Abstract This paper examines how the theme of friendship relates to the characters' relationship to the larger society in in Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey." It also looks at the satirical qualities of the novel.
From the Paper " Nearly anyone who has been to the movies in the past few years has probably seen a film adapted from one of the novels of Jane Austen, who is having one of those revivals of interest that is sometimes inflicted upon artists from pre-mass media ..."
Abstract The paper presents parallels between Edward Abbey and Barry Lopez. The paper discusses how Abbey became a fierce defender of nature and of life and how in his writing, he emphasized his personal belief that opinions without action are pleasant to talk about, but achieve very little in the final analysis. The paper examines how Lopez brings to light the beauty and complexity of nature as it relates to the human life. The paper shows how both writers have entertained, activated and motivated readers towards a better understanding of the world around them. The paper explains that while Abbey was more vocal and aggressive in his approach, both men have earned a valued place in the world of environmental activism in their own unique way.
Outline:
Introduction
The Life, Times and Writings of Edward Abbey Barry Lopez in Life and Literature
Conclusion
From the Paper "Edward Abbey was a native Pennsylvanian, having been born in Indiana, PA on January 29, 1927, spending his infancy and early life, as he described it, "(living) at the end of a red dog dirt road"(Duryee). His early life, being the child of parents who were simple country dwellers in the Appalachian hills of Pennsylvania, developed in the young Abbey an intense interest in the irony of the simplicity and complexity of nature, which was much like his own personality. Because of his growing up in an atmosphere of people who embraced nature and the value of all forms of life, Abbey became a fierce defender of nature and of life; in fact, there was a pivotal event in his early life that reinforced these core beliefs and indeed shaped his future."
An examination of how Jane Austen uses descriptions of domestic interiors within "Northanger Abbey" to explore major themes as well as an aid to building characters.
Abstract This paper shows how interior descriptions are instrumental in Austen's parody of the gothic genre, which was popular at the time "Northanger Abbey" was written. It looks at how the depiction of the Abbey itself is key to emphasising the character of General Tilney and his pride in his house and possessions are also indicative of the consumerism of the time. It shows how Austen's descriptions of Woodston Parsonage contrast with the Abbey, but again are used to reinforce characterisation and further important themes in the novel such as marriage and gender.
From the Paper "The simplicity of Woodston is refreshing after the superficiality of Northanger Abbey. The contrasting domestic interiors of both houses also serve to contrast the dependability of Henry Tilney with his father. Northanger's magnificent embellishments are just a veneer; much like the General's seemingly pleasant and personable personality which is not genuine and hides his true unpleasant nature. The Parsonage at Woodston is as humble and "unpretending" as Catherine had hoped it would be - much like honest and reliable Henry. Henry's occupation of the modest Parsonage, described by the General as "not... a good house... a mere parsonage, small and confined" (Northanger Abbey p. 172) compared to the greater expectations of the questionable character of Captain Tilney as the eldest son is perhaps a comment by Jane Austen on the unfairness of primogeniture."
Abstract A close analysis of poetic feature in 'Tintern Abbey' which includes information about Romanticism and the Romatic period. An essay that looks at the theme of nature in romantic poetry, and 'Tintern Abbey' specifically, and decides whether it is a presence which can inspire awe and love.
From the Paper """Our ideas about the nature of the individual, the society in which he lives, the natural world which surrounds him, and the role of art in society"are inherited from the Romantic period" (J. R. Watson) Romanticism is a term given to a European wide movement in the arts in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in revolt against the Neoclassicism of the previous centuries. Neoclassicism was characterised by emotional restraint, order and logic, whereas Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement, which stressed strong emotion, freedom, and a rebellion against social conventions. It was also seen as being a reaction against the rationalism and materialism of the Enlightenment. The original use of the term Romanticism was critical and very uncomplimentary but during the late eighteenth century, it began to establish a more positive meaning. There are four main themes in Romanticism, these are, Imagination, Nature, Selfhood and Political idealism. In this essay I intend to focus on the theme of Nature and explore J. R. Watson's idea that it is a presence 'which can inspire awe and love, and be evidence of a mysterious and wonderful power in the universe'. The focus of this essay will be William Wordsworth's Lines written a few miles above Tintern Abbey, which I will explore to see how the poet describes nature and uses it to express deeper feelings and meaning."
