The following text is from Jane Austen’s 1817 novel Persuasion. Sir Walter Elliot is an English gentleman and the father of three daughters.Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society.Which choice best states the main purpose of the text?To emphasize Sir Walter Elliot’s generosity of spirit.eliminateTo characterize Sir Walter Elliot as particularly narcissistic.eliminateTo ridicule the English nobility.eliminateTo praise Sir Walter Elliot for his good looks.eliminateScratch Board

The following text is from Jane Austen’s 1818 novel Persuasion. Vanity was the beginning and the end of Sir Walter Elliot’s character; vanity of person and of situation. He had been remarkably handsome in his youth; and, at fifty-four, was still a very fine man. Few women could think more of their personal appearance than he did, nor could the valet of any new made lord be more delighted with the place he held in society. He considered the blessing of beauty as inferior only to the blessing of a baronetcy; and the Sir Walter Elliot, who united these gifts, was the constant object of his warmest respect and devotion.According to the text, what is true about Sir Walter Elliot?Sir Walter Elliot is an extremely youthful man.eliminateSir Walter Elliot was once remarkably handsome and has since aged severely.eliminateSir Walter Elliot is a humble man.eliminateSir Walter Elliot holds himself in high regard for more than one reason.

Scholarly analyses of Jane Austen’s novels often highlight the depth and interiority with which she ------- her female protagonists. Unlike many of her predecessors and contemporaries, Austen uses techniques such as free indirect speech and irony in order to render the women in her novels as thoughtful, well-rounded characters.Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?portrayseliminatecommitseliminateillustrateseliminatesignifies

The passage below is accompanied by a set of questions. Choose the best answer to each question.It has been customary in the past to approach Jane Austen, not only as a great novelist, but also as a representative of what critics have called the "feminist tradition" in the English novel. At first glance this seems appropriate enough. After all it has always been one of those "universally acknowledged" truths that Jane Austen's narratives center on love and marriage. But more recent developments in Jane Austen criticism seem to assume that feminism in the novel should be examined as a coherent body of opinions held by the novelist on the identity and social functions of women. And insofar as this approach is based on the novelist's analysis of female identity, it seems to respond to contemporary pressures, generated by the liberation movement, for thoughtful evaluation of female images in society and in literature. But even if we assume that the liberation movement has had this indirect influence, it does not follow that these recent approaches to "feminism" coincide with the liberationist philosophy itself, or that they even depart from those conventional notions of "womanhood" which are anathema to the women's liberation movement.Sylvia Myers' study of "womanhood" in Jane Austen's novels is illustrative. The starting point of her paper is an objection to Ian Watts's view that in Jane Austen "feminine and adolescent values are painfully educated in the norms of the mature, rational and educated male world." But although Myers rejects Watts's thesis as a "bald dichotomy" that is unfair to women, her own subsequent analysis of "womanhood" in Jane Austen's novels is based on what she describes as a "post-Freudian" schema: "in terms of somatic existence, each sex exists within its own bodily plan, woman is endowed with and aware of her inner structure and capacity to produce and nurture a child," and, according to this somatic scheme of womanhood, the maturation of an Emma Woodhouse, the titular protagonist in Austen’s 1815 novel Emma, is defined by Emma's discovery of her own need "for love, for physical fulfillment, for children." Curiously enough, Myers has attempted to rebut the pejorative implications of Ian Watts's "bald dichotomy" by appealing to those biologically based concepts of womanhood which have now come into disrepute as limiting and patronizing definitions of female identity. For it is important to note that Myers is not merely attributing a certain (somatic) concept of womanhood to Jane Austen, but has actually postulated this "post-Freudian" thesis as the definitive standard by which feminism in Jane Austen should be judged. Similarly, a psychoanalytical study by Helen Corsa sums up the significance of Emma’s human growth by appealing to the conventional image of the woman as a being with "instinctual" needs for marriage and motherhood: "Her [Emma's] womanly instinctual needs, her desire for love, for marriage, for motherhood are all obvious in her role as matchmaker; her insistent playing out that role, leads her out of the game into reality." These earlier studies are relevant because they illustrate very well some of the problems which now arise whenever we attempt to describe "feminism" or "womanhood" in Jane Austen's writing or that of any other writer.Question 3According to the author, both Ian Watts and Myers in their analyses of Jane Austen’s work:Align their views with the contemporary women's liberation movement.Focus primarily on the political and social influences on Austen’s writing.Agree on a unified feminist perspective on Austen's portrayal of women.Offer interpretations that are oversimplifications of Austen’s characters.

Read this passage from chapter 22 of The Prince. But to enable a prince to form an opinion of his servant there is one test which never fails; when you see the servant thinking more of his own interests than of yours, and seeking inwardly his own profit in everything, such a man will never make a good servant, nor will you ever be able to trust him; because he who has the state of another in his hands ought never to think of himself, but always of his prince, and never pay any attention to matters in which the prince is not concerned. Which statement best summarizes the central idea of this excerpt? One must know the process of hiring servants. It is important to always honor one's servants. It is necessary to choose trustworthy servants. The intelligence of servants must be considered.

Read the extract given below and answer the following questions:Excerpt from Pride and Prejudice – Jane AustenChapter IIt is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters. "My dear Mr. Bennet," said his lady to him one day, "have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?"Mr. Bennet replied that he had not. "But it is," returned she; "for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it."Mr. Bennet made no answer. "Do not you want to know who has taken it?" cried his wife impatiently. "You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it. "This was invitation enough."Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week." "What is his name?" "Bingley." "Is he married or single? "Oh! single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!" "How so? how can it affect them?" "My dear Mr. Bennet," replied his wife, "how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them." "Is that his design in settling here?" "Design! nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.""I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.""My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be any thing extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.""In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.""But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.""It is more than I engage for, I assure you.""But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general you know they visit no new comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not.""You are over scrupulous surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying which ever he chuses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.""I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.""They have none of them much to recommend them," replied he; "they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.""Mr Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.""You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least." "Ah! you do not know what I suffer." "But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood." "It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come since you will not visit them.""Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all."Mr Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three and twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develop. She was a woman of mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper. When she was discontented she fancied herself nervous. The business of her life was to get her daughters married; its solace was visiting and news.Questions  a) Comment on the use of figurative language to create the mood of the text.b) Discuss how does Mrs Bennet’s character differ from that of Mr. Bennet.