Jane Austen and the Novel of Manners

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering Jane Austen's biography, writing style, the definition of the novel of manners, and the specific characters and plot points of Pride and Prejudice.

Jane Austen

An English author (1775–1817) who lived a quiet life with her family, published her first novels anonymously, and wrote about everyday life and relationships.

Cassandra

Jane Austen's sister, with whom she lived a quiet life.

Jane Austen's Famous Works

Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Persuasion.

Irony

A stylistic device used by Austen characterized by humor and hidden meaning.

Omniscient narrator

A narrator who knows everything about the story and characters.

Free indirect speech

A technique where the thoughts and speech of characters mix with the voice of the narrator; it anticipates the modernist stream-of-consciousness technique.

Novel of Manners

A type of novel showing how people behave in society, especially in the upper and middle classes, focusing on social rules, reputation, and everyday situations like balls and visits.

Reputation

A concept in Austen's work where people are judged by their behavior and where bad manners can damage one's social position.

Self-realisation

A process of personal growth where main female characters learn from mistakes and think deeply (reflection) after a crisis or climax.

Longbourn

The small English village that serves as the setting for Pride and Prejudice.

The Bennet daughters

The five sisters in Pride and Prejudice: Jane, Elizabeth, Kitty, Mary, and Lydia.

Charles Bingley

A rich man who moves near Longbourn and falls in love with Jane Bennet.

Elizabeth Bennet

The intelligent, lively, and strong-minded protagonist who judges people quickly but learns from her mistakes, representing growth and self-awareness.

Mr. Darcy

A rich, intelligent man who initially seems cold and arrogant but is actually honest and generous, representing moral development.

George Wickham

The character who runs away with Lydia Bennet, creating a situation that Mr. Darcy secretly fixes.

Social Mobility

An important theme in Austen's time showing how the middle class was becoming more important and how money and status affect relationships.

Marriage

An event in Austen's novels often resulting from love, money, or social status, usually serving as the happy ending for the hero and heroine.