Things to Consider:

• Matchmaking and the Marriage Market
• Hypochondriacs and Riddles (362)
• Self-Knowledge (363)
• Class
• Gender
• Free Indirect Style (viii, 365)
• Donwell vs. Randalls

Introduction:
Homework Questions:
viii:

• What is "free indirect style" (viii)? How, according to Ferguson, does it function in Emma?

• What contexts inform our understanding of the novel?
• Explain:  "The section 'Governesses, Slaves, and Wives' includes material with resonances to which Emma herself is largely deaf" (ix).

• Who are the main characters in the novel?

• Explain the significance, according to Ferguson, of More's Village Politics (1792).

Volume One (see Vol. 2 and 3 questions):

• Describe the relationship between Emma and Miss Taylor.

• Describe the relationship between Emma and her father.

• Describe the relationship between Emma and Mr. Knightley.

• Describe Mrs. and Miss Bates.

• How are farmers both above and below Emma's notice?

• Why does Emma consider Elton a suitable match for Harriet?

• Why wouldn't Emma be able to visit Harriet if she marries Mr. Martin?

• Explain the distinction Emma makes between young men and young women when discussing Frank Churchill's proposed visit.

• Why is Emma so surprised by Elton's declaration of love? (See also 104).

• Explain the argument between Emma and Knightley regarding Frank Churchill.

• Explain why Frank Churchill's letter to the new Mrs. Weston is "highly prized" (14).

• Describe Harriet Smith.
• Describe Emma's view of Harriet.

• Explain: Harriet was "exactly the something which her home required" (21).

• Describe the Martins of Abbey Hill Farm.

• Why does Emma think Mr. Martin won't be ready to get married for six years?

• Why, according to Emma,  should Harriet not be acquainted with Mr. Martin's wife?

• Is Emma's criticism of Martin warranted?  Explain.

• Why does Knightley not approve of Emma's acquaintance with Harriet?

• In what ways, according to Knightley, might Emma have educated Mrs. Weston more than Mrs. Weston has educated Emma?

• Explain Elton's comments about the lack of husbands and wives "in the case at present" (36).

• Does Knightley think Harriet and Martin would be a good match? Explain.

• Explain Emma's defense of Harriet as a good bride prospect.

• What is the answer to Elton's riddle? (See also 416).

• To whom does Elton give his charade? Explain.

• Explain Emma's comment about Harriet's "ready wit."

• Explain:  "It is poverty only which makes celibacy contemptible to a generous public" (67).

• Describe Mrs. John Knightley.
• Describe Mr. John Knightley.

• How does Emma view John Knightley?

• Why is Emma so eager to discourage Elton from going to the Westons' on Christmas Eve?
• Why is she so surprised that he will go anyway? (see also 89, 95-96).

• Why does John Knightley advise Emma to regulate her behavior?

• In what ways is Isabella "a model of right feminine happiness" (107)?

• Why doesn't Emma like Jane Fairfax?

• Explain: "He came back engaged to another--and to another as superior, of course, to the first, as under such circumstances what is gained always is to what is lost" (136).

• Explain:  "It seemed as if he could not think so ill of any two persons' understanding as to suppose they meant to marry till it were proved against them" (145).

• Explain:  "It is always the lady's right to decide on the degree of acquaintance" (150).

• Who has sent a pianoforte to Jane? Why? (See also 162).

• Why does Mrs. Weston think Knightley may be interested in Jane Fairfax?

• In what way does Frank Churchill show a lack of "mercy" on Jane Fairfax?

• Why is Knightley opposed to the idea of a ball?

• Why does Emma resolve not to be the last to pay her respects to the new Mr. and Mrs. Elton?

• Why are married women "apt to give up music" (206)?

• How does Mrs. Elton view Jane Fairfax?

• Why does Emma want to have a dinner for the Eltons?

• Why is Mrs. Elton so concerned about Jane Fairfax's finding a governess position?

• What is "a fling at the slave trade" (223)? (6:30)

• In what way is the discussion between Weston and Mr. Elton ironic?

• Why does Emma seem to change her mind about Jane?

• Describe Augusta Hawkins.

• Why doesn't Emma want Harriet to renew her acquaintance with the Martins?

• Why has Frank Churchill arrived early?

• How does Austen characterize Frank Churchill's response to Hartfield and Highbury?

• What does it mean for a lady to be "allowed to look ill" (149)?

• Explain: "There is safety in reserve, but no attraction" (152).

• What is foppery? How does Frank Churchill exhibit it?

• Why doesn't Mr. Knightley like Frank Churchill?

• What problem does Emma have with the Coles?

• Why does she agree to accept the invitation from the "inferior" Coles?
• Why doesn't Mr. Woodhouse go?

