Emma by Jane Austen

A TEACHER’S GUIDE TO THE SIGNET CLASSICS EDITION OF EMMA BY JANE AUSTEN BY LAURA REIS MAYER TEACHER’S GUIDE TEACHER’S 2 A Teacher’s Guide to Emma by Jane Austen TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................3 LIST OF CHARACTERS .............................................................................................................3 SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEL .....................................................................................................4 PREREADING ACTIVITIES .......................................................................................................6 I. BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE IN HISTORY, CULTURE, AND LITERATURE ..........................................................6 II. BUILDING BACKGROUND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH INITIAL EXPLORATION OF THEMES ...............................................8 DURING READING ACTIVITIES..........................................................................................11 I. ANALYZING THROUGH GROUP RESPONSE ................................................11 II. ANALYZING THROUGH INDIVIDUAL RESPONSE ....................................14 AFTER READING ACTIVITIES .............................................................................................17 I. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION AND WRITING ....................................................17 II. GROUP AND INDIVIDUAL PROJECTS ...........................................................18 III. EXTENDED READING .........................................................................................21 ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THIS GUIDE ...........................................................................22 ABOUT THE EDITORS OF THIS GUIDE ...........................................................................22 Copyright © 2012 by Penguin Group (USA) For additional teacher’s manuals, catalogs, or descriptive brochures, please email [email protected] or write to: PENGUIN GROUP (USA) INC. In Canada, write to: Academic Marketing Department PENGUIN BOOKS CANADA LTD. 375 Hudson Street Academic Sales New York, NY 10014-3657 90 Eglinton Ave. East, Ste. 700 http://www.penguin.com/academic Toronto, Ontario Canada M4P 2Y3 Printed in the United States of America DR Austen Emma TG 100912a.indd 2 10/24/12 4:55 PM A Teacher’s Guide to Emma by Jane Austen 3 INTRODUCTION In 2004, People Magazine declared that we instead on the love lives of her friends and are living in a “Jane Austen Moment.” Almost neighbors. ough she is somewhat of a a decade later, that moment is still very much blind Cupid with her misplaced matchmak- alive. Visit any of her many fan pages and ing, Emma’s wit and wisdom reveal her to be you’ll see (according to t-shirts, bumper a deeply introspective social observer. stickers, and buttons) that “Jane Austen rough her, the reader is invited into the Rocks!” Evidently, the world agrees. Austen everyday yet extraordinary lives of the inhab- wrote only six novels before her death at age itants of Highbury, England. 42, yet she is more popular today than ever In the classroom, Emma will engage students before. Jane Austen fan clubs, weekends, in the timeless themes of class, gender, and sequels, films, feeds, blogs, and chat rooms self-awareness while introducing them to the are all testaments to the sustained popularity manners and morals of Regency England. of this beloved author’s work. While many is edition, with its hot-pink cover and an credit Austen for being the mother of “chic afterward written by contemporary romance lit,” her followers, known as “Janeites,” would author Sabrina Jeffries, will resonate with argue that she is much, much more. today’s students, proving that indeed, every- Austen’s Emma is a fan favorite. With her thing old is new again. focus on society, money, and relationships, e instructional strategies in this guide can Emma Woodhouse would fit right in with be used in any combination as teachers design the popular “Gossip Girl” book and televi- their individual goals and lessons. A focus on sion series. It would be a mistake, however, to technology and literacy skills challenges stu- brand Emma a simple romance. Emma is dents to actively engage in reading. Activities acutely aware of the subservient role of mar- are differentiated and are easily adaptable to the ried women in her society. Vowing to main- leveled lessons today’s educators are looking for. tain her independence, Emma concentrates LIST OF CHARACTERS Main Characters Highbury Residents Emma Woodhouse—intelligent, youngest Miss Bates—impoverished spinster friend of daughter of wealthy family the Woodhouses Mr. Woodhouse—Emma’s widowed father, Mrs. Bates—widow of the former