This class is taught in English.

Students will:
- Read Pride & Prejudice in its entirety.
- Read Sense & Sensibility in its entirety.
- Identify key plot points in each novel.
- Identify and describe key characters in each novel.
- Compare shared themes across both novels.
- Gain a general understanding of Jane Austen, the importance of her work, and the historical influences of her time.

I love reading! Whether you're a fellow bookworm or a hesitant reader, my classroom is a welcome space to explore literature without expectation or judgement. There are no tests or quizzes in my courses -- I even hand you the themes and symbols to watch for as you read! Flipping the reading process and telling readers which ideas to be on the lookout for makes it easy for learners to focus their reading. Students will complete the course feeling confident in their understanding of the novel, and those choosing to complete the optional homework assignments will be prepared to write an essay on the novel as well. I always offer additional suggested reading for students who want to take their understanding to the next level, too.

I hold a Master of Arts in English Literature and a Bachelor of Arts in Comparative Literature. I embraced my inner lit nerd while studying at UC Berkeley, where my favorite classes were small, discussion-based literature courses. I loved the endless options for studying different authors, time periods, genres, and literary canons, and found myself with a minor in Russian Literature just for the fun of it, too.

I grew to love Jane Austen more in college than I did in high school. I took a college course that required us to read multiple novels by a single author, and it was the first time I tried reading a couple of Austen books one right after the other. Diving in and getting a more thorough sense of the author's style from the angle of multiple novels made me appreciate her writing so much more, and gave me a much more thorough understanding of the themes and literary devices at work on a deeper level. I'm excited to bring the same in-depth Austen experience to readers here, too.

Homework Offered
Students should be prepared to dedicate approximately 2-3 weeks to reading each novel. Notes are provided by the instructor to guide student reading.
2 - 4 hours per week outside of class
Assessments Offered
Grades Offered