Abstract This paper introduces William Wordsworth, a dominant writer of the Romantic era, who is credited for the change in poetry to free verse as opposed to the traditional iambic pentameter. The paper contends that some of the characteristics of this period include the love of nature, poems celebrating imagination, the individual as the center of life, interest in human rights, and the importance of self-reflection. The paper discusses Wordsworth's poem, "Tintern Abbey," explaining that it clearly embodies many of the characteristics mentioned above. The paper portrays the poem, "Tintern Abbey," as a sudden and strong expression of feelings, a meditative poem in which revisiting a familiar landscape triggers remembrance of time past. The paper explores the poem's use of memory to compare one's past to the present in a moment of self-reflection.
From the Paper "Moreover, the speaker asserts his new awareness associated with his transformation within the poem. The speaker attributes his acquired consciousness to his greater understanding of life. As a "thoughtless youth" he maintains he could not "see into the life of things"(50), for such a discovery requires thoughtfulness, reflection and knowledge. Furthermore, the speaker declares, "And I have felt/ A presence that disturbs me with the joy/ Of elevated thoughts; a sense sublime" (94-96). To interpret this line, one has to consider the social state of the Romantic period, which showed great interest in human rights such as slavery and the poor, while also characterized by a sense of anxiety resulting form the ongoing French Revolution. Therefore, the insight, which brought awareness of his surrounding "presence" is also disturbing yet sublime."
Abstract This paper explains that a building society is a Financial Institution that is owned by all its members rather than by its shareholders which plays the role of paying interests on the deposits made by the members and also of lending money to its members by proposing to keep the property as security in order to enable them to buy a house of their own. The paper then details the history of the Abbey National Building Society from its beginnings in 1944 to the present day as well as what Abbey National Building Society has had to do to remain successful.
From the Paper "The market conditions at the time were very strict and regulated, and there was stiff competition everywhere. The 1986 occurrence of the 'Big Bang' served to break down all the traditional barriers that a person would expect in a Bank, and soon banks and other financial institutions became more capable of offering a wide range of financial services that hitherto had not been done. Abbey Building Society had at this time already demonstrated its free and independent thinking by breaking away from the Cartel of building societies that had insisted on certain fixed basic mortgage rates for everyone. Therefore when the decision to convert into a plc was taken in 1989, and after the conversion had actually taken place, there was a dramatic increase in the number of shareholders in the United Kingdom: the numbers rose from 6 million to 9.5 million, a 50% increase. (Conversion to plc, the Background)"
Abstract This paper explains that, in "Northanger Abbey", Jane Austen has chosen to make the characters her main focus; thus the action in this novel is determined by the nature, growth and variety of the characters and their thoughts and dialogue, which move the novel to its end. The author points out that, while many critics believe that "Northanger Abbey " has little action and is even a boring read, this novel moves quickly, engaging the reader and revealing human frailties and strengths. The paper relates that the main thrust or theme of this coming-of-age novel is the bridges from adolescence into adulthood, which youth must cross in finding the right marriage partner as seen through the main character, Catherine Morland. Long quotations.
From the Paper "The movement of the dialogue demonstrates the urgency Catherine feels. That is, she desires to appease her friends, see the castle and, at the same time, she does not want to miss her engagement with Henry and Eleanor. A more mature woman might feel less pressured from her friends than Catherine feels at this point in the novel. But, when John lies to her saying, "Well I saw him at that moment turn up the Lansdown Road ..." (102) Catherine is convinced that Henry and Eleanor have broken the engagement. Catherine's need for growth involves both a need for knowledge and a need to unlearn the false ideas she has gotten from reading gothic novels. The way in which Catherine conducts herself when she attempts to explain the broken engagement to the Tilney family demonstrates some growth in maturity."
