The Dating Game!

Continue to annotate as you read and to be marking descriptions Austen uses to further develop her characters.  Here are some page numbers to help you get re-aquainted with the main characters.  By the time you finish tonight's reading, you will have more to add!

Colonel Brandon pg. 29 (narrator): "silen"t, "grave," "appearance not unpleasing," "countenance was sensible," "his address gentleman like," pg. 42 (according to Marianne): "his manners, though serious, were mild," "his reserve appeared rather the result of some oppression of spirits tan of an natural gloominess of temper."

Edward Ferrars pg. 11(narrator)  "He was not handsome, and his manners required intimacy to make them pleasing," "natural shyness,"  "open affectionate heart,"  "his understanding was good," "all his wishes centered in domestic comfort and the quiet of private life." pg. 13 (according to Marianne) "he has no real taste."  Top of pg. 74-Marianne's view & bottome of pg. 75-Elinor's view. pg. 80 Edward is offended!

Willoughby pg. 36 & 37 "manly beauty," "gracefulness," according to Marianne, "the hero of a favourite story." according to Sir John, "a decent shot," "a  bold rider."

Elinor and Marianne pg. 3, 39 (outward appearance of both), 77-79 (their thoughts on money and happiness).

Austen's use of Satire

"But Austen's strongest suit is her thorough knowledge and happy delineation of human nature. We can still, despite the vast differences between her society and our own, recognize ourselves in the ways her characters think and behave. ... And while the great events and philosophical movements of history play themselves out around us, it is our own nature and actions, and the nature and actions of the people around us, that most influence our lives." - Penguine.com
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/sense_and_sensibility.html


Satire:  
exposes, denounces, criticizes, holds up to scorn  
human vices, follies, foibles, weaknesses, failings and faults
through the methods of
wit, humor, irony, exaggeration, ridicule, and subtlety


"laugh first and then think"

Guiding Questions

Chapter 5

• In what subtle way does Mrs. Dashwood "hold her ground" at the beginning of this chapter?  pg. 20
• Through the words of the narrator, Austen insinuates that Mrs. Dashwood is fickle and only performs with expediency when she is enjoying what she is doing.  Can you find this on pg. 21?
• Next to this paragraph DRAMA QUEEN would be an appropriate annotation.

Chapter 6

• Can you picture their new home?  Find 4 "power descriptions," make sure you know what they mean and highlight them.  i.e. "furtive soil"  which means?
• Tell me about the "real" Sir John Middleton.  Where does the narrator let us in to his true personality beyond his obvious graciousness?  You may need to look at Chapter 7 to add to yoru answer.  
• Lady Middleton avoids "exposure" by "hiding behind" what?  (it's a great tactic that I often use too when I don't want to get caught talking to an old friend at the grocery store).  pg. 26

Chapter 7

• Mrs. Jennings is a new "stereotype" introduced to us by Austen.  Can you think of a modern-day equivalent?  how so?
• bottom of 29:  What is Marianne's estimation of Colonel Brandon?  What is her FIRST opinion of him?  hint:  it's NOT that he's too old. That comes later in the chapter.

Chapter 8

• Marianne's questions at the very end of the chapter give us a closer look into both her personality as her older sister's.  What can you extract from these two questions?  Is it possibly foreshadowing anything?  maybe?

Chapter 9

• re-read the paragraph on pg. 35 starting "A gentleman carrying a gun" to the bottom of pg. 36 and tell me if you think Austen is satirizing anything.  re-look at Satire's definition in the previous post or on your handout to help answer this.  There are many answers.  If you get stuck, here are 2 possibilities:  Could she be satirizing fairytales? Heros and heroines?  The importance women place on men's looks vs. character?  Women's giddyness?
• When asked what sort of character Willoughby is, Sir John replies:"As good a kind of fellow as ever live, I assure you."  What evidence does he have to prove this claim?  hmmmm.... telling?
• What does "setting your cap at him" imply?  and why does Marrianne take such offense to this terminology?

Chapter 10

• pg. 40 Does Marianne really "see what [Elinor] means?"  Can you support your answer?
• 
  
• pg. 42 Willoughby claims that Colonel Brandon is someone "whom everybody speaks well of, and nobody cares about."  He continues on pg. 43 that he considers him a "very respectable man, who has everybody's good word and nobody's notice; who has more money than he can spend, more time than he knows how to employ, and two new coats every year."  What are his insults exactly?  are they solid?  exact?  founded?  reliable?  certain?  

• pg. 43 Marrianne adds, "that he has neither genius, taste, nor spirit."  How does she know this?  how long has she known Colonel Brandon?  are her impressions founded?  from experience?  solid?  reliable?
• Colonel Brandon brings out interesting qualities in both W and M.  Are W and M any different than the gossipers on Eatonville Store porch?

Chapter 11

• What does the narrator mean when she says, "Colonel Brandon, unfortunately for himself, had no such encouragement to think only of Marianne, and in conversing with Elinor he found the greatest consolation for the total indifference of her sister."  Why is it "unfortunate for himself?"  
• When we listen to Colonel Brandon, we see reason, as we do when we listen to Elinor.  What more do we learn of Colonel Brandon?  What kind of relationship has he created with Elinor?  What does he see in Marianne?  

Chapter 12

• what are some signs of intimacy that we see between Willoughby and Marianne?  Now adays it would be exchanging cell numbers, driving to parties together, and lending out our favorite sweatshirt.  :)  
• What is Elinor's mood by the end of Chapter 52?  why?  give 2 sentences to prove it.

Important Terms

Comedy of Manners -
1-witty, cerebral form of dramatic comedy that depicts and often satirizes the manners and affectations of a contemporary society.
2-comedy representing and mocking the complex code of social behaviour current in fashionable circles, where appearance counts more than true moral character.

Satire
1-a literay work holding up human vices and follies to ridicule or scorn.
2-trenchant wit, irony, or sarcasm used to expose and discredit vice or folly

Jane Austen - one of 8 children (#7), father a rector, moved to Bath after he lost his job, started writing when young on pieces of scrap paper, paid particular attention to people's mannerisms and choices, never married.
Austen has a sense of humor! She's witty and sarcastic.  When reading, remember she is poking fun of people and their behaviour.

Intro to Sense and Sensibility