Study notes: Sense and Sensibility
Two sisters lose their home after their father dies. Elinor keeps her feelings private and acts with sense; Marianne feels everything loudly. Both fall in love, both are disappointed, and both learn something from the other. Austen's first published novel is gentle, funny, and sharp about money and manners.
Themes
Reason and feeling. Family loyalty. Money and marriage.
People to follow
Elinor Dashwood, Marianne Dashwood, Edward Ferrars, Colonel Brandon, and Willoughby.
Talk about
- Which sister do you agree with more?
- How does money shape the characters' choices?
- How do both sisters change?
Public-domain text. First published in 1811; Jane Austen died in 1817, so this text is in the public domain in the US, Canada, the EU and India. Summary and notes written by ViralScopeHub.