Abstract This paper compares William Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey" and A. R. Ammons' "Corsons Inlet" and shows how Ammons' "Corsons Inlet" draws inspiration from the poetry of precursory British Romantics, including Wordsworth's "Tintern Abbey". The paper points out that both poems, written during periods of rapid social change, are characteristic of pastoral poetry's tendency to describe a strong emotional bond between the poet and his natural surroundings. The paper goes on to illustrate, however, that Ammons' writing is not simply an extension of the poetic forms of his predecessors, but that he developed the English tradition in order to express his own identity as an American.
From the Paper "Writing in 1818, Samuel Taylor Coleridge characterises romantic landscape poetry as "the mediatress between, and reconciler of nature and man". Indeed, this description certainly holds true for William Wordsworth's Tintern Abbey, an eighteenth century prospect poem that summons spiritual meaning out of nature through introspection and metaphorical explorations of the physical world. Likewise, it is possible to claim that A. R. Ammons' Corsons Inlet, an American poem similarly composed following a walking tour, shares the Romantic tradition of expressing a deep emotional connection with rustic surroundings. However, through his wandering depiction of the randomness and emergence of nature, Ammons offers a critique of the Romantic tradition, instead using loco-descriptive verse to express his sense of membership and discovery of the New World. The ways in which the poets respond to both their surroundings and wider social changes, such as the process of Enlightenment, differ significantly, therefore making it possible to regard Ammons' ambulatory poem as a post-Romantic rejoinder to Tintern Abbey."
Abstract This paper identifies the ways in which Austen parodies Radcliffe's "Mysteries of Udolpho" and the Gothic genre it represents. It concludes by revealing that it is a mistake to see "Northanger Abbey" as a critique of the Gothic novel. The author claims that Austen sees works like "Mysteries of Udolpho" as metaphors for the very real danger and the very real abuses present in 18th century society.
From the Paper Anne Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho is constantly under discussion and satire within Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Given Catherine Morland's experiences at the Abbey, it would seem that Austen is criticizing Radcliffe and her genre, yet the author's staunch defense of the value of novels seems to support the works of Radcliffe. Indeed, an argument can be made that Catherine's exposure to the Gothic prepares her for the real evil present in her society. Therefore, what is the real object of critique in Austen's parody? Many critics take Henry Tilsney as the voice of the author, however a closer look at his speeches reveals that his beliefs are actually in question. For example, Henry speaks about riots in London, giving his version of what a deranged imagination would produce: "A mob of three thousand men assembling in St. George's Fields; the Bank attacked, the Tower threatened, the streets of London flowing with blood" (101). However, the picture Henry presents as ridiculous, is actually reflective of real anxieties present in 18th C. society. There were valid fears that the French Revolution and its consequent "Reign of Terror" would spread to England. Actual plots to attack the bank were exposed at the time Austen wrote Northanger Abbey. Thus, Henry's depiction is not that ironic, and the assumption that "it can't happen here" in enlightened, modern England rings a bit false.
Tags: 18th, abbey, ann, austen, century, gothic, jane, mysteries, northanger, novel, radcliffe, udolpho, victorian
Abstract This paper examines William Wordsworth's poem "Tintern Abbey" and how it fit into the category of poetic Romanticism. The author looks at the style and philosophies of Romantic poets such as Wordsworth, the beauty in nature, tranquility, the simplicity in life, etc. The paper also discusses the works of Keats, Thomas Gray, and Romantic influences in American writers like Hawthorne and James Fenimore Cooper.
From the Paper "The Romantic writer turned not only to the world of nature but also to the world of history, often the Middle Ages (running from the 5th century to 15th century) for themes and settings and ideas. Thus it is not surprising that Wordsworth should choose Tintern Abbey. Not only was it beautiful and rural and so close to nature, but it also pulled him back to a time in history that he considered to be simpler and in many ways better. Like many Romantic poets, Wordsworth fell in love with Gothic buildings, ruins and graveyards."
