Northanger Abbey book report by Jane Austen from class 6 VWO
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Course
Engels
Level
VWO / Gymnasium
Book
Northanger Abbey
This book report is about Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen. It contains the following (literary) components:
- Main character (development, conflict)
- Setting (place, time, time duration, social setting, weather)
- Motifs
- Narrator
- Literary assignment: own scene from the book
*All parts ...
,Table of contents
Literary knowledge.................................................................................................................................3
Character analysis...............................................................................................................................3
Setting.................................................................................................................................................5
Theme analysis...................................................................................................................................8
Major themes.................................................................................................................................8
Minor themes...............................................................................................................................10
Moral............................................................................................................................................11
Narrator............................................................................................................................................11
Literary assignment..............................................................................................................................12
Reading experience..........................................................................................................................12
Literary assignment..........................................................................................................................14
Bibliography..........................................................................................................................................17
2
, Literary knowledge
Character analysis
Catherine Morland
The protagonist, or rather the heroine of the novel is Catherine Morland, a seventeen-year-old girl
who grew up in a family of ten children. As described by the narrator, Catherine is quite the
unexpected heroine, for both her countenance and persona oppose those of a typical heroine.
Although she was never poor tempered and but rarely stubborn or quarrelsome, she lacked the
attentiveness and wit of a protagonist. “she had neither a bad heart nor a bad temper, was seldom
stubborn, scarcely ever quarrelsome” (Austen, 2003, p. 16). “She never could learn or understand
anything before she was taught; and sometimes not even then, for she was often inattentive, and
occasionally stupid.” (Austen, 2003, p. 16). In regard to skills, Catherine was not an accomplished
writer nor sophisticated at drawing, which were expected abilities of a heroine in her day and age.
“Her greatest deficiency was in the pencil – she had no notion of drawing – not enough even to
attempt a sketch of her lover’s profile, that she might be detected in the design. There she fell
miserably short of the true heroic height.” (Austen, 2003, p. 18). However, Catherine does show an
interest in novels, especially gothic novels such as The Mysteries of Udolpho by Mrs. Radcliffe.
Development
At the beginning of the story, when Catherine is to take off for Bath with Mr. and Mrs. Allen, she is
described as affectionate, good-humoured, and of pleasing appearance. However, she is still quite
unknowing, which accounts for her naïve character. “that her heart was affectionate; her disposition
cheerful and open, without conceit of affectation of any kind – her manners just removed from the
awkwardness and shyness of a girl; her person pleasing, and, when in good looks, pretty – and her
mind about as ignorant and uninformed as the female mind at seventeen usually is.” (Austen, 2003,
p. 19). When Catherine and the Allens arrive in Bath, Catherine enrols in Bath’s society, where
Catherine is introduced to Mr. Henry Tilney, an agreeable young man of respectable heritage, whom
she views as the potential hero to her story. “introduced to her a very gentlemanlike young man as a
partner; his name was Tilney. (…) had a pleasing countenance, a very intelligent and lively eye, and, if
not quite handsome, was very near it.” (Austen, 2003, p. 25). Although merely having met once,
Catherine already thinks highly of Mr. Tilney, which is proven when she thinks of the impropriety of
dreaming of him. “and prepared herself for bed, as to dream of him (…) it must be very improper that
a young lady should dream of a gentleman before the gentleman is first known to have dreamt of
her.” (Austen, 2003, p. 29). This exemplifies Catherine’s intense emotions and rapid attachment to
others, in this case to Mr. Tilney. During Tilney’s absence from Bath, Catherine becomes acquainted
with Isabella Thorpe, whom she grows close too. While Isabella involves Catherine in Bath’s social
scene, Catherine is enabled to increase her experience in society. Despite her close relation to
Isabella, Catherine is too gullible to beware of Miss Thorpe’s motives, for she befriended Catherine
merely for her assumed wealth and status through the prosperous Allen family. These intentions
become more apparent when Catherine’s brother James and Isabella’s brother John arrive in Bath.
Presuming James to be a wealthy man, Isabella targets him as a potential husband, while John shows
interest in Catherine. “Catherine, by whom this meeting was wholly unexpected, received her brother
with the liveliest pleasure (…) which he could have leisure to do, while the bright eyes of Miss Thorpe
were incessantly challenging his notice” (Austen, 2003, p. 44). However, Catherine despises John’s
arrogance, and strongly prefers Mr. Tilney over John. “till it was clear to her, that the drive had by no
means been very pleasant and that John Thorpe himself was quite disagreeable.” (Austen, 2003, p.
67). Therefore, Catherine befriends the Tilney siblings, Henry and Eleanor, who share Catherine’s
love for novels, including her favourite genre the gothic novel. ““The person, be it gentleman of lady,
who has not pleasure in a good novel, must be intolerably stupid. I have read all Mrs. Radcliffe’s
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