英语短文

Part B Chapter 4

Lily

1021029

English literature

May 6, 2013

(a)

In chapter 4, first it reveals the intimate relationship between Jane and Elizabeth. ‘When Jane and Elizabeth were alone, the former, who had been cautious in her praise of Mr. Bingley before, expressed to her sister how much she admired him.’ (Vol.1, chapter 4, p.15, para.1) It shows that Jane trusts her sister so she wants to tell her real feeling about Mr. Bingley.

And then it reveals the different characteristics between them. Jane is modest. ‘I was very much flattered by his asking me to dance a second time’ (p.15, para.4) She is also ‘candid without ostentation or design –to take the good of everybody’s character and ma ke it still better, and say nothing of the bad.’ (p.16, para.9) This shows that she is really a good-tempered and kind-hearted girl. However, Elizabeth is much different from her sister. Elizabeth has ‘more quickness of observation and less pliancy of temp er than her sister, and with a judgment, too.’ (p.16, para.11) She can see the short-comings of those hypercritical ladies who belong to upper class. (p.16, para.11)

Next it also reveals that Jane and Bingley love each other at the first sight: ‘He is just what a young man ought to be…so much ease, with such perfect

good breeding!’ (p.15, para.2)

‘and as to Miss Bennet, he could not conceive an angel more beautiful’ (p.18, para.15)

They both leave a good impression to each other, which could foreshadow their marriage in the following.

Lastly, it reveals that the friendship may flourish between Jane and Miss Bingley. ‘but still they admired her and like her… and one whom they should not object to know more of.’ However, they say before that they also think Jane smiles too much, because they want to make Darcy happy. (p.18, para.16) Actually, they don’t really like her. That also foreshadows that the relationship between Jane and Miss Bingley will not last long.

(b)

The narrative method that Jane Austen uses include: direct speech, free indirect speech, third person narrative, rhetorical devices and bathos.

The author uses direct speech in the two sisters’conversations to show the different characteristics between them:

‘Did not you? I did for you. But that is one great difference between us… No

thanks to his gallantry for that.’ (p.15, para.5)

From the remarks of Elizabeth, we can see that Jane is too modest and doesn’t think she deserves such a compliment, but Elizabeth thinks that beautiful lady should take it for granted instead of being surprised.

The author uses free indirect speech, which expresses the thoughts, feelings or typical tones of characters:

‘Bingley had never met with pleasanter people or prettier girls in his life…

Darcy, on the contrary, had seen a collection of people in whom there was

little beauty and no fashion…’ (p.18, para.15)

It shows the different characteristics between Bingley and Darcy. Bingley is easy-going, but Darcy is arrogant. This also foreshadows that people like Bingley but doesn’t like Darcy.

The author uses many third person narratives, which shows the authorial and omniscient point of view in the whole story:

‘Mr. Bingley inherited property… to purchase.’ (p.17, para.12) It shows the background of Bingley.