Jane Austen's Discourse with New RhetoricJane Austen's Discourse with New Rhetoric identifies major considerations in Jane Austen's novels with those of eighteenth-century Scottish New Rhetoric. Austen uses fictional examples to argue the development of moral understanding in both sexes by educating them in rhetorical subjects found in Hugh Blair's Lectures on Rhetoric and Belles Lettres and George Campbell's The Philosophy of Rhetoric. Her own stance, closely allied to the empiricist thinking from which Campbell's rhetorical philosophy derives, shares with his presentation an infusion of rationalism that separates Campbell's philosophy from David Hume's skepticism. As Austen's novels test the rhetorician's premises, her picture of rhetoric evolves into a representation beyond their limits, and the limits of her own time and place. |
Contents
Table of Contents | 1 |
Northanger Abbey A Taste for the Novel | 29 |
Sense and Sensibility Perspicuous | 55 |
Copyright | |
7 other sections not shown
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action allows Anne Anne's argues argument audience Austen becomes Blair Campbell Campbell's Catherine character communication concerning conversation critical Darcy Darcy's demonstrates describes discussion effect Elinor Elizabeth eloquence Emma Emma's emotions engagement evidence example experience expression Fanny feelings female Frank Frederick give heart Henry human identifies ignorance imagination importance influence italics Jane Austen judgment Knightley lack Lady language letter limits look manner Mansfield Park Marianne Mary means memory mind Miss moral motive narrator nature needs never Northanger Abbey notes novel obfuscation observation passion perception person perspicuity Persuasion play position presents Pride and Prejudice proves provides question reader reading reason reference reflect relationship response reveals rhetoric role seems Sense and Sensibility serves signifies sister situation social speak style suggests taste tells thing thought truth understanding verbal wants Wickham Willoughby women writing young