Emma

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Emma has significant privilege and autonomy. Does she make good use of these? In your experience, do individuals with social privilege and wealth typically use this for good or bad?

2. Emma enjoys engaging in matchmaking even though she often causes havoc by doing so. Do you think that matchmaking can be beneficial? When and why might a third party be able to gauge if a couple will be compatible?

3. Emma is jealous of Jane Fairfax because Jane is more accomplished than she is. Have you ever been jealous of someone? Why do you think feelings of jealousy tend to arise? Do they usually indicate hidden insecurities?

4. Emma is astonished to abruptly realize that she has romantic feelings for Knightley. Has there ever been a time when you were unaware of your true feelings about a person or situation? What eventually caused these feelings to come to light?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. Austen’s novel engages deeply with questions of social class in the 19th century. Discuss how Emma and Knightley’s different expectations about Harriet’s marriage reflect differing views of social class. What is the significance of Harriet eventually marrying a farmer rather than the more socially elevated match Emma initially envisioned? What does Emma ultimately learn about social class and social position? Do the novel’s lessons still resonate today?

2. Discuss how the figure of Miss Bates sheds light on the social status of unmarried women in Austen’s era. What are the economic and social ramifications of Miss Bates’s life as a “spinster”? How is she perceived by the surrounding community?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. The novel is narrated in the third person, although it is tightly focused on Emma as the protagonist. Would you have preferred first-person narration? What are the pros and cons of Austen’s narrative style? 

2. Discuss the role of comedy in the novel; which characters did you find funny? How do the comedic scenes contribute to satire or social critique?

3. How does the novel portray parenthood and children? Consider Mr. Woodhouse or Emma’s sister and brother-in-law as parental figures. 

4. Analyze the contrast between city and country in the novel. How is London depicted? (Consider, for example, the discussion of Frank Crawford going to London to get his hair cut.) How does the novel’s tightly circumscribed setting contribute to its themes and exploration of community?

5. Notably, at the novel’s conclusion, Mr. Knightley comes to live with Emma and her father in their home. How does this conclusion differ from a more traditional conclusion to a romance (including the endings of Austen’s other novels)? What does it reveal about Knightley’s character and the dynamic between him and Emma?