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O Emma Discussion Questions G OO Volume I GG, Study notes of Dance

City University LondonDance

Woodhouse a good companion for Emma? 4. Explain the relationship between Emma and Miss Taylor. How was Miss Taylor a suitable friend and an unsuitable friend ...

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Emma Discussion Questions
Natalie Goldberg
Emma Discussion Questions 1
 Volume I 
Chapter 1
1.
Read the first sentence of the novel aloud. How does this opening characterize Emma
Woodhouse? What is the significance of the word “seemed”? What does the word
“seemed” foreshadow? What does the word “vex” mean? What are the “best blessings”?
2.
What are the “real evils of Emma’s situation” defined in the fourth paragraph? What are the
solutions to this?
3.
How in the opening paragraphs does Jane Austen tell us that Highbury is dull? In what
ways is Emma trapped in the beginning of the novel? Why isn’t Mr. Woodhouse a good
companion for Emma?
4.
Explain the relationship between Emma and Miss Taylor. How was Miss Taylor a suitable
friend and an unsuitable friend for Emma?
5.
In Mr. Knightley’s visit to the Woodhouses on the evening of the Taylor-Weston mar-
riage, what does the conversation reveal to us about Mr. Woodhouse? about Emma (in
relationship to her father and her “triumph”)? about Mr. Knightley (in his response about
Mrs. Weston and Emma’s claims of “success”)? What does it show about the relationship
between Emma and Mr. Knightley?
Chapter 4
6.
Emma reflects “Altogether, she was quite convinced of Harriet Smith’s being exactly the
young friend she wanted--exactly the something which her home required. . . .” What
qualities of Harriet made her the “useful” friend Emma sought? Why does Emma think
she’s “useful” to Harriet? Why isn’t Harriet Smith a good companion for Emma?
7.
What are Harriet’s initial feelings about Robert Martin? What is the effect of Emma’s ques-
tions about Robert Martin? What accusation does Emma make against Robert Martin that
she is guilty of herself?
8.
When Emma declares “I do not mean to set up my opinion against yours,” is she being
truthful? Why does Emma want to take over Harriet Smith’s life?
Chapter 5
9.
Chapter 5 gives an outside view of Emma in conversation between Mr. Knightly and Mrs.
Weston: what “correctives” are readers given for Emma’s interior view of herself and Har-
riet? Why is Mr. Knightly against this friendship? What does Mrs. Weston’s advice reveal
about Emma?
10.
What does Mr. Knightley think would do Emma “good”? Why would this “good” seem
unlikely in Highbury?
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Download O Emma Discussion Questions G OO Volume I GG and more Study notes Dance in PDF only on Docsity!

 Emma Discussion Questions 

Natalie Goldberg

 Volume I 

Chapter 1

  1. Read the first sentence of the novel aloud. How does this opening characterize Emma Woodhouse? What is the significance of the word “seemed”? What does the word “seemed” foreshadow? What does the word “vex” mean? What are the “best blessings”?
  2. What are the “real evils of Emma’s situation” defined in the fourth paragraph? What are the solutions to this?
  3. How in the opening paragraphs does Jane Austen tell us that Highbury is dull? In what ways is Emma trapped in the beginning of the novel? Why isn’t Mr. Woodhouse a good companion for Emma?
  4. Explain the relationship between Emma and Miss Taylor. How was Miss Taylor a suitable friend and an unsuitable friend for Emma?
  5. In Mr. Knightley’s visit to the Woodhouses on the evening of the Taylor-Weston mar- riage, what does the conversation reveal to us about Mr. Woodhouse? about Emma (in relationship to her father and her “triumph”)? about Mr. Knightley (in his response about Mrs. Weston and Emma’s claims of “success”)? What does it show about the relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley?

Chapter 4

  1. Emma reflects “Altogether, she was quite convinced of Harriet Smith’s being exactly the young friend she wanted--exactly the something which her home required... .” What qualities of Harriet made her the “useful” friend Emma sought? Why does Emma think she’s “useful” to Harriet? Why isn’t Harriet Smith a good companion for Emma?
  2. What are Harriet’s initial feelings about Robert Martin? What is the effect of Emma’s ques- tions about Robert Martin? What accusation does Emma make against Robert Martin that she is guilty of herself?
  3. When Emma declares “I do not mean to set up my opinion against yours,” is she being truthful? Why does Emma want to take over Harriet Smith’s life?

Chapter 5

  1. Chapter 5 gives an outside view of Emma in conversation between Mr. Knightly and Mrs. Weston: what “correctives” are readers given for Emma’s interior view of herself and Har- riet? Why is Mr. Knightly against this friendship? What does Mrs. Weston’s advice reveal about Emma?
  2. What does Mr. Knightley think would do Emma “good”? Why would this “good” seem unlikely in Highbury?

