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Leaky Lounge > HP-Related Discussion: Diagon Alley > Leaky Sites: Cauldron's Corner > Special Event Archives > Jo's Book Nook: Emma

 
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Austen's Writing Tricks
Wandguardnoodle
post Jul 19 2009, 02:40 PM
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Austen's Writing Tricks


Emma was actually the first Jane Austen novel that I read in English. And while the translation of Pride and Prejudice I'd read before didn't charm me that much, but I instantly fell in love with Emma - just with the way it's so gracefully and elegantly written. Then I found it hard to put the book down, though, when I come to think of it, really not much happens in it and all the characters in general seem to be happy and content and to be living peacefully in this English country-side. What devices, tricks or what not does Austen use to drive this (rather long) book? Do you think it's well-done? Why? Or did this novel fail to capture you? Why so? What are your favourite quotes? Why those particular ones?

Writers often use nature and environment to reflect the characters' moods or as metaphors or whatever biggrin.gif For what purposes do you think Austen uses nature, Highbury, Hartfield and other things surrounding the characters? The story takes place within roughly a year - how do you think the change of seasons and weather goes along with the story? How it parallels with what's happening?

Emma is Austen's fourth novel. How do you think the writing and the messages in it compare to the other novels?

Any other thoughts or observations about the writing, metaphors and other 'writing tricks' in Emma? wink.gif


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paint it Black
post Jul 21 2009, 10:34 PM
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What devices, tricks or what not does Austen use to drive this (rather long) book? Do you think it's well-done? Why? Or did this novel fail to capture you? Why so?

Well, this is my first reading of any Austen novel so I may be way off base here, but I'll give it a shot. smile.gif

I wasn't long into reading this book before I noticed how lively the dialogue was. It reads almost like a play, I thought. And after you posed this question Wandguardnoodle, I took a closer look. Sure enough, the book is arranged into volumes and chapters, almost like acts and scenes in a play. Each chapter seems to first introduce the scene -- the setting and characters and situation are laid out -- and then the dialogue and the 'action' of the story begins. (I'm sure someone here can tell me if other Austen novels are like this.) I found the dialogue well-written, and effective at revealing the nature of each of the characters. So my guess is that the placement of the exposition at the beginning of each chapter, followed by the dialogue (the part that I enjoyed reading the most), was a device that Austen used to lure the reader into continuing through the book. As I started each new chapter, I looked forward to reaching the heart of the story that I knew lay ahead.

I have to say that it did take me quite a long time to get into this book; I was perhaps a third of the way through before I really looked forward to picking it up again to read more. Maybe this was at the point where it looked like Frank Churchill was finally going to show up and I wanted to see what all the hype was about. This was probably another device to keep me reading. read.gif

QUOTE(Wandguardnoodle @ Jul 19 2009, 03:40 PM) *
....Then I found it hard to put the book down, though, when I come to think of it, really not much happens in it and all the characters in general seem to be happy and content and to be living peacefully in this English country-side....

This was just what I was noticing; not much happens. When I did get to the point that I was interested enough in the characters and sure I wanted to continue the story, I had to ask myself, Ok, what's the point? Is there any deep mystery in here? Or is it going to turn into some sort of comedy of errors? Where's the conflict? Eventually I got that the book is called Emma after all, and it is mostly a journey of discovery for this rather bright woman in a time where bright women had few opportunities for fulfillment.

I like your questions about nature/environment and seasons/weather; I'll have to take another look and think on them some more.... ponder.gif


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- Wandguardnoodle   Austen's Writing Tricks   Jul 19 2009, 02:40 PM

 

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