The Austen Awards

Here is our final roundup of winners!

The main character we'd want to be best friends with in real life: Elinor Dashwood

The minor character we'd want to be friends with in real life: Jane Bennet

Most Uncomfortable Proposal: Mr. Elton to Emma

Biggest Rogue: William Elliot

We're going to sell shirts that say "I Punched Fanny Dashwood in the Face!"

No one wants to take a trip with Mr. Collins.

Congratulations to Fanny Dashwood, nominated in 2 categories and winner of both! She truly is the snobbiest rich person.

For the most swoonworthy leading man we have a tie! Mr. Darcy AND Mr. Knightley!

And finally the most romantic declaration of love, Mr. Darcy the second time!

Congratulations to all our winners! Some look shocked, others thrilled, and some smugly knew they had it coming. Thank you for participating in The Jane Event, I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did!

Embrace Your Inner Nerd

For those of us who actually like being quizzed on what we’re reading, the following are a few links to shmoop, the new Sparknotes, and their interesting (and timed) quizzes about Jane Austen books.

                                          

She’s thinking…thinking…dear oh dear, it’s on the tip of her tongue!

Pride and Prejudice
Emma
Sense and Sensibility
Persuasion
Mansfield Park
Northanger Abbey

Just click on whatever you’re reading and see how you do. They’re kind of tricky, I took a few already and got about half right. It’s been a while since I’ve read all the books. I suggest finishing your book and taking all the quizzes for that one.

This one is a really thorough Janeite quiz about her books(and movie adaptations) and her life. 50 Questions.

http://www.okcupid.com/tests/the-are-you-a-janeite-test

My result was "Heroine" with 92% for book knowledge and 75% Jane knowledge. I told you I have too much time on my hands. . Hurray for Nerds.

How did you score?

Happy Reading!

The Austen Awards Poll 9

Hardest question ever: Which of the following is the best declaration of love?
Please note that for some of the actual novels there was no recorded dialogue, in which case the imagination of screenwriters will have to stand in. Also, don’t watch it if you haven’t seen the movie yet, unless you don’t mind spoilers.

A) Edward Ferrars (sorry the sound is off)
         

B) Fitzwilliam Darcy, the first time
           

C) Fitzwilliam Darcy, the second time (if you prefer the BBC version don’t pick this one)
          

D) Edmund Bertram
          

E) Henry Tilney
          

F) Captain Wentworth
          

G) Mr. Knightley
            

Happy Voting!

The Austen Awards Poll 8

Which CHARACTER is the most swoon worthy? (not actor, if we need to we’ll do actor another time)

A) Fitzwilliam Darcy, proud, kind of snobby, but will do whatever it takes to make up for his mistakes

                 


B) Fredrick Wentworth, he might seem a little resentful but when he falls in love, it will be forever

            


C) Colonel Brandon, yes, he's middle aged, has terrible taste in waistcoats, but he will go the distance, and wait out the competition, to win the one he loves

             


D) Edward Ferrars, a little on the shy side, a bit awkward, he keeps his promises and is loyal

           


E) Henry Tilney, charming, witty, infinitely nicer than most of his family, he'll steer you straight




F) Edmund Bertram, it may take him a little time to realize it, but once he finds a woman of true quality his love doesn't waver

          


G) Mr. Knightley, he'll tease you, chastise you, aggravate you, but he'll also be your best friend, and more

            
                                                                                           No you’re not seeing things…Jonny Lee Miller is everywhere!



Happy Voting!

The Austen Awards Poll 7

Who is/are the snobbiest rich person(s)?

A) All the Elliots except for Anne, because they’re all vain, selfish, and unappreciative

                                

B) Lady Catherine de Bourgh, not MY nephew you wench!

                          

C) Emma (you have to admit, she’s pretty snobby), You can’t marry her friends unless you have enough money, otherwise she couldn’t come to your house for tea


                                 

D) Fanny Dashwood (Way to go Fanny, 2 categories!) we all know why

                           

E) General Tilney, who won’t like you unless he thinks you’re rich

                         


Happy Voting!

