Emma Syllabus Week 1 Linder

I will hand out the complete Emma syllabus in class, but will post online one week at a time as the syllabus is so very long. We also have the pleasure of a student teacher joining us this semester. Ms. Bluhm will join our class on Monday, January 26 and will be teaching a large part of Emma. Look for an introductory letter from her on the blog in the next week or so.

Week one of Emma:

Thur 1/15 Emma, Vol. I, Ch. 1 (7 pp.) Vocab: alloy (1), endeavor (6), unaffected (7). What is your initial impression of Emma? What does her father think of her? What does Mr. Knightley think of her? What does she think of herself? Does the narrator's perception of her seem different than her own? Find quotes to illustrate each perspective.

Mon 1/19 No school--MLK holiday

Tue 1/20 Emma, Ch. 2-5 (18 pp.) Vocab: benevolent (11), vicar (11), gruel (14), unmodulated (20), inducement (22). Who is Frank Churchill? Trace the connection between him and Emma. Who is Harriet Smith, and why does Emma take a liking to her? Why does Mr. Knightley object to the friendship between Harriet and Emma?

Wed 1/21 Emma, Ch. 6-8 (18 pp.) Vocab: scruple (27), approbation (28), countenance (29), inimitable (30), diffuse (35). Why do Emma and Mr. Knightley disagree on the question of whether Harriet should accept Robert Martin's proposal of marriage?

Thur 1/22 Emma, Ch. 9-10 & 13-14 (26 pp. total; Ch 11-12 optional*). Vocab: cipher (44), indisposed (71), contrivance (75), solicitous (77). Do you think Emma is correct in thinking that Mr. Elton is falling for Harriet? Find specific passages that support your view.

Fri 1/23 Book talks and independent reading

* Summary of chapters 11 & 12: Emma's sister Isabella and her husband, John Knightley, bring their five children to Harfield to spend ten days during the Christmas holidays. George Knightley is invited to dinner, and Emma is anxious to make up with him after his scoulding over her interference in Harriet's life. After dinner, there is discussin of Frank Churchill's overdue and much speculated-upon visit to Highbury, and of Miss Bates's niece Jane Fairfax, who Isabella thinks would make very good company for Emma. Isabella and her father eat a bowl of gruel together, but are unable to compel any of the other to join them.