Watching "The Jane Austen Book Club"

What do you do when you have ESL students who need to study Jane Austen?

In my case, we watched a movie about Jane Austen's book club :-)

"The Jane Austen Book Club" is where 6 Jane Austen fans (including an Austen newbie, a goofy guy named "Grigg" and an Austen diehard fan French teacher, Prudie (Emily Blunt), whom Bernadette bumps into at the supermarket) meet to discuss a novel each month.

When Sylvia's (Amy Brenneman of "Judging Amy (6 seasons - 138 Episodes on 19 DVDs)", one of my favourite TV shows!!!) husband dumps her for another woman, her friends, Bernadette and Jocelyn set up the book club. Jocelyn even plots to match Sylvia with Griff, who's actually attracted to Jocelyn! Can you smell the plot of "Emma" already? ;-)

The book club gets off on a rocky start because Prudie is incredibly haughty towards Allegra, Sylvia's lesbian daughter and the hapless Grigg who brings a bumper 6 books-in-one volume (e.g. The Complete Novels of Jane Austen) to the first meeting LOL

However, things get interesting as they discuss each novel (Emma, Mansfield Park, Persuasion, Pride & Prejudice, Northanger Abbey and Sense & Sensibility) because their debates on the book's plot, characters or themes tend to spill over to what's happening in their lives.

Will the prissy Prudie actually have an affair with her incredibly handsome student (who provides the spark missing in her own marriage)?

Will Jocelyn (Maria Bello) finally realize and accept the fact that Grigg likes her?

Will Sylvia's separation end in divorce?

Will Allegra find true love?

I had a great time watching the movie because their discussions on Jane Austen's books were detailed and thoughtful and the complex lives of the characters themselves provided a lot of entertaining. 

My favourite character has to be Grigg because he provided comic relief to break the tension generated by the female characters.

Prudie was interesting too but boy, I found her quite annoying...

Lastly, watching the movie has sparked my interest to read the rest of Austen's novels as I've only read "Emma" and "Pride and Prejudice" :-) 

Got my eye on the The Complete Novels of Jane Austen.

If you like Jane Austen's books, you'll enjoy watching "The Jane Austen Book Club"

Or, you can take the easy way out and watch the film/movie version :)

Jane Austen's works will be super fascinating esp in the aspect of "personal vs cultural identity" but her works have been studied to death (see list of dissertation topics)

1. Discuss how the writer uses feminine frivolity to highlight the plight of women 
2. Discuss gender and class issues that women are subject to according to Jane Austen
3. Explain the nature of 19th century marriages and compare it with the situation today
4. Discuss the economics of marriage according to this book 
5. Explain how gender bias has been portrayed in the book
6. What are some of the differences between traditional marriage and contemporary marriage? Boring...
7. Discuss how the different characters in the book have been used to portray particular elements
8. Discuss how first impressions have been used in the book
9. Explain how Elizabeth and Darcy come to meet the consequences of their earlier mistakes
10. Discuss the influence of Mr. Bennet in the book
11. Explain why Mr. Bennet comes off as a sharp individual with a cutting wit
12. How has dialogue been used in the novel to develop the story?
13. Discuss how dialogue is used to bring out the true nature of the characters in the story
14. How has social class been used in the book?
15. Discuss the nature of the relationship between Elizabeth and Darcy, focusing on the importance of social class
16. There are critics who have castigated Jane Austen to be a snob, despite her use of the element in her book. Discuss
17. Explain the relationship that exists between Mrs. Bennet and her kids
18. How does the author present the concept of wealth and happiness in the book?
19. Explain the role that is played by women in Pride and Prejudice
20. Discuss how the writer has used persuasion in her work.
21. Minor characters often help to bring out the effectiveness of the major characters in such literary works. Discuss how this has helped in the development of the story in this particular text
22. Discuss the similarities and differences between Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey and Pride & Prejudice
23. Discuss the sensibility role of mothers as portrayed by the writer in the novel Pride and Prejudice

18th Century Literature

Jane Austen's works are from the 18th century, a period which I know nothing much about except that it's a patriarchal society with a lot of "norms" for women.