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Emma & Clueless

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• Form of
  acknowledgements
• Syllabus
• The 'works'
• Ideas on
  Transformation
• Clueless overview
• Questionnaire
• Resources

Pride & Prejudice

• Syllabus
• The society
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Contributors

Jane Austen Society of Australia: Study Guide

Questionnaire

Sue Lack

By Ms Sue Lack, English Master at Tara High School, Sydney

Plot summary, characterisations and questions to guide and assist your work on comparisons between Emma and Clueless. Can be used for private study, or class discussion. 

Plot summary of Emma & comparisons with Clueless

Download and fill in this version: PlotSummaryVol1.doc (37kb)
Plot summary	Characterisation	Comparison with Clueless
Chapter 1		Many shortscenes/chapters/incidents
Description of Emma – almost 21 – is the younger daughter (sister Isabella married; her mother died many years ago ) Recount of Miss Taylor’s marriage – has now left Emma without a companion/guide Mr Knightley (aged 37 or 38, and the brother of Isabella’s husband) visits – disagrees that Miss Taylor is worse off married! Emma claims to have “made the match … four years ago” for Miss Taylor. (12). She plans to do the same for “poor Mr Elton”. (13)	“Emma Woodhouse, handsome, clever and rich”. (7) “daughter of a most affectionate, indulgent father” (7) “The real evils of Emma’s situation were the power of having rather too much her own way, and a disposition to think a little too well of herself.” (7) Mr Knightley, a sensible man … was a very old and intimate friend of the family.” (8)	Mother absent Father indulgent
Chapter 2
Background for Captain Weston – married Miss Churchill, who died after 3 years.Son Frank – later cared for by his uncle and aunt. He was given the name Churchill. He plans soon to visit his father.
Chapter 3
Mr Woodhouse has few close friends – but typical guests include: The Westons Mr Knightley Mr Elton Mrs andMiss Bates Mrs Goddard Mrs Goddard asks to bring a Miss (Harriet) Smith with her. Emma decides to “encourage” Miss Smith … her inner thoughts (pg 21-22)	Miss Bates: “She had never boasted either beauty or cleverness.” (20) Mrs Goddard was the mistress of a school … a real, old-fashioned Boarding school.” (20) She wasa plain, motherly kind of woman” (20) Harriet Smith (aged 17) “was the natural daughter of somebody.” (21) (See note page 398) “An egg boiled very soft is not unwholesome”. (22) from Mr Woodhouse. Miss Smith … “the humble, grateful little girl went off with highly gratified feelings” (23)
Chapter 4
Emma develops a friendship with Harriet – but cannot find out who her parents are. Harriet had spent 2 months with a farming family – the Martins. Robert Martin had shown special interest in Harriet. The 2 meet Mr Robert Martin walking - Emma observes him, compares him to the gentlemen she knows. She lets Harriet know of her disapproval. (29-30) Emma has decided that she will make a match between Mr Elton and Harriet. Emma weighs up the match – Mr Elton’s family could not disapprove of the “doubtful birth” of Harriet.	“Harriet certainly was not clever, but she had a sweet, docile, grateful disposition; was totally free from conceit; and only desiring to be guided by any one she looked up to.” (24) “Harriet would be loved as one to whom she could be useful. For Mrs Weston there was nothing to be done; for Harriet every thing.” (24) Mr Elton “was reckoned very handsome; his person very much admired in general, though not by her.” (31)
Chapter 5
Mr Knightley and Mrs Weston disagree about the friendship between Emma and Harriet.	Mr K: “I should like to see Emma in love, and in some doubt of a return; it would do her good.” (36)
Chapter 6
Mr Elton and Emma discuss Harriet’s progress. He encourages Emma draw a picture of Harriet. Mr Knightley says Emma has made Harriet look too tall. Mr Elton offers to go to London to have it framed. Emma is convinced that Mr E is in love with Harriet.	Emma has never gained ‘excellence” – because she has not applied herself (39)
Chapter 7
Harriet has had a proposal of marriage from Mr Martin. Harriet shows the letter to Emma – who is surprised at its quality. Harriet asks Emma’s advice – Emma assumes that of course Harriet will refuse Mr Martin. Harriet writes her refusal, sends the letter, and is sad, but Emma diverts her by reminding her that Mr Elton has her drawing with him.
Chapter 8
Mr Knightley visits – and says that Mr Martin had consulted him re. a proposal to Harriet. Emma tells him that Mr Martin wrote, and has been refused. They argue. Mr Knightley also asserts that Mr Elton will not want Harriet for a wife. (57) Harriet returns, full of news that Mr Elton claimed the portrait was “exceedingly precious”. (59)	“Emma, your infatuation about that girl blinds you.” (53) “Vanity working on a weak head produces every sort of mischief”. (53)