The Austen Awards Poll 6

Which character are you least likely to take a road trip with?


A) Mary Musgrove, the hypochondrical* sister in Persuasion


                     

B) Mr. Collin’s, the brown nosing cousin in Pride and Prejudice


                     

C) Mrs. Bennet, the fussy, loud mouthed mother in Pride and Prejudice


                        

D) Mrs. Jennings, the gossiping neighbor in Sense and Sensibility


                        


Happy Voting!

*Yes, I made up “hypochondrical”. Please use it in daily conversation. Tell your friends.

The Austen Awards Poll 5

And now for my personal favorite:

Which character would you most like to punch in the face?


A) Lucy Steele, who manipulates Elinor in Sense and Sensibility


                                   

B) Lydia Bennet, boy crazed sister who almost ruins the family in Pride and Prejudice


                                   

C) Mary Crawford, who is okay with people dying so long as can get rich from it, in Mansfield Park


                                

D) Mrs. Elton, who is always self-effacing, to the point of being a braggart in Emma


                                      

E) Isabella Thorpe, who manipulates others' love for money in Northanger Abbey


                                        

F) Sir Walter Elliot, who is too overly fond of mirrors to appreciate his daughter in Persuasion


                                    

G) Aunt Norris, who is constantly talking down to the heroine in Mansfield Park


                               

H) Fanny Dashwood, who manipulates her husband to give the Dashwood sisters almost nothing to live on and then kicks them out of the house in Sense and Sensibility

                                

I) Caroline Bingley, because she's snobby, judgemental, and what kind of person doesn't like Jane Bennet?

I know, it’s hard to pick just one.


Happy Voting!

Jane Austen Quotes

Here is a list of 10 quotes from Jane Austen’s novels. If you know them, post which novel you think it’s from in the comments. Later, I will leave a comment with the answers. Just for fun. If you haven’t read that many of her novels (or you just aren’t a nerd like some of us) just enjoy the wisdom and wit that is Jane.

1. “The more I know of the world, the more I am convinced that I shall never see a man whom I can really love. I require so much!”

2. “I cannot fix on the hour, or the spot, or the look or the words, which laid the foundation. It is too long ago. I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun.”

3. “I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control. ”

4. “My idea of good company...is the company of clever, well-informed people, who have a great deal of conversation; that is what I call good company.' 'You are mistaken,' said he gently, 'that is not good company, that is the best.”

5. “All the privilege I claim for my own sex (it is not a very enviable one: you need not covet it), is that of loving longest, when existence or when hope is gone!”

6. “Oh! Do not attack me with your watch. A watch is always too fast or too slow. I cannot be dictated to by a watch.”

7. “Do not consider me now as an elegant female intending to plague you, but as a rational creature speaking the truth from her heart.”

8. But when a young lady is to be a heroine, the perverseness of forty surrounding families cannot prevent her.  Something must and will happen to throw a hero in her way.

9. “And have you never known the pleasure and triumph of a lucky guess? I pity you. I thought you cleverer; for depend upon it, a lucky guess is never merely luck. There is always some talent in it.”

10. “But there certainly are not so many men of large fortune in the world as there are pretty women to deserve them.”


Happy Reading!

The Austen Awards Poll 4

Which character is the biggest rogue?


A) Wickam, who lies and then runs away in Pride and Prejudice       
                 
                    

B) Willoughby, who hides his past and marries for money in Sense and Sensibility


                    

C) Henry Crawford, who flirts with all the ladies, tries to win Fanny, then causes a scandal in Mansfield Park


                    

D) William Elliot (Anne’s cousin, not her father), who tries to keep it all in the family in Persuasion


                    

E) Captain Tilney, who flirts with, seduces, and ruins others in Northanger Abbey


                    

F) Frank Churchill, who pays attention to others in order to hide his secrets in Emma


               


Happy Voting!