English and American Literature & Selected Readings
: : Contents Part 2: English Renaissance Thackeray Jane Austen The
Bronts
George Eliot William Makepeace Thackeray (18111863)
Chapter 3Thackeray William Makepeace Thackeray (18111863) Important
Points Thackerays Major Works Main Idea of Vanity Fair
Comments on Vanity Fair Comments on Thackeray W. M. Thackeray
Thackerays Life Story His Life born in India Indian Company
official 5 years cartoon drawing
sent to England satirical verses edited a student paper Cambridge
1830, without a degree His Life France The Natural Era Germany into
politics Italy England
a bourgeois radical newspaper articles, satirical sketches Vanity
Fair in 1847 peak His Life success in 1. tragic marriage writing
career
2. neglected by Mother failure in his life 3. looked down upon by
his peers 4. heart troubles died of heart attack in London on
Christmas Eve in 1863 William Makepeace Thackeray
Students Presentation Speaker: Members: His Literary Works 1) The
Book of Snobs
It gives a satirical description of the different strata/'streit/
of the ruling classes of England and is regarded as a prelude to
Thackerays major literary career. His Literary Works from Bunyans
Pilgrims Progress
2) Vanity Fair from Bunyans Pilgrims Progress 3) The History of
Pendennis 4) The Newcomes His Literary Works historical
novels
5) The History of Henny Esmond 6) The Virginians A truthful
pictures of England in the beginning of the 18th century, the
corrupt life of the English aristocracy. The Virginians is the
sequel to Henry Esmond, dealing with the young mens adventures
during the American War of Independence, a critical and sarcastic
description of English fashionable Society(). An Analysis of Vanity
Fair
Basic information Main idea Major characters Themes Language
features An Analysis of Vanity Fair
Presentation Speaker: Members: Analysis of Vanity Fair
simple, sentimental, weak, but good at heart Amelia Sedley
characters a bourgeois society Rebecca Sharp cunning, immoral and
quick-witted shrewd, unscrupulous, sophisticated Analysis of Vanity
Fair
In the novel, Becky Sharp is a classic example of this
money-grubbing instinct(). Everyone wishes to gain something in
Vanity Fair and acts almost in the same manner as Becky. The Story
of Vanity Fair An Analysis of Vanity Fair
Comments on Vanity Fair The Characteristics of Vanity Fair
(1) Vanity Fair has a sub-title, A Novel Without a Hero, which
intends to portray the bourgeois and aristocratic society as a
whole. The Characteristics of Vanity Fair
(2) Vanity Fair is work of social criticism, and is noted for the
authors realistic depiction, the ironic and sarcastic tone and
constant comment and criticism. (3) In Vanity Fair, Thackeray gives
block characters( ). The Characteristics of Vanity Fair
(4) Thackeray uses symbolism in Vanity Fair. (5) Thackeray employs
an omniscient/mnisint/ () narrator to tell the story Comments on
Thackeray 1) Thackeray is one of the greatest critical realists of
the 19th century Europe. 2) Thackeray is a satirist. His satire
caustic() and his humor subtle(). Comments on Thackeray 3)
Thackeray is a moralist.
His aim is to produce a moralimpression in all his novels.
Assignment (3) 1. Remember Thackerays major works.
2. Give an analysis of Vanity Fair. 3. Comment on Thackeray and his
novels. Chapter 4 Some Women Writers I. Jane Austen Jane Austen
1817 Important Points Austens 6 Novels Its Main Idea of P.P
An Analysis of Pride and Prejudice Comments on Austen and Her Works
Jane Austens Life Hampshire educated at home read a lot
rector() educated at home read a lot restricted environment Jane
Austens Life writing at an early age quiet retired six
uneventful limited six novels never married died in 1817, 42 years
old Pride and Prejudice Reporter Members: Her 6 Novels 1.
Northanger Abbey 2. Sense and Sensibility
3. Pride and Prejudice (It went begging// for 16 years) Her 6
Novels 4. Mansfield Park 5. Emma 6. Persuasion
Characteristics of Her Works
1. Jane Austen is one of the realistic novelists. She drew vivid
and realistic pictures of everyday life of the country society in
her novels. Characteristics of Her Works
2.Jane Austens main concern is about human beings in their personal
relations, human beings with their families and neighbors. Stories
of love and marriage provide the framework for all her novels and
in them women are always taken as the major characters. Three of
Types of Marriage
(1) those who marry for money,position and property, (2) those who
marry just for passion , (3) those who marry for love based on
consideration of the persons personal merit as well as his
economical and social status. Characteristics of Her Works
3. Jane Austens work has a very narrow literary field. 4. Jane
Austen is a writer who regards novel writing as a sophisticated
art. She keeps the balance between fact and form. Other Features
Jane Austen is successful in the employment of irony and frequent
use ofwitty and delightful dialogues . The Themes The first theme
is pride and prejudice.
Another theme is love and marriage. Pride and Prejudice The main
idea of Pride and Prejudice Pride and Prejudice, First
Impression
The book mainly tells of the love story between a rich, proud young
man Darcy and the beautiful and intelligent Elizabeth Bennet. None
of the daughters of the wealthy family can inherit the estate
(property) of the family for it has been entailed () upon the
nearest male heir, William Collins. Pride and Prejudice, First
Impression
Collins intends to marry and he decides to choose Elizabeth. But
Elizabeth rejects his proposal. When another young man called Darcy
proposes to Elizabeth, she has prejudice against him because she
thinks that he has nothing but pride. After many twists and turns,
misunderstanding disappears and they are happily united. Assignment
(4) 1. Remember Austens six novels.
