In Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey, the characterization of the protagonist -Catherine Morland- seems to be constructed by her own fantasies, extracted by her reading of Gothic novels and her simple and naive thinking, which corresponds to her equally simple actions. At least, this is the start of the story Jane Austen displays at the beginning of the book. ... "(Austen 131). ... "(Austen 147). ... "(Austen 224). ...

• Word Count: 1240
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

Austen completely ridicules gothic literature through Catherine's thoughts concerning the Tilney's home at Northanger Abbey. ... Austen is mocking the gothic as a genre. We know that it was very popular in the time when Austen wrote the novel. ... Jane Austen provides her audience with an alternative form of literature by having a novel focus on how a story can be told as opposed to most novels which traditionally focus on the story itself. Cleverly, by using a likeable character that the implied reader can identify with and relate to, Austen is able to use this character as a mode...

• Word Count: 1174
• Approx Pages: 5
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: Undergraduate