Chapter 9
Harriet collects riddles Mr Elton supplies a charade (on Courtship) – Emma is convinced that it is written in admiration of Harriet. When Mr Elton visits, Emma encourages him to think the sentiment is understood and welcome.	“There was sort of parade in his speeches which was very apt to incline her to laugh.” (71)
Chapter 10 –  pages 72-77
Emma and Harriet visit a poor, sick family. Emma states her intention to never marry (72) and the fact that it is only povertywhich makes being an unmarried woman a problem They are met by Mr Elton. Emma crates a problem with her bootlace, and asks to stop at Mt Elton’s house. She talks to the housekeeper for 10 minutes to give Mr Elton and Harriet time together.
Chapter 11
Emma must leave Mr Elton to his own devices now – her sister Isabella is visiting her. Some implied criticism (from Isabella) of Mr Weston for having let go of his son Frank at 2 years of age.	Descriptions of Mr John Knightley and his wife Isabella (78-9)
Chapter 12
Mr Knightley has been invited to join them for dinner – Emma tries to patch up their disagreement. Dinner conversations re. the bad air in London, etc. Enquiry after Jane Fairfax, the niece of Miss Bates.	“I still have the advantage of you by sixteen years’ experience, and by not being a pretty woman and a spoiled child.” (84)
Chapter 13 –  pages 91-97
Plan to dine at Randalls – including Harriet, who then catches a cold, and cannot go. Emma creates an excuse for Mr Elton, so that he does not have to attend, but he accepts the offer of a carriage from John Knightley. John observes that Mr Elton may be in love with Emma – she denies it. (94)
Chapter 14
At Randalls: Emma reflects on the attention Mr Elton is paying her Conversation re. Frank Churchill’s planned visit – Emma had always thought he might be a suitable marriage partner for her. (99) Emma discusses Frank’s visit with Mrs Weston: whether he has the independence ofwill or the freedom to visit his father. (102)
Chapter 15
Mr Elton is very worried that Emma may catch cold is she visits Harriet. Snow is falling - Mr Woodhouse is alarmed – an early departure Emma is alone in the 2nd carriage with Mr Elton – he proposes to her. She makes it very clear that she was only encouraging him as a suitor for Harriet Mr Elton is offended by this idea. He is very angry when he says goodnight. (108-110)	“To restrain him as much as might be, by her own manners, she was immediately preparing to speak with exquisite calmness and gravity of the weather and the night; but scarcely had she begun, scarcely had they passed the sweep-gate and joined the other carriage, than she found her subject cut up – her hand seized – her attention demanded, and Mr Elton actually making violent love to her: availing himself of the precious opportunity, declaring sentiments which must be already well-known, hoping – fearing – adoring – ready to die if she refused him; but flattering himself that his ardent attachment and unequalled love and unexampled passion could not fail of having some effect, and in short, very much resolved on being seriously accepted as soon as possible. It really was so.” (108)
Chapter 16
She convinces herself that Mr Elton was pretending to be in love with her – “the heiress of thirty thousand pounds” (113) Background of the Woodhouse family (113) Emma reflects on her own behaviour Christmas Day has heavy snow Mr Knightley visits in spite of the weather	“Emma was obliged in common honesty to stop and admit that her own behaviour to him had been so complaisant and obliging, so full of courtesy and attention, as … might warrant a man of ordinary observation and delicacy, like Mr Elton, in fancying himself a very decided favourite. … The first error and the worst had been at her door. It was foolish, it was wrong, to take so active a part in bringing any two people together.” (114)
Chapter 17
John and Isabella leave Mr Elton sends a letter (to Mr Woodhouse only), saying he will visit friends in Bath for a few weeks. Emma confesses to Harriet (118)
Chapter 18
Frank Churchill can not come after all. Mr Knightley and Emma argue the case. (with Emma taking the part that Mrs Weston had argued at Randalls) Emma is surprised at Mr Knightley’s prejudice against Frank Churchill.	“Your amiable young man can be amiable only in French, not in English. He may be very ‘amiable’, have very good manners, and be very agreeable; but he can have no English delicacy towards the feelings of other people: nothing really amiable about him.” (124)
END OF VOLUME ONE