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.