Stylistic Elements of Jane Austen An Introduction to Pride and Prejudice

Genre: A Novel of Manners A novel of manners is dominated by social customs, manners, conventions, and habits of a definite social class The mores of a specific group, described in detail and with great accuracy, become powerful controls over characters They are often satirical and realistic

Satire Satire began with the ancient Greeks, but came into its own in ancient Rome, where the “fathers” of satire, Horace and Juvenal, had their names given to the two basic types of satire: Juvenal satire: provokes a darker kind of laughter. It is often bitter and criticizes corruption or incompetence with scorn and outrage: Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels

Satire Continued… Horatian satire: the voice is indulgent, tolerant, amused, and witty. The speaker holds up to gentle ridicule the absurdities and follies of human beings, aiming at producing in the reader not the anger of a Juvenal, but a wry smile. It is playfully amusing and seeks to correct vice or foolishness with quiet laughter and understanding. For example, Alexander Pope’s “A Rape of the Lock,” or Pride and Prejudice

Themes/Ideas to Look for… First impressions need to be re-examined The role of Pride: a proper amount is necessary The harmful nature of prejudice on relationships and personal growth and social situations Limitations due to gender or social status Unspoken social conventions play a huge role in character interaction

Themes/Ideas to Look for… Human nature doesn’t change, no matter the era, we retain our pettiness and jealousy The capacity and desire to change/grow/learn Parents’ influence on their children and overall societal perception based on parents’ influence

Important Literary Elements The role of humor in characterization Look at the different types of satire and irony (verbal, dramatic, situational) More to come…

Other characteristic stylistic elements Intrusive narrator Subtext and comic irony Understatement Wit and words as weapons Satire of social conventions/archetypes Point of view/perception Suspense Narrative economy Caricature/hyperbole Direct and indirect characterization Formal syntax and complexity