Sense and Sensibility

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. When and where did Jane Austen live? Why are her works important to the history of literature? What kinds of topics did she write about?

Teaching Suggestion: Students may be able to roughly place Austen in time, and most will know that she is an English author, but they may be hazy on the specifics of her life and literary importance. This question and the resources below are intended to lead them to a more specific understanding of what is important about Austen’s novels in both their own historical context and in ours.

• This biography of Austen is offered by JaneAusten.org, a site dedicated to the author and her works.
• This article from Stanford University features literary scholars discussing the significance of Austen’s work.
• This site, hosted by the nonprofit Jane Austen’s House, offers an overview of important characteristics of Austen’s work.
• This article from the BBC explains why Austen has lasting appeal.

2. Create a T-chart. On the left side, list points of similarity between Jane Austen’s era—Regency England—and our own time and place.