1、Reading ExerciseJane AustenJane Austen (December 16, 1775 July 18, 1817) was a prominent English novelist whose work is considered part of the Western canon. She stands as a model of the writer whose apparently sheltered life did nothing to reduce the stature and drama of her fiction.She was born at

2、 the rectory in Steventon, Hampshire, her father being a clergyman, andlived for most of her life in the area. She had six brothers, and an elder sister, Cassandra,to whom she was very close. The only undisputed portrait of Jane Austen is a colouredsketchdoneby Cassandrawhichresidesin the NationalPo

3、rtraitGalleryin London.However, a full-length painting owned by a family member, traditionally held to be of Janeas a teenager, is now increasingly considered authentic by authorities.Her brothers Frank and Charles went to sea, eventually becoming admirals. In 1801 the family moved to Bath; after th

4、e death of her father in 1805, Jane, her sister and her motherlived with Frank and his family for several years until they moved in 1809 to Chawton. Here her wealthy brother Edward had an estate with a cottage, which he turned over to hismother and sisters. (Their house today is open to the public.)

5、Jane never married; she was once engaged to a younger man, Harris Bigg-Wither, butchanged her mind. Having established herself as a novelist, she continued to live in relative seclusion, and began to suffer ill-health. It is now thought she may have sufferedfrom Addison's Disease, the cause of w

6、hich was then unknown. She travelled to Winchester to seek a cure, but died there and was buried in the cathedral.Whileher first novel,the posthumouslypublishedNorthangerAbbey,pokesfun at theGothic novels of Ann Radcliffe, Austen is most famous for her later works, which took theform of socially con

7、scious comedies of errors. These, especially Emma, are often cited fortheir perfectionof form,whilemoderncriticscontinueto unearthnew perspectivesonAusten's keen commentary regarding the predicament of young, unmarried, upper-class English women in the early 1800s.The order in whichshe beganand

8、completedher novelsis differentfrom that of theirpublication. Her novels were fairly well received when they were published, with Sir WalterScott in particular praising her work. Her reputation has only increased since, and she is now considered one of the greatest English novelists. Austen's ch

9、ief gift was to be a close observer of human society and social interaction. It should be noted, however, that almost every scene in her novels features women, purportedly because she did not know howmen spoke when not in the presence of women.Somecontemporary readers may find the worldshe describes

10、, inwhich people's chiefconcernis obtainingsociallyprominentmarriages,to be unliberatedanddisquieting;however one should bear in mind that a "good marriage" was then the only available formof socialsecurityother than degradingwork as governess,or livingas hanger-onin arelative's ho

11、usehold.Her most famous novels are: Sense and Sensibility (1811),Pride and Prejudice (1813), Mansfield Park (1814) and Emma (1815).Questions(紅色表示答案)Now, answer the questions about the text.1. Jane Austen's father was a clergyman. A. True.2. Cassandra was older than Jane. A. True.B. False.3. Jane's house in Chawton may be visited by the p