Chapter 6

  1. What fantasy does Emma build for Harriet Smith? How? What clues seem to support Emma’s matchmaking efforts?

Chapter 7

  1. Look carefully at the scene between Emma and Harriet when the two discuss Robert Martin’s letter. Contrast the opening of the scene to its close. What steps does Emma take to effect change in Harriet? What clues are we given to show Harriet wanted a different outcome? Why does Emma prevent the match? Is Emma being a real friend to Harriet?

Chapter 8

  1. Why had Mr. Knightley thought that Emma would be pleased by the connection? Contrast their two views of Robert Martin and Harriet Smith.
  2. What are Mr. Knightley’s views of Mr. Elton as an eligible bachelor? Does Emma believe his warning? How does Emma try to manipulate the outcome? What does Mr. Knightley’s assessment of Mr. Elton reveal about his own character and values?

Chapters 11 and 12

  1. Characterize the relationship between Isabella and John Knightley. How does Isabella’s temperament affect John? How does John Knightley feel about family loyalty? Contrast John Knightley to Mr. Weston.

Chapters 13–

  1. How does John Knightley judge Emma? What warning does he give her about Mr. Elton? How do we see Emma acting as a peacemaker in her family when the John Knightleys visit?
  2. What illusions unravel regarding Mr. Elton? How has Mr. Elton reacted to Harriet’s cold? How does it suggest a different focus than Emma expected? Describe Elton’s behavior towards Emma at the Christmas party. How does it build toward the proposal in the coach? What is his reaction to Emma’s expectations? Why?

Chapter 16

  1. “The hair was curled, and the maid sent away, and Emma sat down to think and be miser- able.” What is the effect of the organization of details in this opening sentence?
  2. Is Emma aware of her own wrongful conduct in making a game of Harriet and Elton? Does she think about other people’s feelings? Is she ashamed? What accusation does she make against Mr. Elton that she is guilty of herself?

Chapter 18

  1. Why doesn’t Frank Churchill pay his respects to his new stepmother? In chapter 14, what was Emma’s initial judgment of his absence? By chapter 18, how does Emma defend Frank Churchill to Mr. Knightley?
  2. What does Mr. Knightley mean by “amiable” in the French and in the English way? What does Mr. Knightley’s analysis show about his own character and situation?
  1. What does the dinner party at the Coles’s reveal about Mr. Knightley in regard to Emma, Harriet, Frank, the Eltons? about Frank Churchill in regard to Jane Fairfax, Emma, him- self? about Emma in regard to Frank, Jane, Mr. Knightley?
  2. How has Frank Churchill’s arrival changed Emma’s social life? How does Mr. Knightley react to these changes? What do the plans for a dance reveal about each man’s character?

Chapter 30

  1. In their last meeting before his departure for Enscombe, Frank Churchill uses almost the same words as Mr. Elton had in their private meeting: “perhaps Miss Woodhouse--I think you can hardly be quite without suspicion” and “I am sure you have seen and understood me” (Volume I, Chapter 15): In Mr. Elton’s case, she did not understand that he was court- ing her and not her friend; how does that earlier scene affect what Emma thinks Frank Churchill is about to reveal? Does she want this outcome? How does this interview end ambiguously?

Chapter 31

  1. Emma thinks about being in love with Frank Churchill: What does she see as the neces- sary outcome of a marriage proposal? How does her experience with Mr. Elton affect her planned behavior towards Frank Churchill? What does this growth reveal about Emma’s character?
  2. Contrast Emma’s feelings towards Jane Fairfax to her reflections on Harriet Smith. What are the sources of this difference? What does this contrast reveal about Emma’s charac- ter? What do her stated beliefs reveal about her self-knowledge? Is Emma right when she thinks, “I know the danger of indulging in... speculations”?

Chapter 33

  1. What are the sources of the friendship between Mrs. Elton and Jane Fairfax? Compare this friendship to that between Emma and Harriet Smith.
  2. Speculation about matches continues to be made: What is Mr. Knightley’s reaction to a possible marriage with Jane Fairfax? What do his comments reveal about his ideal bride? What do Mrs. Weston’s comments reveal about the persistence of rumors? Could Mrs. Weston be right?

Chapter 34

  1. Examine Chapter 32 and Chapter 34: What are the social obligations to a new bride? How does Emma act with great propriety? How do her interior feelings contrast to her exterior manners? Note the “stage directions”--the clues Austen gives for Emma’s outward reac- tions to Mrs. Elton.
  2. Both Augusta Elton and Mr. Woodhouse are comic characters. How is Mr. Woodhouse treated more gently than Mrs. Elton?

