Seminar Paper• Due: 10th of June (but you can hand in on June 2nd): on

that day I’m asking each of you to take 10 minutes to report on your paper

• 15 pages or more, plus works cited• write on one novel from this seminar or, one close to

these novels from the long 18th century• work up a topic and read appropriate criticism and/or

archival texts• develop a reading of some aspect of the novel• Caution: this is an apprentice piece. I don’t want any

late papers!

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Evelina

Questions for discussion and visualizing the plot

2

Some questions for discussion

1. How do father-figures shape Evelina and her life? 2. How does Evelina respond to her father problem? 3. What is the effect upon the action of Evelina’s second trait—her

beauty and its power? 4. What is the source of Evelina’s embarrassment? 5. How does Burney deliver on her promise: “To draw characters

from nature, though not from life, and to mark the manners of the times, is the attempted plan of the following letters.” (Preface, 55)

6. How does Evelina change as she experiences the world and progresses through the story?

7. How does Evelina’s Oedipal problem get resolved? What are the factors that bring a resolution?

8. What does a visualization of the whole plot allow us to see?

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The plot mechanics of Evelina in 10 stages

1. The past introduced into the present: Reverend Villars’ account of Evelina’s origins

2. Lady Howard-Villars: negotiating Evelina’s entrance into the world 3. Evelina’s first encounters with admirers under the protection of Mrs.

Mirvan4. London-Howard Grove: the traumatic and complicating meeting with

Mme Duval & the “sport” with Duval orchestrated by the Captain5. Howard Grove & Berry Hill & Paris: Negotiating with Duval and Sir John

Belmont 6. London with Duval: the Branghtons and Mr. Macartney and Willoughby 7. Berry Hill: Evelina’s depression8. Bristol Wells / Clifton: Evelina pursues her cure: Rev Villars warning

letters; Lord Orville’s jealousy of Macartney and Willoughby9. Clifton: Orville and Evelina reach a mutual ‘understanding’ 10. Bristol Wells: recognition by Sir John Belmont and receipt of Villar’s

congratulation

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Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Sir John Belmont

Reverend Villars

Miss Caroline Evelyn

Mr Evelyn (the libertine)

Mrs. Mirvan

Madam Duval

Evelina

Mr. Branghton, Tom, Miss Biddy, Polly

Mrs. Evelyn (tavern girl)

Messieur Duval

Place: Berry Hill & Howard Grove Satiric Target: the Destructive effects of libertine ways

Reverend Villars tells narrative of Evelina’s Origins: tutor to Mr. Evelyn, ‘father’-guardian to Miss Caroline & Evelina

Captain Mirvan

Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du Bois

Howard Grove

Howard Grove

ParisParis

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton

Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

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I. The Translation of the Past into the Present

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Howard Grove Satiric Target: Reverend Villars’ anxiety

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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II. Negotiating Evelina’s entrance into the world

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: London Satiric Target: the Entertainments and Pleasure seekers of London

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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III. Evelina Sees London and is Admired

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Howard Grove Satiric Target: Madame Duval is the “sport” of Captain Mirvan

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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IV. Captain Mirvan versus Duval

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Howard Grove & Berry Hill & Paris Crisis: Evelina’s return ‘home’ versus the claims of the fashionable world

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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V. Negotiating communications with Sir John Belmont

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

“NO!”

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: LondonSatiric Target: the ambition of the Branghtons

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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VI. Life with the “bad” grandmother

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Berry Hill Focus: broken and restored communication with Villars as therapist

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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VII. Evelina’s depression

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Bristol Wells and Clifton Satiric Target: the cruelty of high life

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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VIII. Evelina’s goes to a ‘spa’ for treatment

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Bristol Wells and Clifton Satiric Target: the cruelty of high life

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

13

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Place: Clifton Crisis: Villar’s warning letter; Willoughby’s attack; Orville makes his sentiments for Evelina known

IX. Lord Orville Evelina “I revere you! I esteem and I admire you above all human beings!—you are the friend to whom my soul is attaches as to its better half…”

Evelina

Sir John Belmont

Madam Duval

Lady Howard

Lord Orville

Sir Clement Willoughby

Reverend Villars

Mrs. MirvanMr. Branghton, son (Tom) & 2 daughters (Miss Biddy, Polly) Miss Maria Mirvan

Lord Lovel

Mr. Smith

Mr. Macartney

M. Du BoisHoward Grove

Howard Grove

LondonLondon

Berry hill

Berry hill

Lord Merton Lady Louisa Larpent

CliftonClifton

Place: Bristol Wells Crisis: Recognition Scene; Villar’s Letter Accepts Orville

ParisParis

Mrs. Selwyn

Mrs. Beaumont

Mr. Coverley

Capt Mirvan

Polly Green

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X. The Problem of Two Fathers is Resolved

Bristol WellsBristol Wells

Yes !

“My God! Does Caroline Evelyn still live!.... I see, I see thou art her child! …I cannot bear to look at her!”