Abstract Jane Austen's novel, "Northanger Abbey" depicts the life of a young girl, Catherine Morland and the importance novel-reading plays in England during the 1790s. This paper shows how Jane Austen critiques the world of the English gentry through the way in which Catherine reads gothic novels. It examines how gothic novels play an important role in that they are a key to the societies they depict and shows how, as Catherine starts see how the evil in these novels is depicted in real life, the reader also sees the evil that exists in England during the 1790s.
From the Paper "Throughout the novel, Austen seems to make fun of Gothic novels, particularly Anne Radcliffe's The Mysteries of Udolpho. The typical Gothic heroine is a sentimental woman who has no parents, no friends, and is left to be devoured by the man who eventually marries her. Catherine, the heroine of Northanger Abbey is the exact opposite. She has both of her parents, she's not an orphan. Instead of drawing, like the heroine of Mysteries of Udolpho, she reads novels. She has many friends too. By portraying Gothic heroines as alone, without a mother or father to watch over them, authors emphasize how vulnerable and defenseless they are to men. "
Abstract This paper provides a review of Austen's "Northanger Abbey", which is primarily a coming-of-age story that revolves around the main character Catherine Morland. The novel can also be viewed as a mockery of sorts on the gothic (romantic) novels, which was very popular in the 1700s. The paper focuses on the character of Catherine and how she represented the society of the time.
From the Paper "No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy would have supposed her born to be an heroine. Her situation in life, the character of her father and mother, her own person and disposition, were all equally against her.? (Austen) So begins the story of Catherine Morland in Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey. Northanger Abbey was first penned by Austen in 1798. She re-wrote the story in 1816 and it was published posthumously. (Le Faye) This particular novel covers a fixed period of time and place and, unlike some of Austen's other novels, there are no major time lapses in the book. In fact, Northanger Abbey covers less than a year and focuses on two main locations. Only a handful of characters are introduced and their chief purpose is victory in love or at the very least finding a suitable person to marry."
Abstract An analysis of "Northanger Abbey" by Jane Austen that shows how class and money are a key factor in the character relationships presented in the book. By understanding how the characters rely on money and power in the story, we can learn how Austen makes clear class divisions in her tale.
Abstract This paper analyzes the characters and the plot of "Northanger Abbey" in an effort to illustrate the way in which Austen's novel parodies late 18th century, sentimental and gothic novels.
From the Paper "Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen, is a playful, short novel which resembles many of her other novels, especially Juvenilia. It is the story of the unsophisticated and naive Catherine Morland on her first trip away from home, for a stay in Bath. There she meets the entertaining Henry Tilney. Later, on a visit to his family's house, Northanger Abbey, she learns to distinguish between the highly charged calamities common in Gothic fiction and the realities of any ordinary life. This novel also pokes fun of many late 18th century customs including their highly wrought and unnatural emotions. Some of this humor derives from the contrast between Catherine Morland and the conventional heroines of novels of the day."
Abstract This paper looks at Catherine's gothic fantasies in Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" and focuses on her reading of gothic novels and how they trigger her imagination to invent wild fantasies at Northanger. It examines how she renounces these fantasies as well as the importance of Henry Tilney as the lover-mentor figure in helping her to see how foolish she has been. It discusses whether or not Catherine has been completely foolish in giving into these fantasies and argues that her suspicions, as absurd as they may seem, actually allow her to pick up on the oppressive atmosphere at Northanger and reveal a much more 'real' and modern mystery than any in her gothic novels.
From the Paper "Henry almost confirms Catherine's ideas of the abbey with descriptions of ?sliding panels and tapestry.? He recognises that these are objects which appear frequently in the type of novel Catherine likes to read, and so he knows this will appeal to her curiosity. It is interesting to note that "what one reads about" appears in speech marks. It is almost as if Henry is gently mocking Catherine. He knows that the abbey is not as she has imagined, and it seems that he believes she is na?ve in thinking this way. This reinforces Catherine's foolishness in believing what she later does, and heightens the educational value of Henry, the lover-mentor figure in the novel."
