G. Language Flashcards
Narrative style
Jane Austen’s narrative style has sometimes been described as detached. It might also be called polished and precise. When she is writing as the narrator she writes carefully as if she is evaluating her characters, checking the gaps between what they say and what they think, catching the echo of their different voices. Sometimes she is a simple reporter of a character’s thoughts and feelings (most often Elizabeth’s) but she can also be judgemental, contemptuous, sarcastic or warm and humane, even emotional.
Reading aloud
Although the structure of Jane Austen’s sentences may not be the structure we would usually use today, she regularly read her work aloud to her own family so this remains the best way to catch her elusive, distinctive voice.
Pride and Prejudice wasn’t written in a hurry. Austen polished and revised. Remember that whatever is there, is there for a reason.
Language - Mr Collins voice
Mr Collins’s voice portrays his conceit and pomposity. When Mr Bennet sets him talking about Lady Catherine’s affability, we continue to hear this tone even though it is being reported indirectly via the narrator: ‘And with a most important aspect he protested that he had never in his life witnessed such behaviour in a person of rank – such affability and condescension, as he had himself experienced from Lady Catherine’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 14, p. 54).
It is important to hear the rhythm here – the stress falling on ‘important’, ‘never’, ‘life’, ‘rank’, ‘himself’, etc. Mr Collins’s use of many unnecessary words and such a long sentence, simply to say that Lady Catherine has been kind to him, makes the reader begin to doubt both the reality of the kindness and the intelligence of the speaker.
Austen presents Mr Collins as a caricature rather than as a rounded human being whose feelings might be hurt by Elizabeth’s rejection: ‘though his pride was hurt, he suffered in no other way’ (p. 94). Although he presents himself as generous about money, the fact that he mentions it at all in a proposal of marriage is also revealing: ‘it is by no means certain that another offer of marriage will ever be made you. Your portion is unhappily so small that it will in all likelihood undo the effects of your loveliness and amiable qualifications’ (p. 91).
What is voice
The way a character speaks, or the way in which the narrator speaks to the reader.
The distinctive tone or style of a character’s speech, including the individual tone of the narrator
Apart from the narrator, whose is the central perspective on events?
2. The central point of view is Elizabeth’s
Different voices
In good dialogue writing you should be able to identify who is speaking from the style of their speech. You will learn to recognise the tone of their voice – as you would in life. Austen’s characters speak in distinctive ways which reveal their personalities. Their speech also varies according to the context. For instance, Mr Bennet’s wit has a bitter edge when he is talking to Mrs Bennet: ‘You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 1, p. 3). When he speaks to Elizabeth, his tone is quite different. When she asks, ‘Can [Mr Collins] be a sensible man, sir?’ He replies, ‘No, my dear; I think not. I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse.’ The key word here is ‘hopes’ – Mr Bennet trusts Lizzie to understand why he hopes that their guest will be ‘a mixture of servility and self-importance’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 13, p. 53).
Language features
When writing about the language of a novel you should be ready to consider the following features: voice, dialogue, irony, diction (choice of words), caricature, perspective (point of view) and sentence structure. If this sounds a bit daunting, don’t worry. Identifying the technique is Step One but writing about its effect is the more important Step Two. If you can’t remember the precise technical term, at least describe how you, as reader, see it working and its effect.
Language device - irony
The difference between what is said and what is meant
Statements or situations that may suggest something rather different from the obvious meaning.
Eg
Elizabeth’s hidden anger towards Mr Darcy is revealed in a response to Colonel Fitzwilliam: ‘Oh! yes, […] Mr Darcy is uncommonly kind to Mr Bingley, and takes a prodigious deal of care of him’ (Vol. 2, Ch. 10, p. 153).
Effect =
The words ‘uncommonly’ and ‘prodigious’ are so exaggerated as to suggest she is not sincere.
Use of Language – Irony
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The narrator is often ironic. How is Lady Lucas described?
‘… not too clever to be a valuable neighbour to Mrs Bennet.’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 5, p. 13)
Use of Language – Irony
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Sometimes comments are so exaggerated that the irony is closer to sarcasm. When Elizabeth is angry how does she describe Darcy’s friendship with Bingley?