At this point, students might draw up a list of matches: In column 1, list the names of the single women; in column 2, list the names of the men (married or single) who have been suggested as their possible loves. Then draw lines connecting the women and the men which gossip has united at one point or another. Which connections are conspicuously absent?

  1. Jane Fairfax’s walk in the rain to fetch her letters becomes subject to speculation and bully- ing. What do the reactions of three women--Jane Fairfax, Mrs. Elton, Emma--reveal about their characters? What does this episode reveal about women’s position in Austen’s soci- ety? about social rules on correspondence between men and women?

Chapter 36

  1. Compare the significant houses Austen has identified with major characters: Hartfield, Randalls, Maple Grove, Enscombe, and the Bates’s apartment in Highbury. What do these houses reveal about their owners?
  2. Volume II ends with Mrs. Weston’s letter announcing Frank Churchill’s imminent return to Highbury: Compare the reactions of Mr. Weston, Emma Woodhouse, Mr. Knightley, Jane Fairfax, and Mrs. Elton.

 Volume III 

Chapter 37

  1. Describe Frank Churchill’s first return to Highbury: How has he seemed to be changed? What seems to be the cause?

Chapter 38

  1. Who are the guests Mr. Weston entreated to come early to the Crown rooms? Why? What do his manners reveal about his character?
  2. Describe Mrs. Elton’s behavior at the Crown. How does Mrs. Elton show her vanity? No- tice the many examples of irony.
  3. Read aloud Miss Bates’s monologues: What character traits does she reveal? What absur- dities does she reveal about other Highbury characters? What relationships does she talk about?
  4. What actions at the Crown Ball reveal the significance of social decorum: How must Frank Churchill first meet the Eltons? Who must open the ball?
  5. How is social aggression manifested within the rules of propriety? Consider Mrs. Elton’s behavior towards Jane Fairfax and Mr. Elton’s humiliation of Harriet Smith. If Emma Woodhouse was the real target of the Eltons’s enmity, why don’t they humiliate her?
  6. What is the importance of Mr. Knightley asking Harriet Smith to dance? How does this dance also change the relationship between Mr. Knightley and Emma?

Chapter 39

  1. How does Frank Churchill rescue Harriet Smith? Why was he in the neighborhood? What does Emma see as a likely result from this rescue? Contrast this dramatic rescue to Mr. Knightley’s rescue of Harriet at the Crown Ball.

Chapter 40

  1. What do Harriet’s “treasures” reveal about the role of her imagination? about Emma’s role? What has disillusioned Harriet about these “treasures”? Has Emma learned from her past mistakes with Harriet?

Chapter 47

  1. Was Harriet’s love for Mr. Knightley a surprise? What foreshadowing did Austen give at Donwell Abbey? How does Harriet Smith’s explanation show she learned from her friend- ship with Emma?

Chapter 49

  1. Why does Emma stop Mr. Knightley from proposing? What does she think he is about to reveal? What does she do to lead him to propose? How is this an unselfish act?

Chapter 50

  1. How does Emma try to make amends to Harriet Smith?

Chapter 54

  1. How does Austen wind up the plot with Harriet Smith? In what ways is this conclusion ap- propriate?

Chapter 55

  1. What reconciles Mr. Woodhouse to Emma’s marriage? Emma has tried to change everyone else around her; why won’t she try to change Mr. Woodhouse?

Overview of Novel

  1. Jane Austen is concerned with the social world and the moral world. How do they interact in this book? Who is morally inferior in the book? Who is morally superior?
  2. Why must Emma suffer a little? Has Emma shrunk in the social scene by the end of the novel?
  3. What episodes show Mr. Knightley’s decency and charity?
  4. Since marriage is both a social and moral act, what does it show about Emma when she commits to marriage? Contrast it to her earlier statements about marriage and herself?
  5. When does Mr. Knightley fall in love? How has loving Emma changed him? Why is he the only man in the novel who could marry Emma?
  6. Are the five marriages which occur reasonable and balanced?
  7. Does the author think it is worth it for Jane Fairfax to marry Frank Churchill? What was her alternative? What are her trade-offs? What happens to her when she loses all hope? How do you think Frank Churchill sees Jane Fairfax based on how he describes her to Emma in Jane’s presence? What does the author imply about Frank Churchill?
  8. What characters and actions illustrate the contrast between what Emma believes herself to be, what others believe her to be, and what she really is?
  9. Jane Austen said she created a heroine in Emma “whom nobody but myself will much like.” Agree?