Bei dieser Sammlung handelt es sich um Thesenpapiere des Hauptseminars "Comedy and Burlesque in Henry Fielding and Jane Austen", welche der Vorbereitung der Seminarsitzungen dienten.
Die thematischen Schwerpunkte der Ausarbeitungen liegen auf Religion, Liebe, Verstand, Vernunft und derber Unterhaltung. Im Mittelpunkt der Seminararbeit standen Henry Fieldings „Tom Jones“, sowie Jane Austens „Northanger Abbey“, „Sense and Sensibility“ und „Persuasion“. Zahlreiche interessante Aspekte werden analysiert und interpretiert.
Table of Contents
01. Pamela vs Les Liaisons Dangereuses – minutes
02. The Importance of Being Religious
03. Ordinary People: Northanger Abbey
04. Male Heroics and Female Dramatics: Sense and Sensibility
05. Experience and Reflection: Sense and Sensibility
06. Tom Jones: Journeys
07. Farce and Material Culture: Fielding, Tom Jones
08. Chercher l’auteur: the Presentation of Fictional Characters in Tom Jones
09. Persuasion: Love
10. Persuasion: Sense and Sensibility
Objectives and Themes
This collection of seminar papers explores the manifestations of comedy, burlesque, and social satire within the works of Henry Fielding and Jane Austen. The overarching goal is to analyze how these authors employ narrative techniques, characterization, and observations of morality to critique 18th and early 19th-century societal structures, class expectations, and gender roles.
- The role of the epistolary novel in character interiority and social critique.
- The tension between religious morality and human hypocrisy in Fielding’s narratives.
- Character archetypes and the dichotomy of sense versus sensibility in Austen’s female protagonists.
- The use of farce, material culture, and narrative irony to expose societal absurdities.
Excerpt from the Book
Virtue and Morality
As Fielding points out in the preface of Joseph Andrews the main aspects of his social criticism are society's hypocrisy and vanity which lead to vices yet not to greater evil (at least not in his story).
To underline the contrast between the morally good and the morally corrupt he supplies his characters with strong features like in the first case simplicity, happiness and belief in god or in the second case lust, hind thought or bad will. Archetype of the first category is the parson called Adams, a well schooled, well-read but not too down-to-earth clergyman of fifty (book l, chapter 3) who believes that all man is good and who acts on this conviction. Archetype of the second could be Lady Booby who knows that Joseph Andrews is a rather naive young man and who therefore thinks that she has no big Job in making him her lover (book l, chapter 5), yet Joseph resists. His conduct can be traced back upon Mr Adams' work of moral education and the two principles of innocence (book l, chapter 3) and honesty (as is opposed to hypocrisy: book 2, chapter 3; “Thoughts so unworthy a Christian” referring to the episode with Lady Booby).
We can hereby conclude that religion has a lot to do with moral conduct in society. The Bible's topics are neither questioned nor discussed, yet sexual intercourse (book 4, chapter 8; where Parson Adams says that he is against passion, and his wife defends her position on marriage out of love) or betrayal of one's fellow men are critically looked upon - when that can be of any use. Of course, both vices exist behind more or less drawn curtains.
Summary of Chapters
01. Pamela vs Les Liaisons Dangereuses – minutes: Discusses the early development of the novel as a literary form and the use of the epistolary technique to convey character interiority.
02. The Importance of Being Religious: Analyzes how Fielding uses religious figures and biblical allusions to critique societal hypocrisy and vanity in Joseph Andrews.
03. Ordinary People: Northanger Abbey: Examines Catherine Morland’s development and Austen's critical observation of female behavior and social interaction within the context of Bath society.
04. Male Heroics and Female Dramatics: Sense and Sensibility: Explores how character traits are distributed between the Dashwood sisters and the male protagonists to deconstruct gendered clichés.
05. Experience and Reflection: Sense and Sensibility: Focuses on the roles of Colonel Brandon and Mrs. Jennings to highlight the contrast between seasoned experience and personal reflection in social navigation.
06. Tom Jones: Journeys: Investigates the function of travel as a narrative frame and its role in revealing the motivations and social standings of the novel's characters.
07. Farce and Material Culture: Fielding, Tom Jones: Discusses the intersection of monetary concerns and farce in creating humor and exposing the unpredictability of human relationships.
08. Chercher l’auteur: the Presentation of Fictional Characters in Tom Jones: Analyzes Fielding’s method of character introduction and the relationship between his fictional figures and real-life inspirations.
09. Persuasion: Love: Critically reviews the main love story in Persuasion, balancing the theme of true devotion against the constraints of parental control and social status.
10. Persuasion: Sense and Sensibility: Examines the rational versus emotional traits of characters in Persuasion and the distant, objective style of the narrator.
Keywords
Comedy, Burlesque, Henry Fielding, Jane Austen, Social Satire, Epistolary Novel, Sense and Sensibility, Morality, Hypocrisy, Characterization, 18th Century Literature, Farce, Gender Roles, Narrative Technique, Literary Criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the fundamental focus of this publication?
This work examines the comedic techniques, use of burlesque, and social commentary found in the novels of Henry Fielding and Jane Austen.
Which specific themes are central to the analysis?
Key themes include the critique of 18th-century social morality, the impact of gender on character behavior, the juxtaposition of "sense" and "sensibility," and the role of material interests in personal relationships.
What is the primary research objective?
The objective is to explore how these two authors utilize specific literary devices to analyze and criticize the societal structures and human behaviors of their respective eras.
What scientific methods are applied?
The author employs literary analysis and close reading of primary texts, comparing character development, narrative structure, and thematic elements across the novels.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body systematically analyzes individual novels, including Joseph Andrews, Northanger Abbey, Sense and Sensibility, Tom Jones, and Persuasion, breaking them down into thematic segments like "Experience," "Farce," and "Virtue."
Which keywords best characterize these papers?
Keywords include Comedy, Burlesque, Social Satire, Morality, Gender Roles, and 18th Century Literature.
How does Fielding use religion in his work?
Fielding uses religious figures as archetypes to contrast the "morally good" with the "morally corrupt," often exposing religious practice as a shield for lower, worldly intentions.
How does Austen portray female behavior in Northanger Abbey?
Austen captures the mundane realities of women at the time—focusing on clothes, relationships, and social navigation—while using Catherine Morland to highlight the divide between innocence and social pretension.
In what way does Tom Jones reflect the author's personal life?
The text notes that Fielding models some character experiences, such as the loss of a wife or specific views on love, on his own personal history, bridging the gap between author and character.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Lipka (Author), 2001, Comedy and Burlesque in Henry Fielding and Jane Austen, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/126072
