Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

Name: Emma
Author: Jane Austen

Emma Woodhouse is a wealthy, beautiful, and clever young woman living in the small village of Highbury. She is content with her life and has no desire to marry. Emma takes it upon herself to play matchmaker for her friend Harriet Smith, a young woman of lower social standing. Emma's attempts at matchmaking, however, lead to disastrous results. Meanwhile, Emma's own romantic feelings are stirred when she meets the handsome and mysterious Mr. Knightley. As Emma's relationship with Mr. Knightley develops, she begins to realize that her own matchmaking skills are not as infallible as she thought. Through a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications, Emma must learn to accept her mistakes and grow as a person. In the end, Emma finds true love and happiness with Mr. Knightley.

By Jane Austen · First published 1815 · Genre: Romance, Comedy, Realism · 55 chapters · 156,184 words

First lines

Emma and Harriet had been walking together one morning, and, in Emma's opinion, had been talking enough of Mr. Elton for that day. She could not think that Harriet's solace or her own sins required more; and she was therefore industriously getting rid of the subject as they returned;--but it burst out again when she thought she had succeeded, and after speaking some time of what the poor must suffer in winter, and receiving no other answer than a very plaintive--"Mr. Elton is so good to the poor!" she found something else must be done.

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Emma is listed on Textopian as a novel by Jane Austen, dated 1815 CE.

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Work type: Novel
Author: Jane Austen
Date: 1815 CE
Language: English
Genres: Romance, Comedy, Realism, Satire
Length: 156,184 words
Structure: 55 chapters, 4,746 paragraphs
Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)

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Discussion starters

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How does this novel by Jane Austen fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
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Similar titles

Genres

Romance — The novel follows the story of Emma Woodhouse, a young woman who meddles in the romantic lives of her friends and family, ultimately finding love for herself.
Comedy — The novel is filled with humorous moments and witty dialogue, making it a classic example of a comedy of manners.
Realism — The novel is a realistic portrayal of life in a small English village, with characters that are believable and relatable.
Satire — The novel is a satire of the social conventions of the time, with Austen poking fun at the expectations of the upper classes.