‘Darcy takes a prodigious deal of care of him.’ (Vol. 2, Ch. 10, p. 153)
Narrative irony
Mrs Bennet asks, ‘What is Mr Darcy to me, pray, that I should be afraid of him? I am sure we owe him no particular civility’ (p. 83). The story will show that Mrs Bennet is wrong in every way at this point. Mr Darcy will eventually be her wealthiest son-in-law and her lack of general civility on this occasion almost ruins everything for Jane – the daughter she is boasting about. This is an example of narrative irony as well as demonstrating Mrs Bennet’s prejudice and bad manners.
TOP TIP
Always be alert for examples of irony when reading Pride and Prejudice. In this chapter, for instance, Elizabeth questions Darcy about being ‘blinded by prejudice’ and stresses the importance of ‘judging properly at first’ (p. 78). This is exactly what she is failing to do herself.
The narrator often explains people’s behaviour: for example, Georgiana’s shyness could make people assume she was proud, especially if they ‘felt themselves inferior’ (p. 219). The narrator also comments on people’s behaviour, pointing out that Caroline has only succeeded in making Darcy say ‘what gave no one any pain but herself’ (p. 223). Jane Austen’s ironic tone can invite us to smile at characters’ behaviour in an affectionate way as well as a satirical or judgemental way. Her description of Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth presents them as slightly comic but is not unkind: ‘Mrs Gardiner and Elizabeth talked of all that had occurred, during their visit, […] except what had particularly interested them both’ (p. 223).
Language - voice Mrs Bennet
Mrs Bennet characteristically speaks in incomplete sentences – very often with exclamations: ‘Every thing that is charming! Three daughters married! Ten thousand a year! Oh Lord!’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 17, p. 314) She is illogical and never notices how frequently she changes her mind and contradicts herself.
Use of Language – Sentence structure
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Mrs Bennet’s sentences are usually incomplete exclamations. What does she say when she knows Elizabeth will be marrying Darcy?
‘Such a charming man! – so handsome! so tall !’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 17, p. 313)
Mrs Bennet reacts violently with an outpouring of contradictory thoughts after Charlottes engagement to me c is out
Elizabeth knows her mother will be either violently set against the match or violently delighted. Notice how Austen springs a small surprise: Mrs Bennet is silent. After that her speech is even more fragmented than usual, full of incomplete sentences and exclamation marks.
Narrator’s tone
The narrator’s tone is frequently ironic and may also be sarcastic. Read the passage about Lydia’s marriage from ‘The good news quickly spread’ to ‘her misery was considered certain’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 8, p. 254). Underline some of the words and phrases which suggest that what is said and what is meant are not identical (= irony). Then choose a different colour to underline words that express clear criticism, anger or bitterness and so might better be described as sarcastic or satirical
Language device - use of detail
Pride and Prejudice is full of observations that sum up a whole situation or character in a few words. They often take the form of brief statements, rather than description, and gain their effect through Jane Austen’s precise selection of vocabulary (diction) and the strong rhythm of her sentences.
Example
‘In as short a time as Mr Collins’s long speeches would allow, everything was settled’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 22, p. 102).
Effect
The opposites ‘short’ and ‘long’ balance each other and offer the reader a quick reminder of just how boring Mr Collins is. It is a measure of the Lucases’ relief at Charlotte’s engagement that they cheerfully put up with this. If you read the sentence aloud you are likely to find that you stress the word ‘everything’. That’s it, business concluded, Charlotte’s future sorted out – for better or worse.
Language device - euphemism
Look out for Austen’s use of euphemism (substitution of a less harsh or indirect word or phrase for something embarrassing or unpleasant). The phrase ‘secluded in some distant farmhouse’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 8, p. 254) means giving birth in secret because unmarried.
Narrator’s voice
omniscient narrator
A story-teller who knows everything that is happening and all the characters’ thoughts
Austen acts in the novel as an omniscient narrator (someone who knows about everything). Occasionally she comments on her characters in the first person, for example on Mrs Bennet: ‘I wish I could say [that] the establishment of so many of her children, produced so happy an effect as to make her a sensible, amiable, well-informed woman for the rest of her life’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 19, p. 319). Putting ‘I wish’ at the beginning warns the reader in advance that this did not happen.
Use of Language – The voice of the narrator
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The narrator lets us know what other people are doing. What did Charlotte Lucas do when she saw Mr Collins walking towards her home?
… set out to meet him accidentally .’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 22, p. 102)
Use of Language – The voice of the narrator
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The voice of the narrator is often judgemental. How is Mrs Bennet described at the end of the first chapter?
