76-205 Jane Austen
9 units, Carnegie Mellon University
It is a truth universally acknowledged that Jane Austen is one of the most popular writers of the past two hundred years. In this course, students will have the opportunity to indulge in the work of this beloved author and answer What can an exploration of Austens time tell us about her novels and about ourselves as readers In this course, we will read Austens six published novels Northanger Abbey, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, and Persuasion as we consider In what ways can we describe Austens novels as romantic, and how does her work fit within the parameters of the Romantic canon With increases in literacy rates and the emergence of lending libraries, what can Austens novels tell us about readership and popular fiction in the early nineteenth century How do these vibrant texts engage with important issues of their and our time, like revolution, womens rights, race, sexuality, nationality and religion Additionally, we will encounter excerpts from Austens contemporaries and explore other cultural materials like diaries, letters, periodicals, maps, music, fashion, and the visual arts to paint a rich historical context around our reading. Finally, we will consider how cinematic adaptations of Austens works can contribute to our interpretations of her novels.
Prerequisites: none listed
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