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No questions this time, but keep reading Emma and try to get around Chapter 14 for next time. I'll give you an in-class response when you return based on some passage or idea in these chapters, which might include the following:
* Why does Emma so completely misread Mr. Elton's romantic intentions towards her? Why does she attribute them instead to Harriet? What might this say about her character and talents of outward perception?
* How does her relationship with Knightley continue to develop in these chapters? Do they have a potentially romantic relationship--or merely an adversarial one? What insights does Austen allow us to into their past relationship?
* While Knightley criticizes Emma's attempts to mold and improve Harriet, could we argue that he is doing the same toward Emma? Is he trying to shape her into the future Mrs. Knightley (and failing)?
* Why is she so insulted by Mr. Elton's declaration of love? Is it merely because of the insult to Harriet--or to the insult toward herself? Does she really think him so beneath her?
* How does the novel continue to play with the ideas of sensibility and sentiment? Which characters most embody which quality? How does Austen make us aware of this?
* What does Emma see as Harriet's biggest failings--and hardest 'flaws' to correct? Are these really flaws, or just her own social bias showing through? In other words, do these need to be fixed?
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