This is our catalog of courses. We will occasionally adjust the course listing to reflect the addition of new courses and the retirement of others.
Fall in love with Jane Austen’s novels and discover the beautifully-written characters who are rewarded for being moral and having a strong character. See how living virtuously brings about a true fairy-tale ending. For all high school students.
Total classes: 12
Prerequisite: Willingness to read the assigned materials. Attendance in Jane Austen, Part One
Suggested grade level: 9th to 12th
Suggested credit: One full semester of Literature
Description
Come and explore comprehensively the “elemental genius” of Jane Austen (to use G. K. Chesterton’s phrase). Over two semesters, we will study in-depth both the major and the minor works of Jane Austen. In this second class, we will study her last three finished novels, Emma, Northanger Abbey, and Persuasion, as well as her unfinished novel, Sanditon. We will spend time as well exploring the legacy of Jane Austen, her biography, and her moral and literary impact upon Western culture. Ruthlessly critical attention will be paid to any and all film adaptations of her works. In addition to cultivating artistic appreciation and a love of reading, this class facilitates the development of critical reasoning, the disciplined use of the imagination, and a strong knowledge of historical and literary context.
Outline
Week 1: Introduction; Mansfield Park, Vol. I (through Ch. 12). (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 1-12.)
Week 2: Mansfield Park, Vol. I (Chs. 13-18) and Vol. II (through Ch. 3). (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 13-21.)
Week 3: Mansfield Park, Vol. II (to its conclusion). (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 22-31.)
Week 4: Mansfield Park, Vol. III. (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 32-48.)
Week 5: Emma, Vol. I. (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 1-18.)
Week 6: Emma, Vol. II. (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 19-36.)
Week 7: Emma, Vol. III. (Without Volume Divisions: Chapters 37-end.)
Week 8: Persuasion, Chapters 1-8.
Week 9: Persuasion, Chapters 9-16.
Week 10: Persuasion, Chapters 17-24 & alternate ending!
Week 11: Sanditon.
Week 12: Review & Conclusion
Materials and Homework
Course Materials: The complete works of Jane Austen are available online for free via Project Gutenberg, from your public library, or inexpensively used.
In this class, we will be reading:
Mansfield Park
Emma
Persuasion
Sanditon
The Ignatius Critical Edition is strongly recommended for Mansfield: ISBN-13: 978-1586174187
Homework: Expect to spend approximately 3 hours per week on homework. This will mostly be reading, weekly identification quizzes, a handful of other small assignments, a concluding quiz/assignment, and recommended participation in Moodle-based forums. Students can also sign up for an optional literary essay with 6 weeks (plus Thanksgiving Break) to complete.
Optional Literary Essay Deadlines:
Week 1: Commit to paper topic
Week 2: Brainstorming document turned in
Week 3: First Draft turned in
Week 4: Second Draft turned in
Week 5: Third Draft turned in
Week 6: Final Draft turned in
