Doug Wilson has a very interesting post today on Jane Austen and her writing style and how it doesn’t fit modern rules on how to write. He says that Austen uses a lot of passive voice constructions and mostly “tells instead of shows” us her characters and their strengths and weaknesses. Computer Guru Son took a writing and grammar class last year in which the teacher would not allow the students to use any “being” verbs in their papers. I assume she was trying to weed out the passive constructions from their writing. However, I thought at the time that “being verbs” are not the problem. Passive writing that does not engage the reader is the problem. These first lines from Austen’s novels may be passive, telling instead of showing, but they do capture the reader’s attention.
Pride and Prejudice: It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. (Reader immediately laughs in rueful agreement.)
Mansfield Park: About thirty years ago, Miss Maria Ward of Huntingdon, with only seven thousand pounds, had the good luck to captivate Sir Thomas Bertram, of Mansfield Park, in the county of Northampton, and to be thereby raised to the rank of a baronet’s lady, with all the comforts and consequences of an handsome house and large income. (Reader: “How did she do that?”)
Emma: Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy disposition, seemed to unite some of the best blessings of existence; and had lived nearly twenty-one years in the world with very little to distress or vex her. (Reader: “How did she do that and can such good fortune possibly continue?”)
Northanger Abbey: No one who had ever seen Catherine Morland in her infancy, would have supposed her born to be an heroine. (A heroine? )
Sanditon: A gentleman and a lady travelling from Tunbridge towards that part of the Sussex coast which lies between Hastings and Eastbourne, being induced by business to quit the high road and attempt a very rough land, were overturned in toiling up its long ascent, half rock, half sand. (What business could “induce” them to do such a thing? And what happened next?)
Sense and Sensibility: The family of Dashwood had long been settled in Sussex. (This sentence is not nearly as intriguing as the others, but Sense and Sensibility makes up for the slow start with a great story and a satisfying ending: “Between Barton and Delaford, there was that constant communication which strong family affection would naturally dictate;–and among the merits and the happiness of Elinor and Marianne, let it not be ranked as the least considerable, that though sisters, and living almost within sight of each other, they could live without disagreement between themselves, or producing coolness between their husbands.” How did they do it?)
Great post Sherry! Thank you for sharing your thoughtful, thoughts!
Donna
In all likelihood the teacher who refused to allow Computer Guru Son to use being verbs was plain and simply an idiot…but possibly there was a method to her madness. If her message was, “Never use being verbs,” that’s one thing…but if it was, “Learn to write without using being verbs,” that’s quite something else again. Learning to write subject to constraints is almost always useful.
you should discuss austens writing style before you criticize it
Jane Austen is bad!!! I hated reading P & P!!! It’s about a bunch of money-hungry gold diggers who have nothing better to do with their lives that target rich jackasses.
Jane austin is a brillant,inspiring writter. and before you go a criticize her writting you should do some research on her and her lifestyle then might you understand!!
This is a good blog post about Jane Austen. However I am confused as to why Persuasion was not included? The first line, which is about Sir Walter, is very telling of his character and important to the book.
Jane Austen is a phenomenal writer, and none of you ignorant people have the grounds to knock or criticize her classic work. she is a better writer than any of you could ever strive to be.
Oh, and who ever wrote this blog, thank you very much it has helped me immensely.
I have recently just read S&S for an AP class. It was a slow read for me just b/c i am an adventurous reader. on the other hand, it was an awesome novel. it had great surprises that wern’t foreseen, and the ending was wonderful. i enjoyed reading it immensely. to me jane austen is a brilliant writer that achieved greatness for writing what are now classics, but EVERYONE HAS THEIR OWN OPINIONS!! i don’t know how old yall are, but dang…
J’adore Jane Austen. Je me marie bientôt et je voudrais rédiger des faire-part dans le langage du 19ème siècle. SOS!
hi i am krishna pandey
student of english hons first year in BHU varanasi
i read jane’s novel “sens and sensbility” and this novel is amazing
must read this
Getting angry about someone who clearly doesn’t appreciate Austen’s work is not for us to do but for us we should accept that someone else has an opinion about her. Our opinions are not always right though we may think diffferently. The main point is being open to new horizons. Thanks.+
jane auten is a brilliant writer and i admire her style .to me some one who doesnt appreciate her work indeed know nothing about litreture.