Questions tagged [jane-austen]
Questions about the works of the English novelist Jane Austen (1775 – 1817) and her life as a writer.
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What does "as a person in Bath who drinks the water" mean?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, slightly after Anne first arrives at Camden Place (where her father and sister have moved to), Lady Russell comes to pay a visit as well, where she has to deal with people ...
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Why does Sir Walter comment that Colonel Wallis is "not an ill-looking man" in "Persuasion"?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, when explaining the backstory of the estranged cousin Mr. Elliot , who is seeking a reconcilliation, we are given this description of a friend of Mr. Elliot:
The ...
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What are "the feelings of an Emma towards her Henry"?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, when Louisa has her accident, and her friends and family are figuring out who's going to stay with her, we have this quote from Anne:
She endeavoured to be composed, and ...
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How does the Crofts' style of driving reflect on their general guidance of affairs?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, when Anne Elliot is getting a ride with Mrs. and Admiral Croft, she makes this observation about the Crofts' way of driving, and that is may represent a more general ...
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What does "in her November of life" mean in "Persuasion"?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, Anne Elliot happens to overhear a conversation between Captain Wentworth and Louisa Musgrove, where they are discussing "firmness of mind". Captain Wentworth ...
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What does "counteracting the sweets of poetical despondence" mean in "Persuasion"?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, when Anne and company are walking over to Winthrop, we are given this description along the way:
Winthrop, however, or its environs—for young men are sometimes to be met ...
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Why is the Hayters' way of living described as "...inferior, retired, and unpolished" in "Persuasion"?
When discussing the background of Mrs. Hayter and Mrs. Musgrove in Jane Austen's Persuasion, and the difference in the lifestyle of the two sisters, the novel says:
Mrs. Musgrove and Mrs. Hayter were ...
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Why is Mr. Bennet "prodigiously proud" of Wickham?
Over the course of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, Mr. Bennet makes several references to how much he likes Wickham:
'He is as fine a fellow,' said Mr Bennet, as soon as they were out of the house,...
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Why is Sir Walter's statement said "sarcastically" in Austen's "Persuasion"?
In Jane Austen's Persuasion, when discussing possible tenants for Kellynch Hall, the possibility of leasing the house to a captain in the navy is brought up. Sir Walter then makes this comment:
Sir ...
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Does Mary Bennet undergo any sort of character development in "Pride and Prejudice"?
In Pride and Prejudice, of the five Bennet sisters, the one we see the least of is Mary. (Her name appears fewer than forty times in the whole book.) Mary has a reputation for sitting with her books, ...
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What does "rob it of a few petrified spars" mean in "Pride and Prejudice"?
In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, when the idea of visiting Derbyshire is first brought up to Elizabeth, she immediately thinks of Pemberley and Mr. Darcy, who lives there, and then makes a ...
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Were Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bennet formally equal in rank?
Were any of the main characters in Pride and Prejudice (Mr. Darcy, Mr. Bingley, Lady Catherine de Bourgh) more than gentry? Did any of them belong to the peerage?
Was there any formal difference in ...
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What does "much too full of lines under the words to be made public" mean?
In Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, after the regiment leaves Meryton, Lydia heads off to Brighton, where she promises to keep in touch with her family:
When Lydia went away, she promised to write ...
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Where can I take a deeper dive into Jane Austen's vocabulary?
I'm translating some Jane Austen into Latin, and I'm wondering whether there's a resource that would allow me to do a deeper dive into the nuances of the vocabulary she uses, especially the words that ...
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Meaning of "her parish and her poultry" in "Pride and Prejudice"
From volume 2, chapter 5 of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen:
Elizabeth could safely say that it was a great happiness where that was the case, and with equal sincerity could add, that she firmly ...
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