rudyard, Thefaneites 246 Lawrence, D H , 246 Theladybird 237 Lewis, Matthew, The Monk 233, 272 Mansfield Park pp. 5-6, opening of the novel, commentary pp , Fanny receives Edmund's letter, commentary 50-5 pp , Mary and Mrs Grant during the theatricals, commentary pp , Edmund and Fanny on Sir Thomas 's return, commentary pp , Sir Thomas urging Crawford's proposals, commentary p. 73, Fanny and Mary on family prayers, commentary p. 390, the final sentence, irony analysed alternative ending, discussed author's voice, determinism of conflicting 'worlds' in the novel 54-5, 81-3,189 conflicting 'worlds' in structure of characters, themes and setting conflicting 'worlds' and a theme of change discussed by Barbara Rasmussen Edmund Bertram, discussed 181 Fanny, misperceived by men Fanny, complacency at the end Happy ending, ironically undercut Henry Crawford: discussed Mary Crawford, cynical individualism 170 Sir Thomas Benram 239 Marriage an issue for Emma and Elizabeth Bennet 47-9 rigidity of marriage system Marsh, Nicholas, How to Begin Studying Engllsb Literature 198 Murray,John 225 Napoleonic Wars, the 224 Narrative, manipulation of 9,15 Novels of manners 28 Parody 8 Persuasion p. 36, Sir Walter's vanity, commentary 21-4 pp , Anne hears news ofwentwonh and Benwick, commentary p. 236, Anne on women's constancy, commentary 83-5 pp , Mrs Smith on Mr Elliot, commentary pp. 55-7, Anne breaks off her engagement, commentary p. 50, Mrs Clay on preserving one's looks, commentary p. 132, Anne watches Wentwonh's distress, irony analysed p. 238, showing Austen's mature range alternative draft of ending exists 226 Captain Wentwonh, discussed historical changes Lady Russell, closed thought system Lady Russell, possibly self-portrait of JA Mr Elliot, discussed open manners preferred Sir Walter Elliot, as caricature 238 time and redemption Pride and Prejudice pp, 102-3, Charlo tte and Mr Collins become engaged, commentary 3-10 pp , Elizabeth reads Darcy's letter, commentary Ch. 18, the ball at Netherfield, analysis pp , Elizabeth and Lady Catherine de Bourgh, commentary pp. 35-6, discussion of female accomplishments, commentary p.129, Elizabeth looks forward to touring the Lakes, commentary pp , discussion of romantic and rational love, irony analysed p. 216, Elizabeth's introspection compared to Field ing 's characterisation Change, discussed Darcy, desiring an intellectually equal relationship 136 Darcy's manners 180 Darcy 's rude remark, discussed First Impressions 224 Mr Collins Wlc1tham, discussed Radcliffe, Mrs Ann, Mysteries ofudolpbo 233, 272 Rasmussen, Barbara, 'Discovering a New Way of Reading: Shoshana Felman, Psychoanalysis and Mansfield Park' , 269 Richardson, Samuel 232 Clarissa 232 Pamela 232, 243 SCOIl, Sir Walter 245, 272 Sentence structure 13-15, 18-19, 23-4, 26 Shelley, Mary 272 Slave trade, the 120 Smith, Leroy W, Jane Austen and tbe Drama ofwoman ,269 Society ambiguity of authority harmony in limits of 94-6 sincerity and manners in 125 Southampton 221,223 Steventon 220, 221, 222, 223 Structure between units of the plot 85-9 in language 83-5 in themes of a dialogue of a social event Twain, Mark 245 Villains , Walpole, H, The Castle ofotranto 233 West Indies, the Wright, Andrew H, Jane Austen's Novels: a Study in Structure , 269

So You Think You Know Jane Austen?

OXFORD WORLD S CLASSICS JOHN SUTHERLAND AND DEIRDRE LE FAYE So You Think You Know Jane Austen? A Literary Quizbook 1 INTRODUCTION FOR most of the last century, Oxford University Press was the self-appointed