1. Sense and Sensibility begins with a short history of Norland
Park, the Dashwood family''s estate. We learn that the late owner
has bequeathed the property to his nephew, Henry Dashwood, since he
himself was unmarried and without children. Describe Henry
Dashwood''s family. Who are its members? What is the dilemma that
Henry''s wife and daughters encounter upon his death?
2. The novel tells the story of two sisters who at first appear
to be more different than similar. Elinor, the older sister, is
governed by her good sense, whereas Marianne, the younger and less
experienced sister, is ruled by a romantic sensibility. Compare the
personalities of the two sisters further. To what do you attribute
these differences? Are their personalities fixed, or do they change
over the course of the novel?
3. In Chapter 13, Elinor is shocked to learn that Marianne
allowed Willoughby to show her his house without a chaperon.
Marianne defends her action by saying, "If there had been any real
impropriety in what I did, I should have been sensible of it at the
time, for we always know when we are acting wrong." Is this a valid
defense? Does the novel, in the end, support or reject Marianne''s
notion of propriety?
4. Claire Tomalin has argued that Sense and Sensibility acts
out a debate about behavior, in which Elinor represents discretion
and privacy and Marianne represents emotional openness. Which side
do you think wins this debate? Do you think the novel''s attempts
to resolve this debate are successful? Why or why not?
5. Over the course of the novel, both Elinor and Marianne
experience romantic reversals: Elinor when she discovers Edward
Ferrars is engaged to Lucy Steele, and Marianne when she discovers
Willoughby is to marry Miss Grey. What do these experiences teach
Elinor and Marianne? Compare the reactions of each.
6. Sense and Sensibility presents a host of memorable minor
characters, such as Mrs. Jennings, Mrs. Ferrars, and Mrs. John
Dashwood. Discuss the role minor characters play in the novel. What
issues or ideas do they help illuminate for the protagonists?
7. In Chapter 17, Elinor says the following with regard to the
notion of character: "I have frequently detected myself in such
kind of mistakes . . . in a total misapprehension of character in
some points or other; fancying other people so much more gay or
grave, or ingenious or stupid than they really are, and I can
hardly tell why, or in what the deception originated. Sometimes one
is guided by what they say of themselves, and very frequently by
what others say of them, without giving oneself time to deliberate
and judge." Discuss the theme of character in Sense and
Sensibility. What does Elinor mean when she uses the word
"character"? What, according to her, are good and bad judges of
character? Does she follow her own advice? Which sort of character
does the novel value?
8. Discuss the character of Lucy Steele. How would you describe
her? What does she risk in telling Elinor of her engagement to
Edward Ferrars? Does this seem shrewd or foolish to you?
9. At several points in the story, the characters discuss the
value of "second attachments." For instance, in Chapter 17,
Marianne makes plain that she does not believe a person can be in
love more than once in his or her life. She says further, "At my
time of life, opinions are tolerably fixed. It is not likely that I
should see or hear anything to change them." Discuss the irony
implicit in Marianne''s statement. Does the novel itself share her
views? Which characters come to have second attachments?
10. Discuss the character of Willoughby. How is he punished for
his decision to marry for money, in a way that someone like Lucy
Steele is not? Why might this be the case?