Name: Sense and Sensibility
Author: Jane. Austen
ISBN: 9780194631051

Sense and Sensibility

Jane. Austen

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Author Description

A level 5 Oxford Bookworms Library graded reader. This version includes an audio book: listen to the story as you read.Retold for Learners of English by Clare West.Sometimes the Dashwood girls do not seem like sisters. Elinor is all calmness and reason, and can be relied upon for practical, common sense opinions. Marianne, on the other hand, is all sensibility, full of passionate and romantic feeling. She has no time for dull common sense - or for middle-aged men of thirty-five, long past the age of marriage. True love can only be felt by the young, of course. And if your heart is broken at the age of seventeen, how can you ever expect to recover from the passionate misery that fills your life, waking and sleeping?

Menrva's Summary

THE PULSE

The central conflict arises when the Dashwood sisters, Elinor and Marianne, must navigate the rigid social expectations of 19th-century England while managing their contrasting temperaments after their family's financial decline. Elinor, the elder, suppresses her own emotional turmoil to maintain domestic stability, while Marianne pursues intense, romantic ideals that leave her vulnerable to social scandal. Their objective is to secure their futures and find personal happiness within a society that prioritizes wealth and status over individual desire. The narrative, presented in a third-person perspective, examines the logical constraints of a world where a woman's reputation is her only currency.

INSIDE THE PAGES

Contrast between rational and emotional character archetypes
Exploration of 19th-century social hierarchies and marriage customs
Focus on the internal development of the two protagonists
Use of irony to critique societal expectations
Examination of the consequences of impulsive behavior
Emphasis on the importance of social reputation
Graduated language structure designed for English learners
Inclusion of audio components to support reading comprehension

THE COLLECTIVE ECHO

Readers and critics frequently highlight the effectiveness of this adaptation in preserving the core thematic tension between reason and emotion found in the original work. Discussion often centers on how the simplified prose maintains the distinct personalities of Elinor and Marianne while remaining accessible to a broader audience. The pacing is noted for its focus on character-driven dialogue rather than external action, which serves the educational purpose of the text well. Many readers appreciate the balance between the historical setting and the universal nature of the sisters' emotional struggles, making it a frequent choice for those studying English literature.

Page Count:
99

Publication Date:
2015-03-05

Publisher:
Oxford University Press

ISBN-10:
0194631052

ISBN-13:
9780194631051

Romance

English as a Second Language

English

Study Aids

ESOL

Historical

English & College Success