Introduction
Jane Austen’s novels are not fluffy romances, but profound modern fables, leaving the reader amused but also thinking about serious subjects. Richard Whately, Archbishop of Dublin, was one of the first reviewers to recognise what Jane was hoping to achieve, and appreciate her way of achieving it.
MISS Austin has the merit (in our judgment most essential) of being evidently a Christian writer: a merit which is much enhanced, both on the score of good taste, and of practical utility, by her religion being not at all obtrusive.
She might defy the most fastidious critic to call any of her novels, (as Coelebs was designated, we will not say altogether without reason,) a ‘dramatic sermon.’* The subject is rather alluded to, and that incidentally, than studiously brought forward and dwelt upon.
For when the purpose of inculcating a religious principle is made too palpably prominent, many readers, if they do not throw aside the book with disgust, are apt to fortify themselves with that respectful kind of apathy with which they undergo a regular sermon, and prepare themselves as they do to swallow a dose of medicine, endeavouring to get it down in large gulps, without tasting it more than is necessary.
‘Coelebs in Search of a Wife’ is a novel by Hannah More (1745-1833) published in 1809, and followed by ‘Coelebs Married’ five years later. Hannah More was a successful novelist and playwright (Mozart possessed a copy of her play ‘Percy’), a philanthropist, and a vocal anti-slavery campaigner.
Précis
Richard Whately, Archbishop of Dublin, was a contemporary of novelist Jane Austen, and in a review praised her novels for their expression of Christian values. However, he emphasised that it was to Jane’s credit that she did not resort to sermonising, but allowed her message to communicate itself subtly, which in Whately’s opinion made it all the more effective. (59 / 60 words)
Richard Whately, Archbishop of Dublin, was a contemporary of novelist Jane Austen, and in a review praised her novels for their expression of Christian values. However, he emphasised that it was to Jane’s credit that she did not resort to sermonising, but allowed her message to communicate itself subtly, which in Whately’s opinion made it all the more effective.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, besides, may, must, otherwise, ought, whereas, who.
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Word Games
Sevens Based on this passage
Suggest answers to this question. See if you can limit one answer to exactly seven words.
Variations: 1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words. 2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words. 3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Allude. Aside. Enhance.
2 Religion. Themselves. Too.
3 Disgust. Large. Religious.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
