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With the turn of the century and the rise of Romanticism, however, the novel began to explore human relationships with a greater degree of emotional complexity.
- Plot Summary Plot
Rich, beautiful, and privileged Emma Woodhouse fancies...
- Summary & Analysis
Because Emma’s older sister, Isabella, is married and her...
- Themes
Emma, like most of Austen’s novels, is a study in 18th...
- Quotes
[Emma] was not struck by any thing remarkably clever in Miss...
- Characters
Formerly Emma’s governess and beloved companion, Miss Taylor...
- Symbols
Emma Symbols Next. Riddles and Word Games. Riddles and Word...
- Lit Devices
Emma Introduction + Context. Plot Summary. Detailed Summary...
- Misperception
Emma ’s initial perceptions of people and her own confidence...
- Plot Summary Plot
Formerly Miss Taylor, Emma’s beloved governess and companion. Known for her kind temperament and her devotion to Emma, Mrs. Weston lives at Randalls with her husband, Frank Churchill’s father. Mr. Weston. The widower and proprietor of Randalls, who has just married Miss Taylor when the novel begins. Mr.
Frank Churchill is rich, attractive, and amiable, and he and Emma immediately strike up a flirtation. Emma is determined to like Frank, since he is her friend Mr. Weston’s son, and even considers him as a potential partner for herself despite her earlier claims that she would never marry.
Emma is abound with humor. The entire plot of the novel hinges on tricking the reader into believing the clueless Emma Woodhouse's wrong interpretation of events. At the end, when we realize...
- Summary: Chapter 1
- Summary: Chapter 2
- Summary: Chapter 3
- Analysis: Chapters 1–3
The narrator opens the novel by introducing us to Emma Woodhouse, a girl endowed with “some of the best blessings of existence,” including good looks, intelligence, riches, and an affectionate father. Emma’s only disadvantages are that she is slightly spoiled and that she thinks “a little too well of herself.” Emma’s mother died before Emma could f...
The narrator recounts Mr. Weston’s history. His first marriage was to a woman named Miss Churchill, who came from a higher class than his. They had a son, named Frank, but the marriage was overshadowed by the disapproval of Mrs. Weston’s brother and sister-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Churchill. When Mrs. Weston died after three years of marriage, Frank wa...
The Woodhouses give a small dinner party, to which they invite other members of their social circle: the widow Mrs. Bates; her single, middle-aged daughter, Miss Bates; and Mrs. Goddard, the mistress of the local boarding school. Mrs. Goddard brings one of her boarders, Harriet Smith, a girl whose parentage is unknown. Emma admires Harriet for her ...
The narration of these opening chapters creates a complicated portrait of Emma as a young, beautiful, clever, and confident character who exercises her influence in a constricted and complex environment and has much to learn about friendship, love, and the ways of the world. Emma’s affection for Miss Taylor and her kindness to her foolish and somew...
As Jane walks Emma out, they each apologize and establish their good will for the other. Emma and Jane finally become friends, as each feels she has misbehaved towards the other and is humbled by the other’s generosity. In their mutual happiness, they are also full of mutual good will.
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Why do Emma and Frank turn to each other?
Who does Emma suspect he had a romance with?
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How does Mr Weston present a riddle in praise of Emma?
Frank and Emma display a selfish disregard towards the company they are with, before which they flirt excessively and meaninglessly for their own entertainment. Indeed, they only turn to the others when Frank decides to create more entertainment involving them in his gallantry towards Emma.
