EMMA- Chapter questions
1. How does Jane Austen set in contrast, in this opening chapter, the
apparent ‘blessings’ of Emma’s life and the ‘real evils’ of her
situation? At the beginning of the chapter, Emma is described as
“Handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy
disposition”. Emma is almost immediately described by attributes
men look for when looking for a wife. With appearance and wealth
listed first. This creates a sense of irony, as Emma does not want to
marry, and this is referenced within “I believe I shall never marry”.
This does allow the narrative of romance to be built up due to the
marriage of Emma being illuded to during the first sentence.
2. What possible causes of future disharmony does Jane Austen
introduce in this chapter? Within the second chapter, the
disharmony is referenced through the description of Mr. Weston, as
he has a chapter dedicated to him and his son, Frank Churchill even
before Mr. Knightley, this insinuates the need for the audience to
know about him. Therefore, when he is introduced within Volume
Two the audience is impending a key plot point.
3. What does this chapter suggest are some of the sources of human
happiness? Does Jane Austen appear to be looking askance at any of
them? Within chapter 3, the four women are having a conversation
about food, in which they seems to find happiness, for example “an
egg boiled very soft” and “tart - a very little bit”. The repetition of
the italics of “little” is used throughout seen also in a ”small half
glass”, the four womens conversation is something that obviously
provokes interest to them. However the repetition shows the
triviality in the conversation and can show Austen almost mocking
the women’s happiness.
4. What different dangers are noted by Emma, Harriet Smith and Jane
Austen in this chapter? Within this chapter, Emma and Harriet Smith
are discussing Mr Martin, and if Harriet should marry him. Emma is
concerned that Mr Martin is below Harriet in status, Harriet is being
convinced by Emma that her feelings are Mr Martin are false. The
reader assumes that Harriet is worried that she will miss out on her
true love.
5. How does Jane Austen use this debate between Mr Knightley and
Mrs Weston to lay out some of the novel’s likely issues, and suggest
possible developments in its action? The debate in this chapter is a
evaluation of the friendship between Emma and Harriet Smith, they
acknowledge the inequality of their status for instance “she is not
the superior young woman that Emma’s friend ought to be” (Mrs
Weston) although their friendship may encourage positive behavior
such as Emma reading more. Their friendship allows the narrative to
develop and allows characters such as Mrs. Weston and Mr.
1. How does Jane Austen set in contrast, in this opening chapter, the
apparent ‘blessings’ of Emma’s life and the ‘real evils’ of her
situation? At the beginning of the chapter, Emma is described as
“Handsome, clever, and rich, with a comfortable home and happy
disposition”. Emma is almost immediately described by attributes
men look for when looking for a wife. With appearance and wealth
listed first. This creates a sense of irony, as Emma does not want to
marry, and this is referenced within “I believe I shall never marry”.
This does allow the narrative of romance to be built up due to the
marriage of Emma being illuded to during the first sentence.
2. What possible causes of future disharmony does Jane Austen
introduce in this chapter? Within the second chapter, the
disharmony is referenced through the description of Mr. Weston, as
he has a chapter dedicated to him and his son, Frank Churchill even
before Mr. Knightley, this insinuates the need for the audience to
know about him. Therefore, when he is introduced within Volume
Two the audience is impending a key plot point.
3. What does this chapter suggest are some of the sources of human
happiness? Does Jane Austen appear to be looking askance at any of
them? Within chapter 3, the four women are having a conversation
about food, in which they seems to find happiness, for example “an
egg boiled very soft” and “tart - a very little bit”. The repetition of
the italics of “little” is used throughout seen also in a ”small half
glass”, the four womens conversation is something that obviously
provokes interest to them. However the repetition shows the
triviality in the conversation and can show Austen almost mocking
the women’s happiness.
4. What different dangers are noted by Emma, Harriet Smith and Jane
Austen in this chapter? Within this chapter, Emma and Harriet Smith
are discussing Mr Martin, and if Harriet should marry him. Emma is
concerned that Mr Martin is below Harriet in status, Harriet is being
convinced by Emma that her feelings are Mr Martin are false. The
reader assumes that Harriet is worried that she will miss out on her
true love.
5. How does Jane Austen use this debate between Mr Knightley and
Mrs Weston to lay out some of the novel’s likely issues, and suggest
possible developments in its action? The debate in this chapter is a
evaluation of the friendship between Emma and Harriet Smith, they
acknowledge the inequality of their status for instance “she is not
the superior young woman that Emma’s friend ought to be” (Mrs
Weston) although their friendship may encourage positive behavior
such as Emma reading more. Their friendship allows the narrative to
develop and allows characters such as Mrs. Weston and Mr.