‘… a woman of mean understanding …’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 1, p. 3)
Language device - rhetoric
What is rhetoric?
The skills of using language effectively and persuasively.
Example
Austen and her characters often use rhetorical techniques to make particular points. Lady Catherine tries a rhetorical question: ‘Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 14, p. 296) At least she thinks it’s a rhetorical question as she assumes the answer must be an obvious ‘No’.
Effect
The reader, however, will be guessing (or hoping) ‘Yes’ and will therefore see Lady Catherine’s arrogance more clearly than ever.
1Jane Austen (or her characters) use rhetoric To argue or persuade
‘Mr Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends – whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 18, p. 76).
Austen uses a wide range of sentence structures for rhetorical effect as well as to illustrate character. Here are some examples:
Example Effect
A balanced sentence: ‘Mr Wickham is blessed with such happy manners as may ensure his making friends – whether he may be equally capable of retaining them, is less certain.’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 18, p. 76)
This makes a true and damning point about Wickham (which Elizabeth ignores). It reveals Darcy’s strong character that he can speak in such a controlled manner even when he is clearly upset.
Piling up phrases or clauses to make a point more strongly: ‘She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper.’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 1, p. 3)
The reader is left in no doubt that the narrator dislikes Mrs Bennet.
Metaphors, similes, imagery etc
Metaphors, similes, imagery, assonance, alliteration, description are not frequently used by Austen but they are there in her writing and usually emphasise a particular point. For instance Lady Catherine’s accusation that Elizabeth has used ‘arts and allurements’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 14, p. 293) to capture Darcy is made more powerful by Austen’s use of alliteration.
Language - device concrete and abstract nouns
Diction (choice of words)
Includes abstract nouns referring to moral qualities (‘pride’) and judgmental adjectives (‘a woman of mean intelligence’). Careful choice of words indicates intelligence (‘Can he be a sensible man?’).
- Give an example of an abstract and a concrete noun from the novel.
- For example: abstract nouns – pride, prejudice; concrete nouns – chicken, petticoat
What are concrete and abstract nouns?
Concrete nouns are precise and specific names for things.
Abstract nouns are more likely to be generalised or refer to qualities.
Austen uses many more abstract nouns than would be usual today. When she focuses on a specific object it is usually for a special effect.
Example
‘Lady Lucas, who had been long yawning at the repetition of delights which she saw no likelihood of sharing, was left to the comforts of cold ham and chicken.’ (Vol. 1, Ch. 18, pp. 83–4) ‘Delights’ and ‘comforts’ are abstract nouns; ‘cold ham and chicken’ are concrete and linked to ‘comforts’ by alliteration.
Effect
This gives the impression that Lady Lucas is a straightforward person with rather simple tastes.
Use of Language – Concrete and abstract nouns
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Naive Maria Lucas is flustered when Miss de Bourgh and her companion call at Hunsford Parsonage. What does Elizabeth claim she expected?
‘… that the pigs were got into the garden …’ (Vol. 2, Ch. 5, p. 132)
Use of Language – Concrete and abstract nouns
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Mr and Mrs Gardiner are puzzled by Darcy’s courtesy and kindness when they meet him at Pemberley. What motive do they begin to suspect?
‘… a partiality for their niece.’ (Vol. 3, Ch. 2, p. 213)
When writing about Jane Austen’s diction you are likely to mention her use of abstract nouns such as ‘greatness’ (p. 132). Writers today often keep their language concrete (specific) and avoid abstraction. This was not the case in Austen’s time and usually her more refined characters use more intellectual language. However, you might like to list the occasions when Austen uses a very brief, concrete word and what effect she gains by this technique. For example, when she sees Miss de Bourgh’s carriage stop at the parsonage gate Maria Lucas insists that Elizabeth hurries downstairs ‘for there is such a sight to be seen! I will not tell you what it is’ (p. 132). When Elizabeth has seen the ‘wonder’, she comments ‘I expected at least that the pigs were got into the garden; and here is nothing but Lady Catherine and her daughter!’ The emphasis of the sentence falls on the word ‘pigs’. Elizabeth is implicitly criticising the fuss Maria has made about two quite normal human visitors. It is disrespectful to hint that pigs would have been more interesting and suggests that Elizabeth will not be intimidated by grandeur.
