English Literature Classics: Introduction to Jane Austen
In this six-week course, students will read and compare two of Austen's most popular novels and explore major themes and historical influences through weekly group discussions.
Tara Swoboda, MA, RYT
Average rating:
5.0
Number of reviews:(47)
What's included
12 live meetings
12 in-class hoursHomework
2-4 hours per week. Students should be prepared to dedicate approximately 2-3 weeks to reading each novel. Notes are provided by the instructor to guide student reading.Class Experience
US Grade 8 - 11
This course introduces readers to Jane Austen's work through close readings of two of her most famous novels. Students will read Pride & Prejudice and Sense & Sensibility in their entirety, exploring common themes and comparing plot devices in classroom discussion. Our first class session is an overview of Austen's time and historical influences. From there, be ready to read! We'll spend a few weeks reading each novel, focusing on plot comprehension, character development, and literary analysis. Students are expected to complete assigned readings between classes meetings, allotting class time for group discussion and instructor-led literary analysis. Reading notes are provided by the instructor to guide student reading and to prepare for group discussions. Class Breakdown Class 1: Introductions, class overview, outline of reading assignments Classes 2-6: Pride & Prejudice - Students will read assigned chapters between class meetings. Class meetings will focus on plot comprehension, character development, identifying themes, and describing the author's style. Classes 7-11: Sense & Sensibility - Students will read assigned chapters between class meetings. Class meetings will focus on plot comprehension, character development, identifying themes, and comparing these aspects of the novel with those observed and discussed in Pride & Prejudice. Class 12: Reflections and analysis This course is ideal for learners who: - Enjoy reading and can read about 350 pages within three weeks. Students are welcome to obtain the books before class and begin reading ahead of time! - Are interested in English classics. - Are interested in female authors. - Are excited to explore common themes across novels. - Wish to gain a deeper understanding of Jane Austen, her time, and her work.
Learning Goals
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.
Other Details
Supply List
Students should obtain a copy of the following two Jane Austen novels for this course (either electronic or print versions are acceptable): 1. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen 2. Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen Notes on each novel will be provided by the instructor to guide student reading and to prepare for group discussions.
Language of Instruction
English
External Resources
Learners will not need to use any apps or websites beyond the standard Outschool tools.
Joined September, 2019
5.0
47reviews
Teacher expertise and credentials
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.Reviews
Live Group Class
$185
for 12 classes2x per week, 6 weeks
60 min
Completed by 6 learners
Live video meetings
Ages: 13-18
1-10 learners per class
