Literature

1. MARY WOLLSTONECRAFT
Week 2 assigned a very short section from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, published in 1792 by Mary Wollstonecraft, specifically, a section from Chapter 13, dealing with Wollstonecraft’s opinions about the sentimental novel.  As you read it, consider whether or not there are works today that might be termed “sentimental novels” and whether or not a large number of women read them.  If so, are the works basically harmless or are they damaging to women?  Why?  Why not?

These are issues that Austen brings to light as well in “Love and Freindship,” and is why I picked this particular section to read from Wollstonecraft’s important work.  However, some of you may have more time (or simply become fascinated reading Wollstonecraft’s biography) and want to read other sections from her work.  Use this discussion topic to post your feelings and reactions to Wollstonecraft’s words and opinions, either specifically dealing with Chapter 13, or from any other readings you have time to do.

Assignment:
a.  Post a 5 sentence reaction (not including quotations) to your reading of Wollstonecraft for this week.  I certainly realize we won’t read ALL of Wollstonecraft, but feel free to browse through the selections in our anthology from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman.  What is your favorite passage?  Quote it in full and tell us why it strikes you as being particularly important.

2. When we talk about “character” in literature, we mean many things.  There are terms such as “stereotypical” character or “rounded” character, which seek to label literary characters as one- or several-dimensional.
In Jane Austen’s short work, we are introduced to the protagonist, or main character, Laura.  She is cleverly penned by a very young woman, whose novels and longer works many of you may have read. Some of you may have seen film versions of Austen’s books such as Sense and Sensibility or Pride and Prejudice.

Assignment:
a.  Post a 5 sentences summary describing Laura’s character in the story.  Use specific examples from the text.  Please use any/some of the new vocabulary for this week, which I’ve posted below.  Also, try to address points made in the critical readings for this week, specifically, the selection from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, published in 1792.   Remember, Austen is having fun with Laura’s character–please don’t take Laura realistically!

New Terms to Apply:
feminist polemic, treatise, the “sentimental character” of women, sentimental novels, women as “overgrown children,” the miseducation of women, the epistolary novel, satire, “the marriage market,” female survival based on “male approval and protection,” comic irony, societal realism, sensibility

3. When we talk about “theme” in literature, we talk about what the work says about “the human experience.”  That sounds very lofty, I know, but many students confuse literary theme with “subject”  or “moral.”

“Theme” refers to what the underlying “point” or “idea” or “philosophy” is in the text.  I realize this assumes that every work has a “point” or “idea,” which isn’t necessarily the case.  However, for many critics, “theme” is a way for readers to discuss what they feel the work offers its readers.  Don’t confuse “theme” with a simplistic “moral of the story.”  While fables and parables have morals, works of literature tend to be more complex, more subject to interpretation and less able to be tied down to one interpretation or meaning.
Bearing this in mind, after you have read “Love and Freindship” (notice that Austen spells her title Freindship), post a response here in this forum of about 8-10 sentences stating what you feel the theme (or purpose) of Austen’s work is.
Please use any/some of the new vocabulary for this week, which I’ve posted below.  Also, address a point or two made in the critical readings for this week, specifically, the selection from A Vindication of the Rights of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft, published in 1792.

Assignment:
a.  Post your 5 sentences response to what you feel the theme of Austen’s work is.  Put quotations used from the text in quotation marks and give the page number.

New Terms to Apply:
feminist polemic, treatise, the “sentimental character” of women, sentimental novels, women as “overgrown children,” the miseducation of women, the epistolary novel, satire, “the marriage market,” female survival based on “male approval and protection,” comic irony, societal realism, sensibility

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