“Emma” by Jane Austen Claire McAuliffe PGCE English

Emma - Prior Knowledge English society – What do pupils know about society at the beginning of the 19th century? Marriage – What are their ideas about marriage in their society?

The Author: Jane Austen Born 16th Dec 1775, 7th child She was encouraged by her father, with whom she had an intimate relationship, in her love of reading & writing Left in financial difficulty when her father died in 1805 Jane never married although there is speculation about her love life and proposals of marriage

Themes in Emma Gender – positions of men & women Society/Community – behaviour; polite society; etiquettes Historical context - 19th Century Britain Marriage – money; expectations Class – hierarchy

Universal Elements of Emma Consider modern parallels of the novel: Love story Match making/dating agency/internet dating Society - socialising Marriage Relationships

Emma - Play Script Task: 2 volunteers to read out the play script adaptation of part of chapter 47 where Harriet reveals she is in love with Knightley and Emma realises that she is too!

Emma: Harriet! Let us understand each other now, without the possibility of farther mistake. Are you speaking of - Mr. Knightley? Harriet: To be sure I am. I never could have an idea of anybody else - and so I thought you knew. When we talked about him, it was as clear as possible. Emma: Not quite, for all that you then said, appeared to me to relate to a different person. I could almost assert that you had named Mr. Frank Churchill. I am sure the service Mr. Frank Churchill had rendered you, in protecting you from the gipsies, was spoken of. Harriet: Oh! Miss Woodhouse, how you do forget! Emma: My dear Harriet, I perfectly remember the substance of what I said on the occasion. I told you that I did not wonder at your attachment; that considering the service he had rendered you, it was extremely natural: - and you agreed to it, expressing yourself very warmly as to your sense of that service, and mentioning even what your sensations had been in seeing him come forward to your rescue. - The impression of it is strong on my memory.

Harriet: Oh, dear, now I recollect what you mean; but I was thinking of something very different at the time. It was not the gipsies - it was not Mr. Frank Churchill that I meant. No! I was thinking of a much more precious circumstance - of Mr. Knightley's coming and asking me to dance, when Mr. Elton would not stand up with me; and when there was no other partner in the room. That was the kind action; that was the noble benevolence and generosity; that was the service which made me begin to feel how superior he was to every other being upon earth. Emma: Good God! This has been a most unfortunate - most deplorable mistake! - What is to be done? Harriet: You would not have encouraged me, then, if you had understood me. At least, however, I cannot be worse off than I should have been, if the other had been the person; and now - it is possible – Emma pauses for a moment, unable to speak Emma: Have you any idea of Mr. Knightley's returning your affection? Harriet: Yes, I must say that I have. Harriet walks away for a moment

Emma: (Aside) While do I feel like this? Why is it so much worse that Harriet should be in love with Mr. Knightley, than with Frank Churchill? Oh no, it can’t be, no surely not, but yes, Harriet cannot marry Mr. Knightley, no one must marry him apart from myself! How improperly I have been acting by Harriet! How inconsiderate, how indelicate, how irrational, how unfeeling my conduct! What blindness, what madness, it is me who has led this poor girl on! Harriet returns to talk to Emma Emma: Might he not? - Is not it possible, that when enquiring, as you thought, into the state of your affections, he might be alluding to Mr. Martin - he might have Mr. Martin's interest in view? Harriet: Mr. Martin! No indeed! - There was not a hint of Mr. Martin. I hope I know better now, than to care for Mr. Martin, or to be suspected of it. I never should have presumed to think of it at first, but for you. You told me to observe him carefully, and let his behaviour be the rule of mine - and so I have. But now I seem to feel that I may deserve him; and that if he does choose me, it will not be any thing so very wonderful.

Emma - Play Script Task: In pairs, using the art of improvisation, create a short modern dialogue of this scene. Consider the type of conversation teenagers may have about this kind of situation

Emma – Character Analysis Consider Emma as matchmaker Set up debate – each pupil to become one of the characters in Emma (need to research their character & use quotes & reference) Use the characters viewpoints to discuss Emma

“I am going to take a heroine whom nobody but myself will much like.” What are Emma’s strengths & weaknesses as a woman in the 19th Century & as a modern day 21st Century woman? Patronising Devoted to her father Opinionated Strong-willed Manipulative Conceited Stubborn Witty A snob Intelligent Patient Arrogant Elegant Desires to help others

Questions to consider Do we like Emma? Why? How does Emma compare to other Jane Austen heroines? How much of Jane Austen features in the narrative of Emma? Why does Emma insist on not marrying? Why is Emma said to be Jane Austen’s finest novel?

Teaching Structure Context of Emma & author (A02i & A04) Marriage in Emma & the 19 th Century (A02i & A05) Universal elements of Emma (A01 & A05) Play script: 21 st Century Emma (A02i & A04) Language & irony (A03 & A03i) Character analysis of Emma through the voice of other characters (A04 & A02i) Presentation of chapters (A01, A03, A04, A05)