• Why does Emma think that Frank Churchill is interested in her?

• Why  is Frank Churchill staring at Jane Fairfax?

• How does Emma view the possibility that Knightley may be interested in Jane? Why? (See also 170).

• Why does Jane Fairfax "colour deeply" when Frank Churchill mentions Weymouth?

• Why is the Crown Inn a better place than Randalls for a dance?

• What problem exists for the plan for a ball?

• Why must the ball be postponed?

• Why does Emma not want Frank Churchill to say something "absolutely serious" before leaving? (See also 196).

• Describe Emma's response to Mrs. Elton. (See also 202, 207).

• Why is Mr. Weston's arrival so surprising?  Why has he come?

• Who is the "black gentleman" (226)?

• Why is Mr. Weston being so candid with Mrs. Elton about Mrs. Churchill?

• Why, according to Mr. Weston, is May a good time for Frank to visit?

• Is Mrs. Elton correct in assuming that the ball is in her honor? Explain. (See 184).

• Why does Emma think Frank Churchill and Harriet Smith would be suited for each other?

• Why does Harriet have a piece of court-plaister in a fancy box? Why does she burn it and the pencil?

• Why does Knightley suspect something between Frank Churchill and Jane Fairfax?

• Why does Mrs. Elton insist upon Jane's acceptance of the governess position she has secured for her?

• Explain Emma's comment to Miss Bates about limits.

• Why is Knightley so upset with Emma?

• Why does Jane Fairfax accept the governess position? (See also 329).

• Explain Emma's thoughts about "the difference of woman's destiny" (286).

• Why are Mr. and Mrs. Weston so concerned about Emma's reaction to the news of Frank Churchill's engagements to Jane Fairfax?

• Describe Harriet's response to the news of the engagement.

• Why is Emma bothered by Harriet's choice? (See also 308).

• Why does Frank Churchill believe Emma "was not without suspicion" regarding his relationship with Jane Fairfax? (See also 194).

• Describe Emma's visit to the Bateses.  How is irony employed in this scene?

• Why "must" the intimacy between Emma and Harriet "sink"?

• Why is Emma agitated about Frank's upcoming return?

• What is "puppyism" (238)?

• Why must Mrs. Elton be asked to begin the ball?

• Why won't Mr. Elton dance with Harriet? (See also 245).

• Explain Emma's remark about being Mr. Knightley's sister.

• What are "gipsies"? Why do they attack Harriet?

• Why will Emma notify Mr. Knightley of the presence of gipsies in the neighborhood?

• Whom are Harriet and Emma discussing? Explain.
• Explain the allusion to Cowper.

• Explain:  "I will answer for the gentleman's indifference" (261).
• What is Box Hill?

• What is carte-blanche? Why does Mrs. Elton seek it from Knightley?

• Why does Mrs. Elton want a donkey?

• Why are Knightley and Harriet discussing agriculture?

• Why does Jane Fairfax leave so abruptly?

• What makes the outing to Box Hill so dull?

• Explain Mrs. Elton's comments.

• Explain Frank Churchill's comments about brief acquaintances.

• Why is Jane Fairfax so upset the next day?

• Explain the allusion to Goldsmith.

• Why does Emma wish to be "of use" to Jane Fairfax?

• Why won't Jane see Emma? (See also 300).

• Explain the reference to Romeo and Juliet.

• Why has Emma been mistaken about the object of Harriet's interest?

• What evidence is there that Knightley favors Harriet?

• Why has Jane Fairfax been so upset about her engagement to Frank Churchill?

• Why is Emma so upset about hearing Mrs. Weston's report?

• Explain:  "He has imposed upon me, but he has not injured me" (318).

• Why does Knightley envy Frank Churchill?

• Explain the final sentence on this page.

• Explain Knightley's "scheme" to appease Mr. Woodhouse.

• Why does Harriet go to Brunswick Square?

• Explain Mrs. Elton's comments about William.

• Why are the Westons happy to have a baby daughter?

• Explain the "riddle" of "N" & "M."

• How does Mr. Woodhouse respond to the news of Emma's engagement?

• How does Mrs. Weston respond?

• How has Harriet become engaged to Mr. Martin?

• Explain Emma's comment about "some famous ox" (352).

• Explain the discussion of Harriet's parentage.

• Why does Mr. Woodhouse finally "allow" Emma's wedding to take place?

• Explain: "Love and conscience both make us reexamine the past, . . . but their accounts of that past differ in instructive ways" (366).

• Explain the comparisons of John Knightley and Jane Fairfax, Miss Bates and Mr. Woodhouse, and Mr. Weston and Mrs. Churchill.

• Explain:  "Dying is the best refutation of hypochondria" (370).
• Explain:  "'Frank Churchill' is treated as if he were female" (370).