Episode 27: Northanger Abbey, Ch. 11-17

The Literary Life Podcast

Today on The Literary Life, Cindy, Angelina and Thomas dig into chapters 11-17 of Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey. Today’s conversation gets into the subtext surrounding what was expected of young ladies to be acceptable in society. A major theme in this book, and particularly in these chapters, is Catherine’s learning to discern between what is simply appearance and what is reality. We learn even more in these chapters how inconstant and deceptive the Thorpes are, especially in contrast to the Tilneys.

Angelina highlights some of the scenes Austen uses to illustrate when it is right for Catherine to buck the rules of propriety as opposed to Isabella’s impropriety at the wrong time. Thomas brings up the question of what reasons we have thus far to like Henry Tilney even though we do not know overly much about him yet. Cindy points out some of Austen’s ideas on education and the similarities to Charlotte Mason’s principles.

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Also, be sure to check out Thomas Banks’ webinar, The Poetry of Advent, taking place on December 4, 2019.

Spring and Fall

by Gerard Manley Hopkins

to a young child

Márgarét, áre you gríeving Over Goldengrove unleaving? Leáves like the things of man, you With your fresh thoughts care for, can you? Ah! ás the heart grows older It will come to such sights colder By and by, nor spare a sigh Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie; And yet you wíll weep and know why. Now no matter, child, the name: Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same. Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed What heart heard of, ghost guessed: It ís the blight man was born for, It is Margaret you mourn for.

Book List:

(Amazon Affiliate Links)

Surprised by Oxford by Carolyn Weber

Adorning the Dark by Andrew Peterson

Assessments and Anticipations by William Ralph Inge

A Father’s Legacy to His Daughters by John Gregory

A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft

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