ENGL3353: Jane Austen’s Afterlives

Why do the novels of Jane Austen, which were first published over two hundred years ago, still captivate readers all over the world? In this discussion-based course, which fulfills the Literature Core LE, we will closely examine five of Austen’s major novels alongside the far morevoluminous body of scholarship, sequels, screen adaptations, and fan responses that these works have inspired. Besides considering Austen's distinctive style, her contribution to the development of the novel form, and the cultural and historical context in which she wrote, we will explore avariety of ways in which the author and her work have been represented and reimagined across the globe. By focusing on a single author in depth, members of this course will not only investigate the array of cultural functions that “Jane Austen” has come to serve, but also hone their ability to analyze fundamental aspects of literary technique.

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