Jane Austen influences(Was: Puzzling Question)

[katzefan at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24427

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., prefectmarcus at y... wrote:
> --- In HPforGrownups at y..., Herald Talia <heraldtalia at j...> 
wrote:
> > > Rowling learned that from Jane Austen.  
> > 	
> > 	Yes, but Jane was writing a comedy of manners. The 
> characterizations are
> > excellent, but there really is not much plot. Nothing happens. 
When 
> you
> > teach creative writing, you definitely don't assign Austen so 
that
> > students can learn about plot construction. 
> 
> > Robyn
> 
> I beg your pardon.  Just because you don't have people 
shooting each 
> other, or overthrowing governments, or saving the world/
universe 
> against overwhelming odds does not mean that there isn't 
much of a 
> plot!
> 
> I can't think of a better writer to teach plot construction than 
Jane 
> Austen.  Her plots are so intricate and yet so subtle.  Anyone 
can do 
> "the big bow-wow?", as Scott called it, but precious few can 
handle 
> the delicate stuff. Why not teach from the master?
> 
> Andrew Davies, who wrote the screenplay for the latest P&P 
Adaptation 
> stated that her plots were like finely crafted swiss watches.  
You 
> simply cannot throw anything away and have it work.  Another 
critic, 
> whose name escapes me, stated, "Her work is like a chinese 
puzzle box. 
>  You hold up to the light, shake it, minutely examine it; and yet 
you 
> still can't figure out how it went together."
> 
> When I read Joanne Kathleen Rowling, I see the Jane Austen 
influence 
> through-out her works.  The very subtle touches.  The refusal to 
sink 
> to soap-opera melodrama.  The gentle satire and the delicate 
irony.  
> The meticulous plotting.  The careful introduction of innocuous 
> details that later become critical.  The 3-D characters.  Their 
> subtle, but real growth.  It's all Austen.  
> 
> It came as no surprise to me when JKR stated on several 
occasions that 
> Jane Austen is her favorite writer.  I remember reading HP for 
the 
> first time and admiring her Austen-like touches.  Mind you, they 
don't 
> match the master, but her influence is very much there. I kept 
> thinking, this writer has either read Austen or should read 
Austen.  
> She had taken the best of Austen without being a slave to her. 
> 
> Do not get me wrong.  I think Rowling is a master.  My point is 
she's 
> learned from the best.  Now she's shining in her own light.
> 
> Marcus
> 
> P.S.: I would love to discuss Jane Austen, especially her 
masterpiece, 
> "Pride and Prejudice"; but not here.  It is a bit OT, unfortunately.  
> We've already pushed the limits with our Gandalf discussion.  
:(

Hear hear!!! (loud applause and cheers, startling the 
neighbours,  from another Austen fan who thinks Pride and 
Prejudice is one of the best books ever written and who rereads 
it and rereads it and ....)