Me too post: (was Jane Austen influences(Was: Puzzling Question))

[catherine at cator-manor.demon.co.uk]

No: HPFGUIDX 24431

--- 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.  :(


I've warned everyone that this is a me too, but I may as well say it -
 I agree!  How about moving the discussion over to OT-Chatter?  Have 
you joined this group, Marcus?

Catherine