Jane Austen

1
Jane Austen

• An everyday lifes narrator, a great observer of
  the country world

2
Autobiographical features

• Jane Austen was born on 16th December 1775 in
  Steventon, the seventh child of Reverend George
  Austen and his wife Cassandra.
• At the age of eight Jane was sent to school with
  her sister Cassandra. Her education mainly
  consisted of French, music and dancing.
• After coming back home the two of them got used
  to spending their time in reading books , as
  their father owned a well furnished library.

3

• Thanks to those readings Jane started writing her
  own novels, observing with great attention the
  environment which surrounded her family, i.e. the
  landed gentry.
• During her lifetime Jane remained for 26 years in
  Steventon, then she settled in Bath in 1801.
  After her fathers death she moved to Southampton
  and she eventually stayed in Chawton, a little
  village where she spent her happiest years.

4
Main works

• Jane Austens novels were written in Steventon
  and Chawton, where she could live in a more
  genuine environment than in the city.
• Her novels, mostly based on the narration of love
  stories, are rich in details and endeavoured with
  a subtle sense of humour.
• Although she didnt focus her attention on the
  historical happenings of the time, her novels
  pointed out a deep analysis of the psychology of
  every character together with objectivity.

5

• Sense and Sensibility ( publ. in 1811)
• Pride and Prejudice ( publ. in 1813)
• Mansfield Park ( publ. in 1814)
• Emma ( publ. in 1815)
• Northanger Abbey ( publ. in 1818)
• Persuasion ( publ. in 1818)

6
Pride and Prejudice
7
Plot

• The Bennets live with their five daughters in the
  countryside, in southern England.
• Their life is almost uneventful until the arrival
  of a rich gentleman, Mr Bingley, who is going to
  spend the summer in a rented house with his
  friend, the proud Mr Darcy .
• From this point the whole story is focused on
  gossip, scandals and love between the Bennets
  sisters and the rich gentlemen.

8

• After many troubles and misunderstandings the
  main couple, i. e. Elizabeth and Mr Darcy,
  eventually get married, overcoming their
  prejudices.

9
Main characters
10

• Elizabeth Bennet
• Mr Darcy
• Mr and Mrs Bennet
• Charles Bingley
• George Wickham
• Lady Catherine de Bourgh
• Mr Collins

11
Fortune

• Pride and Prejudice didnt gain immediate
  achievements even though Lord Byron defined it
  the fashionable novel. The popularity increased
  in time the novel became one of the most
  appreciated books of manners.
• According to a BBC poll conducted in 2003,
  Pride and Prejudice turned out to be the second
  UKs best-loved book.

12
Quotes

• Life seems but a quick succession of busy
  nothings.
• A lady's imagination is very rapid it jumps
  from admiration to love, from love to matrimony
  in a moment.
• How quick come the reasons for approving what we
  like!
• In nine cases out of ten, a woman had better
  show more affection than she feels.
• by Marco L.