Writing in Style of Jane Austen

Whether you’re an enthusiastic newcomer to her timeless written work, or an ardent Janeite, this short course offers a unique opportunity to add your own imagination to the fascinating enigma of Jane Austen and the charm of her very ‘English’ novels. You’ll learn about her history, explore her much-loved characters, and delve into Georgian society and fashion.

This course is about understanding Jane Austen’s literary classics but also includes a creative writing element as you will use this new knowledge to write in Jane Austen’s style.

You will:

• Read and analyse a selection of Jane’s work and take on the point of view of one of her characters to produce your own written piece in her style to share with the group
• Learn new literary skills
• Produce, format, and present a piece of written work for an audience.
• Visit Chawton House or Bath – two of the places that Jane Austen lived and where she wrote her most famous novels.
• The very ‘English’ style of Jane Austen’s work and the Georgian period are timeless. Her novels have gained significant popularity throughout the years and continue to do so.

After studying on this course you should be able to:

• Describe the historical setting in which Jane Austen wrote
• Explain the genre, literary devices and format that Jane Austen created
• Format a script or novel
• Write a short piece in the style of Jane Austen
• Use literary devices to improve your creative writing skills.

Teaching methods: lectures, presentations, quizzes, workshops, and research trips.

Assessment: verbal and written presentation of your project work.

This course is ideal for university-level students with a passion for English Literature and the work of Jane Austen. You will need good English language skills, particularly in reading and writing.