(Recorded Course) The Genius of Jane Austen, Part One with Eleanor Bourg Nicholson

**Instructor Access (Optional grading support) is available for this course. Please note: this is ONLY recommended if you wish to write the optional paper. All quizzes are internally graded in this course.

Fall in love with Jane Austen’s novels and discover the beautifully-written characters who are rewarded for being moral and having a strong character. See how living virtuously brings about a true fairy-tale ending. For all high school students

 

 

How to get the most out of  The Literature and Mastery of Jane Austen, Part One with Eleanor Bourg Nicholson:

  • READ! Do the assigned reading (The Juvenilia, included below) before viewing the first class and read all assigned texts/chapters before viewing all subsequent classes. IF YOU DON'T READ, YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO GET THE MOST OUT OF THE CLASSES!! Reading will be the largest part of your workload for this class.
  • Take the weekly identification quiz BEFORE viewing each week's class. Refresh your memory on plot/character points you might have missed. Take the quiz a second time if you need to!
  • As you read, note down themes or questions that occur to you.
  • You do NOT need to take notes while you view classes unless it helps you focus!
  • Re-watch the recording and/or review the PowerPoint from class as needed.
  • Do the assignments, quizzes, and any extra work assigned for each week.
  • Repeat each week until the course is completed.
  • Once the course is completed to the satisfaction of your teacher and your parents, there is a Certificate of Completion at the end to be filled in for your records.

Notes: This is Part One of a 2-part course. Students are recommended to take Part Two as well. 

Total Classes: 12

Duration: 55 minutes.

Prerequisite: Willingness to read the assigned materials.

Suggested Grade Level: 9th to 12th grade

Suggested Credit: One full semester of Literature.

Instructor: Eleanor Bourg Nicholson

Instructor Email: ebourgnicholson@gmail.com

Course Description: Come and explore comprehensively the "elemental genius" of Jane Austen (to use G. K. Chesterton's phrase). Over two semesters, we will study in-depth both the major and the minor works of Jane Austen. In this first course, we will study the Juvenilia (early writings) of Austen as well as three of her novels: Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, and Pride and Prejudice. We will spend time as well as exploring the legacy of Jane Austen, her biography, and her moral and literary impact upon Western culture. Ruthlessly critical attention will be paid to any and all film adaptations of her works. In addition to cultivating artistic appreciation and a love of reading, this class facilitates the development of critical reasoning, the disciplined use of the imagination, and a strong knowledge of historical and literary context.

Course Outline:

  • Class 1: Introduction, Love & Friendship and other Juvenilia (provided in Moodle)

  • Class 2: Lady Susan & The Watsons

  • Class 3: Northanger Abbey, Chapters 1-10.

  • Class 4: Northanger Abbey, Chapters 11-21.

  • Class 5: Northanger Abbey, Chapter 22-31.

  • Class 6: Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 1-22

  • Class 7: Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 23-36

  • Class 8: Sense and Sensibility, Chapters 37-50

  • Class 9: Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 1-17

  • Class 10: Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 18-34

  • Class 11: Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 35-46

  • Class 12: Pride and Prejudice, Chapters 47-61, Review, Conclusion

Course Materials: The complete works of Jane Austen are available online for free via Project Gutenberg.

  • Any edition of Northanger Abbey is acceptable. 

The Ignatius Critical Editions of the following novels are strongly recommended (but not required):

  • Sense and Sensibility: ISBN-13: 978-1586178383

  • Pride and Prejudice: ISBN-13: 978-1586172633

Homework: Expect to spend approximately 3 hours per week on homework. This will mostly be reading, weekly identification quizzes, a handful of other small assignments, a concluding quiz/assignment, and recommended participation in Moodle-based forums. Students can also sign up for an optional literary essay with 6 weeks to complete.