Assessment Photo Album:

A Study of Character in Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility

Amanda Gallagher

Application 6

Walden University

Dr. Skuza

December 2010

Jane Austen’s

Marianne

“To love is to burn…”

Elinor

“In spite of herself, she had always admitted a hope…but now she condemned her heart.”

Your Task:

• How does an author develop a character?

• How does an author use a character to convey theme?

• What is the purpose of juxtaposing certain characters?

• How does text reflect culture?

• What are the defining characteristics of the early Romantic time period?

• Who is the ideal man and ideal woman of the early Romantic time period?

Research the historical context of Austen’s work and then trace the development of one of the major characters, Elinor or Marianne, noting the development of theme and character and analyzing how the social constructs of the early Romantic time period pervade Austen’s work and inform her character’s decisions.

Diagnostic Assessment

About Jane…1. What is the difference between a

personal tragedy and a social tragedy?

2. "One's happiness must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance," the narrator says.

a) What role does chance play in life?b) What role has chance played in your life?

3."Wealth has much to do with...happiness," Elinor states at one point. "Elinor, for shame!" says Marianne. "Money can only give happiness where there is nothing else to give it."

a)What do you think is the relationship between love and money in Sense and Sensibility? Does it seem to be different for different characters?

b) Has the relationship between love and money changed in today's world?

Consider…

About what does your character

dream?

What does your character desire?

For what does your character

hope?

What does your character fear?

What limits your character?

What motivates your character?

Trace………….

If Your Character Had Access to Modern Forms of Communication, Then…

About what might she “tweet”?

What would her Facebook profile look like? What significant quote would she list as meaningful? What would her biography look like? What might she include in status updates?

@Elinor: One's happiness must in some measure be always at the mercy of chance

@Elinor: Wealth has much to do with...happiness

Formative Assessments

If your character created a scrapbook, what abstract images would she use to convey mood?

Formative Assessment

Finally, You will compose five blog entries

written from the perspective of either Marianne or Elinor. Entries must reflect knowledge of theme andcontent. You will demonstrate an understanding of how your character has changed over the course of the text.

5 Entries that reflect the

course of the text

5 Abstract Images

5 Song Clips

A blog is a particular type of web site, where articles (or “posts” or “entries”) are listed in reverse-chronological order (the most recent articles at the top). Blogs are usually published by individuals as a kind of diary, journal, magazine, or independent journalism.

Summative Assessment

You will understand how…

•social constructs influence characters’ decisions

•text reflects culture

References

Austen, Jane .(1811). Sense and sensibility. New York: CreateSpace, 2010.

Photobucket. Sense and sensibility images. Retrieved December 2010, from http://photobucket.com/.