Sense and Sensibility

# Essay Prompt: *Sense and Sensibility* by Jane Austen **Prompt:** In *Sense and Sensibility*, Jane Austen contrasts the personalities of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood to convey that genuine emotional maturity involves balancing reason and feeling, rather than fully committing to one over the other. In a well-structured essay, either defend, challenge, or qualify this assertion by examining how Austen develops the sisters' characters throughout the novel. Use specific textual evidence — including important scenes, dialogue, and narrative commentary — to back up your argument. --- **Considerations to address:** - How does Austen depict the outcomes of Marianne's unchecked sensibility and Elinor's strict self-restraint? - In what ways do both sisters evolve by the end of the novel, and what does this indicate about Austen's moral perspective? - How do secondary characters (e.g., Colonel Brandon, Edward Ferrars, Willoughby) support or complicate the novel's main thematic argument? --- *Your essay should present a clear thesis, well-developed body paragraphs with textual evidence, and a conclusion that reflects on the broader significance of Austen's argument.*

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# Essay Prompt: *Sense and Sensibility* by Jane Austen **Prompt:** In *Sense and Sensibility*, Jane Austen contrasts the characters of Elinor and Marianne Dashwood to argue that true emotional maturity requires a balance between reason and feeling, rather than allowing one to overpower the other. In a well-structured essay, defend, challenge, or qualify this statement by analyzing how Austen develops the sisters' differing dispositions throughout the novel. Your argument should incorporate specific evidence — including key scenes, character interactions, and narrative outcomes — to support your interpretation. --- **Suggested length:** 4–6 paragraphs (approximately 800–1,200 words) **Pre-writing considerations:** - How does Austen differentiate "sense" from "sensibility" through the choices and reactions of each sister? - Does the novel ultimately favor one disposition over the other, or does it complicate that distinction? - Reflect on how Colonel Brandon, Edward Ferrars, and Willoughby serve as foils that challenge each sister's values. - In what ways does Austen employ irony or narrative tone to influence the reader's sympathies?

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