vicar; owner of Hartfield lives with her daughter George Knightley—friend of the Mrs. Goddard—school mistress Woodhouses, owner of Donwell Abbey Robert Martin—farmer and friend of Ann Taylor Weston—recently married friend, George Knightley previous nanny to the Woodhouse family Elizabeth Martin—Robert’s sister; friend Captain Weston—neighbor of the of Harriet Woodhouses, owner of Randalls Estate Phillip Elton—Highbury Vicar Harriet Smith—young border at Mrs. Augusta Hawkins Elton—Mr. Elton’s Goddard’s; Emma’s protégée’ wealthy, social-climbing wife Jane Fairfax—orphaned niece/ Mr. and Mrs. Perry—Highbury Apothecary granddaughter of Miss and Mrs. Bates and wife Frank Churchill—Cpt. Weston’s son, raised Mr. and Mrs. Cole—sociable, wealthy by the Churchills merchants DR Austen Emma TG 100912a.indd 3 10/24/12 4:55 PM 4 A Teacher’s Guide to Emma by Jane Austen Some Minor Characters Isabella Woodhouse Knightley— Emma’s older sister; married to John, John Knightley—George’s younger brother; mother of five children married to Emma’s sister; owns Brunswick Square Mr. and Mrs. Churchill—Frank’s aunt and uncle from Yorkshire; owners of Enscombe SYNOPSIS OF THE NOVEL Volume I manipulates Miss Smith into refusing. Mr. Knightley is furious with Emma’s interference, e novel opens in the small village of High- believing she is harming Harriet by implant- bury, England after the happy occasion of the ing in her a misplaced sense of superiority. Westons’ marriage. Twenty-one year old Emma While walking with Miss Smith, Emma pro- Woodhouse is consoling her father because the fesses her desire to remain unmarried. She is bride is their friend and previous nanny, Anne unconcerned about becoming an old maid Taylor. Neighbor George Knightley stops by like impoverished family friend Miss Bates to see how Mr. Woodhouse and Emma are because Emma is fortunate to be wealthy. e surviving. Emma gaily reminds the two men Woodhouses prepare Hartfield for a visit from that she had predicted the match between older sister Isabella and her family, who live in Anne and Mr. Weston. Frank Churchill, Mr. London for the holidays. On Christmas Eve, Weston’s son who has been raised by his aunt the Woodhouses and the Knightleys visit the and uncle, was unable to attend the wedding, Westons’ home, Randalls. John Knightley, her but he has written the new Mrs. Weston a brother-in-law, warns Emma that Mr. Elton is letter promising to visit soon. Highbury resi- interested in her. Emma disagrees, but later dents are anxious to meet him. that evening, Phillip Elton seizes the opportu- Mr. Woodhouse, a hypochondriac who prefers nity to profess his love for her while scoffing at to be at home, enjoys the company of friends the idea of a match with Harriet. Insulted by and neighbors. One evening a card game is Emma’s refusal, Mr. Elton leaves town for a held at Hartfield, the Woodhouse home. visit to Bath. Realizing the harm she has done Among those in attendance are school mistress to Harriet, Emma changes her assessment of Mrs. Goddard and her boarder, Harriet Smith, Mr. Elton, realizing he is pursuing money a pretty young lady with “questionable” par- rather than love. entage. Emma immediately sees Harriet as a project. When Harriet reveals her interest in Volume II Mr. Robert Martin, a successful young farmer, Emma dissuades her, commenting on Mr. When Emma and Harriet visit their poor Martin’s low “station.” Emma persuades Har- neighbors, Miss and Mrs. Bates, Miss Bates riet to consider the eligible Mr. Elton, instead. shares a letter from her niece, Jane Fairfax. Mr. Knightley disapproves of Miss Wood- Like Frank, Jane was raised by guardians after house’s relationship with Harriet, knowing being orphaned. Jane is an accomplished, that Harriet’s adoration will only encourage educated young lady, and Emma has always Emma’s reckless behavior. While sketching a resented hearing about her. Jane has been ill, portrait of Harriet, Emma arranges for her and rather than travel to Ireland with her protégée and Mr. Elton to spend time with guardians, the Campbells, she plans to stay one another. Mr. Elton volunteers to take the for a while with the Bates. Emma, letting her portrait to London to have it framed, a gesture imagination carry her away, creates a scenario both Emma and Harriet find encouraging. in which Jane has feelings for the Campbell’s Soon after, Harriet confides that Mr. Martin new son-in-law Mr. Dixon and hence has has written a letter proposing marriage. Emma chosen to remain in England. Emma feels DR Austen Emma TG 100912a.indd 4 10/24/12 4:55 PM A Teacher’s Guide to Emma by Jane Austen 5 some sympathy for Miss Fairfax, who due to Emma is struck by his gracious behavior. e lack of fortune is destined to become a gov- next morning, Frank arrives at Hartfield car- erness, but

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