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Questions and Answers
Who is expected to visit his father in Highbury?
Who is expected to visit his father in Highbury?
- Mr. Elton
- Mr. Weston
- Frank Churchill (correct)
- Mr. Knightley
Why has Frank Churchill been deterred from visiting his father?
Why has Frank Churchill been deterred from visiting his father?
- Because of his dislike for Highbury
- Because of his aunt's illnesses and complaints (correct)
- Because of his father's disapproval
- Because of his busy schedule
What does Mr. Knightley defend Jane Fairfax for?
What does Mr. Knightley defend Jane Fairfax for?
- Her beauty and accomplishments
- Her independence and fortune
- Her situation as a governess (correct)
- Her compassion and kindness
Who is Emma Woodhouse jealous of?
Who is Emma Woodhouse jealous of?
Who does Emma imagine as a match for Harriet?
Who does Emma imagine as a match for Harriet?
What does Frank Churchill save Harriet from?
What does Frank Churchill save Harriet from?
Who does Emma suspect Harriet has fallen in love with?
Who does Emma suspect Harriet has fallen in love with?
Why can Frank Churchill now marry Jane Fairfax?
Why can Frank Churchill now marry Jane Fairfax?
Who proposes to Harriet after Frank Churchill's engagement is revealed?
Who proposes to Harriet after Frank Churchill's engagement is revealed?
Who does Emma Woodhouse realize she is in love with?
Who does Emma Woodhouse realize she is in love with?
What is Emma Woodhouse's self-proclaimed talent?
What is Emma Woodhouse's self-proclaimed talent?
Who does Emma persuade Harriet to reject a proposal from?
Who does Emma persuade Harriet to reject a proposal from?
Who does Emma imagine would be a good match for Harriet?
Who does Emma imagine would be a good match for Harriet?
Why does Mr. Elton leave Highbury?
Why does Mr. Elton leave Highbury?
What is the outcome of Emma's matchmaking efforts for Harriet?
What is the outcome of Emma's matchmaking efforts for Harriet?
Who is Emma's brother-in-law and treasured friend?
Who is Emma's brother-in-law and treasured friend?
What is Harriet's status at the beginning of the story?
What is Harriet's status at the beginning of the story?
Who does Emma successfully match in the past?
Who does Emma successfully match in the past?
What is Mr. Knightley's opinion of Mr. Martin?
What is Mr. Knightley's opinion of Mr. Martin?
How does Mr. Elton react to Emma's rejection?
How does Mr. Elton react to Emma's rejection?
What was one of the main ways to raise one's social status in Austen's time?
What was one of the main ways to raise one's social status in Austen's time?
Why was Mr. Weston's first marriage to Miss Churchill not entirely successful?
Why was Mr. Weston's first marriage to Miss Churchill not entirely successful?
Why was Mr. Weston's second marriage to Mrs. Weston happier?
Why was Mr. Weston's second marriage to Mrs. Weston happier?
Why did Emma want Harriet to reject Robert Martin's proposal?
Why did Emma want Harriet to reject Robert Martin's proposal?
What was one of the factors that determined social status in Austen's time?
What was one of the factors that determined social status in Austen's time?
Why was marriage crucial for women in Austen's time?
Why was marriage crucial for women in Austen's time?
Why did Emma's match-making efforts for Harriet fail?
Why did Emma's match-making efforts for Harriet fail?
What was the outcome of Mr. Weston's first marriage to Miss Churchill?
What was the outcome of Mr. Weston's first marriage to Miss Churchill?
Why was Mrs. Weston fortunate to be rescued from her need to work?
Why was Mrs. Weston fortunate to be rescued from her need to work?
What was the outcome of Emma's attempt to match Harriet with Mr. Elton?
What was the outcome of Emma's attempt to match Harriet with Mr. Elton?
What is the primary reason Frank Churchill must keep his engagement to Jane Fairfax secret?
What is the primary reason Frank Churchill must keep his engagement to Jane Fairfax secret?
