There's only a little bit left, so read up to Chapter 28 at least (or finish it!) for Monday's class. The questions below are from today's discussion (Friday), but won't be due until next class, as usual.
Answer two of the following:
Q1: We talked in class today about how the Narrator's perspective (adult, satirical) is often at odds with Catherine's perspective (teenage, naive), which makes the story more complex than it otherwise was. Discuss a scene where we see the Narrator showing us a level of the story that is misread (or ignored) by Catherine. Why do you think Austen does this? What might be the point of contradicting or even belittling her heroine?
Q2: After having Henry explain the reality of his brother and Isabella's relationship, Catherine gives in and reflects, "Henry Tilney must know best. She blamed herself for the extent of her fears, and resolved never to think so seriously on the subject again" (157). Is this a healthy response to Henry's explanation? Should she always assume that Henry knows best? And should resolve to ignore her instincts since they're often too naive?
Q3: On the drive to Northanger, Henry narrates an on-the-spot Gothic narrative which completely frightens (and excites) Catherine. You can see examples of Gothic writing on pages 244-250 in the Appendix, to see how well he does this. How does Catherine, herself, adopt this narrative while at the Abbey? What is she looking for and how do we know she's writing herself into a make-believe novel?
Q4: So much of this novel is about how a girl learns to read the world around her in the same way she would read a book (without trying to read it like a book). How does Catherine start to see things as they really are, rather than how she would make them? Where does her perspective begin to line up with the Narrator (even if only slightly)?
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