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Jane Austen (1775-1817)
Jane Austen is one of the greats of British literature, and her popularity has increased if anything in recent decades, thanks to TV and film adaptations of her books. Her novels Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, Mansfield Park, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion are all classics of the romantic fiction genre.
Analysis of Jane Austen's Poem, My Dearest Frank, I Wish You Joy
'My Dearest Frank, I Wish You Joy' is an autobiographical poem, about her brother, by the English writer Jane Austen.
Early in the poem, Jane Austen reveals that her sister-in-law has recently had a baby boy. Jane is glad that the birth was not as difficult as that of a previous child, Mary Jane.
An Optimistic Poem
The tone of the poem, though, is optimistic and the poet hopes that the child will turn out to be a good child, and "well deserve his Parents' Love!" Jane also hopes that the child will have similar traits to her brother, as revealed in the line: "Another Francis William see!"
Just when it seems Jane Austen is expecting too much from the boy, thinking of him as being fearless, she looks forward to the child's "saucy words and fiery ways". She also wants the boy to grow up to be as "considerate and kind" as his father.
The composition of 'My Dearest Frank, I Wish You Joy' consists of mostly rhyming couplets, with no standalone verses. Where there is not a direct rhyme, as in "prove" and "love", and with "Good" and "Blood", Jane Austen uses a similarity. In the latter instance, we have the two words containing a double o, and in the former, words ending with ove.
'My Dearest Frank, I Wish You Joy' has a fascinating meter. There is a mixture of bouncy rhyme, as with the poem's first two lines, and lines nine and ten. But with the third and four lines there is a more downbeat rhyme. There are two things at work here in the third and fourth lines. The content is more serious, but actual rhymes can also indicate emotion. With "joy" and "Boy" of the first two lines, the words rhyme in a way that sounds pleasant. The "pain" and "Jane" of the third and fourth lines sound harsh by comparison.
Poignant Love
The latter stages of the poem are like a letter from Jane to Frank. Jane tells her brother what is happening at her home, and that her new home is currently being improved.
Jane can't disguise her glee at how she expects the house to be when it is finished, as she says "that when complete / It will all other Houses beat". Jane also reveals the name of Frank's wife for the first time - Fanny, and hopes that the couple will perhaps move to a home nearer to Jane. There is a poignancy here, in that though Jane may be "very snug next year", she would be happier still with her brother nearby on a permanent basis.
Copyright © Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.
Analysis of Jane Austen's Poem, Mock Panegyric on a Young Friend
Jane Austen's 'Mock Panegyric on a Young Friend' contains wit akin to her literary masterpiece 'Pride and Prejudice'.
'Mock Panegyric on a Young Friend' begins with a very witty first verse that displays Jane Austen's skilful, observational and affectionate wit. We can ascertain from this first verse that the rest of the poetry is going to be a playful 'tribute' to her friend, and subject of this poem, Anna.
Anna's Enthusiasm for Knowledge
The first two verses suggest that Anna's mind will not be contained. Meaning that she has a thirst for knowledge. In the third verse she is already passing on the knowledge she possesses to all and sundry. The humour in the poem is really in the way that Jane Austen pokes fun at Anna's enthusiasm, but in a sweet, gentle way. It makes it difficult not to like Anna, but also difficult not to like the poet either.
It appears that Anna is not slow in coming forward, and gives her opinions to friends and foes alike. The way that Jane Austen uses the word "descends", is as if Anna is a bird of prey, waiting to strike and impart her version of wisdom on any unfortunate who happens to come within her orbit.
Jane Austen describes Anna's judgment as sound, and likens her giving of wisdom to dispensing aid. Anna's wit gushes forth like "famed Niagara's fall", and you can't help but feel that the travelers who "gaze in wild amaze" are doing so with a sense of incredulity, rather than because they are gleaning much wisdom. They are also too polite to find an excuse to pull themselves away.
The Beauty of Anna
In the final two verses, we get to find out more about what Anna actually looks like, though Jane Austen reveals that Anna is so beautiful that "Another world must be unfurled, / Another language known" to describe such a beauty. Anna has a beautiful face and figure, and a likeable character to match.
'Mock Panegyric on a Young Friend' is a poem of seven verses, with each verse having four lines. The second and fourth line of each verse is rhymed.
Though the poem does pick out Anna's inclination for over-enthusiasm, it does so in such a gentle way, that Anna's friends and loved ones, and even Anna herself, would surely not take offence. Jane Austen, of course, would also be appreciated for capturing the essence of her friend, though by doing so with the opposite of a dull and sycophantic tribute.
Copyright © Paul Rance/booksmusicfilmstv.com.