What is the significance of the novel's focus on marriage?
What is the significance of the novel's focus on marriage?
How does Emma's imagination lead to misunderstandings in the novel?
How does Emma's imagination lead to misunderstandings in the novel?
What is the consequence of the social conventions of propriety in the novel?
What is the consequence of the social conventions of propriety in the novel?
What is the portrayal of a mother's life in the novel?
What is the portrayal of a mother's life in the novel?
What is the significance of the governess profession in the novel?
What is the significance of the governess profession in the novel?
What is the tone of the narrator's voice in the novel?
What is the tone of the narrator's voice in the novel?
What is the result of the series of realizations in the novel?
What is the result of the series of realizations in the novel?
What is the significance of the novel's limited scope of action?
What is the significance of the novel's limited scope of action?
What is the novel's critique of the overly clever and complex speech of characters like Mr. Elton and Frank Churchill?
What is the novel's critique of the overly clever and complex speech of characters like Mr. Elton and Frank Churchill?
What is Austen's preference in the manner of expressing oneself?
What is Austen's preference in the manner of expressing oneself?
What happens as a result of Emma and Frank's flirting at the Box Hill party?
What happens as a result of Emma and Frank's flirting at the Box Hill party?
What is the outcome of Emma's banter with Frank?
What is the outcome of Emma's banter with Frank?
What is Frank's behavior towards Highbury?
What is Frank's behavior towards Highbury?
What is the consequence of Emma's behavior towards Miss Bates?
What is the consequence of Emma's behavior towards Miss Bates?
How does Austen portray Mr. Elton's style of complimenting people?
How does Austen portray Mr. Elton's style of complimenting people?
What is the difference between Knightley and Martin's behavior and others?
What is the difference between Knightley and Martin's behavior and others?
What is the nature of Frank's talent?
What is the nature of Frank's talent?
What is the result of Emma and Frank's behavior at the party?
What is the result of Emma and Frank's behavior at the party?
What is Austen's tone towards Emma's behavior?
What is Austen's tone towards Emma's behavior?
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Study Notes
Social Status and Marriage
- In the novel, social status is determined by a combination of family background, reputation, and wealth.
- Marriage is a key way to raise one's social status, especially for women.
- The novel suggests that marrying too far above oneself leads to strife.
- Emma's attempt to match Harriet with Mr. Elton is seen as inappropriate because of their social status difference.
- Harriet's unknown parentage makes her a less suitable match for Mr. Elton, who is a gentleman.
The Confined Nature of Women's Existence
- The novel portrays the limited scope of action for women in early-nineteenth-century rural England.
- Emma's intelligence and energy are underutilized, and she is limited to guiding her friends' marital destinies.
- Alternative pastimes, such as social visits, charity visits, and artistic endeavors, are depicted as trivial and monotonous.
- The novel suggests that women's lives are confined to domesticity and marriage, with little opportunity for personal achievement or intellectual pursuits.
The Blinding Power of Imagination
- The novel illustrates how personal biases and desires can blind objective judgment.
- Emma's imagination and biases lead her to misunderstand others' motives and behaviors.
- Mr. Elton's feelings for Emma cause him to mistake her behavior for encouragement.
- The narrator's detachment allows the reader to see these misunderstandings before the characters do.
The Obstacles to Open Expression
- The novel highlights the difficulties characters face in expressing their feelings directly and openly.
- Social propriety and conventions of speech can lead to misunderstandings and mistaken feelings.
- The novel critiques the overly clever and complex speech of characters like Mr. Elton and Emma.
- The plot is driven by a series of realizations that allow characters to make fuller, more objective judgments.
Character Relationships
- Emma's relationships with Harriet and Mr. Knightley are central to the novel.
- Emma's attempts to match Harriet with Mr. Elton lead to trouble and misunderstandings.
- Mr. Knightley's defense of Jane Fairfax and his suspicions of Frank Churchill's intentions are key to the plot.
- Emma's eventual realization of her love for Mr. Knightley is a turning point in the novel.
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