Persuasion

Persuasion 

• Genre: Fiction; classic; romance 
• Originally Published: 1817 (posthumously) 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 1100L; College/Adult 
• Structure/Length: Divided into 2 volumes, 24 chapters; approximately 122 pages; approximately 8 hours and 37 minutes on audiobook 
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, Anne Elliot, is a woman of quiet charm and deep feelings, who, eight years prior, was persuaded to reject a proposal from the man she loved, Captain Frederick Wentworth, due to his lack of fortune and her family's disapproval. When Wentworth returns as a successful and wealthy man, Anne grapples with her enduring love for him amid societal pressures and the prospect of second chances. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Themes of social class and status; gender roles and marriage; emotional regret and resilience; the norms and values of early 19th-century England

Jane Austen, Author 

• Bio: Born 1775; died 1817; one of the most widely read writers in English literature; known for her keen observations of the Georgian society in which she lived, particularly regarding women’s dependence on marriage for social standing and economic security; her novels are celebrated for their wit, irony, and moral depth 
• Other Works: Pride and Prejudice (1813); Sense and Sensibility (1811); Emma (1815); Mansfield Park (1814); Northanger Abbey (1817)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Dangers of Pride
• Constancy in True Romantic Love
• Woman’s Occupation

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Gain an understanding of the novel’s literary, sociocultural, and intellectual contexts.
• Discuss paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Dangers of Pride, Constancy in True Romantic Love, and Woman’s Occupation.
• Think creatively about Austen’s writing style by crafting their own “Austenian” dialogue.
• Evaluate the themes, symbols, and motifs of the text in structured essay responses on the role of persuasion, gender norms, and other topics.