2. Tell the main idea of Pride and Prejudice. 3. What are Austens
ideas of marriage. 4. Comment on Austens characteristics of her
novels. The Bront Sisters The Bront sisters Charlotte Bront
(18161855)
Emily Bront (18181848) Anne Bront (18201849) They were all talented
writers and all of them died young. The Bront Sisters
Charlotte Bront (18161855) Emily Bront (18181848) Anne Bront
(18201849) Their Life Story a poor clergyman family 1820, move to
of Celtic blood
Haworth of Yorkshire untouched moorland wildness with its strong
winds unhappy childhood mothers death; stern and dominant father;
strict aunt; lack of suitable society Life Story Charlotte, took
care of sisters and lovers of literature
brother, Branwell lovers of literature read a lot The three sisters
charity school poems and stories together very poor condition Life
Story French & German to open up a school Charllote,
Emily
Brussels in 1842 Charlotte, a teacher unrequited love() failed a
volume novels succeeded 1848, Emily died a victim of
consumption()
misfortunes 1848, Emily died a victim of consumption() 1848,
Branwell died of the illness; 1849, Anne died of the same illness;
Father lost his eyesight Charlotte decided not to be married to
look after Father; Later married to Fathers curate /kjureit/()
Charlotte died less than a year after her marriage. English
Literature The Bront Sisters
Reporter: Members Representative works Charlotte:
1) The Professor, (based on her Brussels experience; not published
until her death) 2) Jane Eyre,(masterpiece) 3) Shirley, (after
Annes death), 4) Villette, (based on her sad days in Brussels)
Representative works Emily: Wuthering Heights, Anne:
Agnes Grey, Charlotte Bront Charlotte Bront (18181848) Jane Eyre
Students Presentation Speaker: Members: Charlottes Writing
Features
Both Charlotte and Emily write about their familiar things around
them. A: Charlottes Writing Features: 1) Charlottes novels are all
about lonely and neglected young women with a fierce longing for
life and love. Charlottes Writing Features
2) Her novels are more or less based on her own experience and
feelings and the life as she sees around. 3) Although her objective
descriptions are detailed and exact, she is a subjective writer.
Charlottes Writing Features
4) Her works are marked with an intensity of a volcanic()
imagination and fiery passions and feelings, such as extreme fear,
despair, and love, which an only be understood as her own. Janes
Character Jane has rebellious character, fighting for
freedom,
equal right with man, and true love Emily Bront Emily Bront
(18181848) An Analysis of Wuthering Heights
Students Presentation Speaker: Members: Emilys Writing
Features
1) She expresses the feelings of the hero in terms of spiritual
suppress, tension and conflicts and the result to which such a
feeling would lead. 2) Her novel is unique in its structure and its
vision. Emilys Writing Features
3) In her novel, there is the combination of extremely simple,
austere() and an adorned() language with the most mighty and
intensified effects(). Main Idea of Some Novels
1) Jane Eyre 2) Wuthering Heights Assignments Remember the
representative
works of the three Bront Sisters. 2. What are the writing features
of Charlotte and Emily? 3. What are the main idea of Jane Eyre and
Wuthering Height. George Eliot George Eliot 18191880 Mary Ann Evans
G. Eliots Major Works 1.Translation:
The Essence of Christianity 2. Editor of The Westminster Review G.
Eliots Major Works 3. Scenes of Clerical Life 1857
Three stories: The Sad Fortunes of the Reverend Amos Barton 2) Mr
Gilfils Lover Story 3) Janets Repentance 3. Scenes of Clerical Life
1857 G. Eliots Major Works Remarkable Novels: 4. Adam Bede
5.The Mill on the Floss 6. Silas Marner description of rural life;
moral problems; psychological studies of characters 1859; 1860;
1861. manuscripts G. Eliots Major Works 7. Romola 1863
a historical novel of the Renaissance in Italy problems of religion
and morality studied more than 500 books and documents in relation
to art, antiquity() and old MSS manuscripts G. Eliots Major Works
8. Felix Holt the Radical 1866
9. Middlemarch (18711872) 10. Daniel Deronda Comments childmurder
Moral conflicts social inequality
1. The plot of Adam Bede is founded on a story of a confession of
_________________. 2. Adam Bede is a novel of ___________________.
3. The theme of ____________________ is blended with the Eliots
moralization. childmurder Moral conflicts social inequality
Comments moralization bourgeois reality
4. In The Mill on the floss, Maggies character is tinged with the
authors___________________. 5. The tragic doom of Maggie virtually
shows the irreconcilability of a gifted and noble-minded
personality with______________________. moralization bourgeois
reality Comments Tom and Maggie Silas Marner humanity
6. ___________________are the major characters in The Mill on the
Floss. 7. _______________marks a retrogression, believing in the
sentimental religion of humanity() and cherished the illusion ()
that __________ and love could do away with the evils of
capitalism. Tom and Maggie Silas Marner humanity George Eliot
Students Presentation George Eliots Silas Marner Silas Marners
Character
So had his way of life:he invited no comer to step across his
door-sill, and he never strolled into the village to drink a pint
at the Rainbow, or to gossip at the wheelwrights: he sought no man
or woman, save for the purposes of his calling George Eliot, Silas
Marner, p.6 Assignments What are George Eliots major works?
Write an essay on one of Eliots works within 2000 words.
Assignments 3. 4.
5. Part 7 Mr and Mrs Brownings, Tennyson Goodbye.