Lesson video

Hello, welcome to our lesson today on comparing advice and ideas on love across centuries.

My name is Miss Sutherland and I'll be teaching you today.

In today's lesson, you are going to compare Jane Austen and John Steinbeck's advice about young love through their letters.

I can't wait to read these letters with you today.

We have these four key words to help us in our learning journey today.

The first one is patronised.

Patronised, it means the experience of being treated as if you are insignificant.

The next keyword is caution.

To give caution is to give advice or warning to someone, perhaps about something that might go wrong.

Indifferent; indifferent means not being interested in or not caring about something or someone.

And pragmatic; pragmatic means solving things in a sensible, practical way rather than obeying theories or ideas.

So those are our four keywords for today's lesson.

Pause the video and revise those keywords or jot them down.

Off you go.

Excellent! Here are our learning cycles for today.

In our first learning cycle, we'll be reading Jane Austen's letter to her niece.

We'll be looking at all the advice that Jane Austen, living in 1814, would give to her young niece about love.

And in the second learning cycle, we'll be reading John Steinbeck's letter to his son.

Again, it's on the topic of love, but John Steinbeck was writing in the 20th century.

So a whole century after Jane Austen was writing.

So we're gonna look at how their advice differs.

And finally, in the last learning cycle we'll be comparing Austen and Steinbeck's advice.

This is a really exciting lesson for us to compare what these two brilliant authors thought about love and how the different time periods in which they lived affected their ideas and opinions.

So let's start off with reading Jane Austen's letter to her niece.

First of all though, I want you to consider this question: If you wrote to someone asking for advice, what would you hope for in return? Pause the video and discuss.

So, let's hear from the Oak pupils.

Jacob would want someone to be sympathetic and take his problems seriously.

Izzy would want some ideas about what to do, but she wouldn't want to feel patronised.

She wouldn't want to feel like the person is treating her as clueless.

She would like the person to respect that Izzy has her own mind.

I wonder what advice you would like to be given.

Quite often, we might want advice from someone who's been through something similar so that we can trust their advice.

Also, we would definitely want advice to be practical and supportive.

So shortly, we're going to read Jane Austen's letter to her niece Fanny about love.

Let's just recap who Jane Austen was and what might affect her perspective on love.

Jane Austen is the author of English classics such as "Pride and Prejudice".

I'm sure you've heard of that book and if you haven't already read it, you should definitely pick it up.

Jane Austen was born in the late 18th century and most of her writing was done in the early years of the 19th century.

Throughout her life she kept up a considerable correspondence with her relatives, hence why we can study her letter in today's lesson.

And in 1814, she was writing to her niece Fanny who was troubled by a complicated relationship with a suitor.

And Fanny was 21 years old, whereas Jane was 38 at the time of writing.

So this may have led Fanny to believe that her aunt was a great person to ask advice from because Jane was over 10 years older than her.

So there's a little bit of background for the letter that we are going to read shortly.

Let's read the first three paragraphs of the letter together.

You can find the letter in your additional materials.

"I was certainly a good deal surprised at first, as I had no suspicion of any change in your feelings, and I have no scribble in saying that you cannot be in love.

My dear Fanny, I am ready to laugh at the idea, and yet it is no laughing matter to have had you so mistaken as to your own feelings.

And with all my heart I wish I'd cautioned you on that point when first you spoke to me; but, though I did not think you then so much in love, I did consider you as being attached in a degree quite sufficiently for happiness, as I had no doubt it would increase with opportunity, and from the time of our being in London together I thought you really very much in love.

But you certainly are not at all, there is no concealing it.

What strange creatures we are! It seems as if you are being secure of him had made you indifferent.

There was a little disgust, I suspect, at the races, and I do not wonder at it.

His expressions then would not do for one who would rather more acuteness, penetration, and taste, than love, which was your case.

And yet, after all, I am surprised that the change in your feeling should be so great.

He's just what he ever was, only more evidently and uniformly devoted to you.

This is all the difference.

How should we account for it? Poor dear Mr. A.

Oh, dear Fanny! Your mistake has been one that thousands of women fall into.

He was the first young man who attached himself to you.

That was the charm, and most powerful it is.

Among the multitudes, however, that make the same mistake with yourself, there can be few indeed who have so little reason to regret it; his character and his attachment leave you nothing to be ashamed of." So what we found out in this letter is that Jane Austen doesn't think that her niece is in love with the suitor, Mr. A.

And it seems that Fanny, Jane Austen's niece, has gone off her suitor.

Jane Austen seems to explain that whilst Fanny really liked Mr. A at the beginning of their relationship, it seems that she is not quite as fond of him now.

And Jane Austen goes on to give advice that it's completely fine for these feelings to arise because this is the first man who has shown interest in Fanny.

So, she's reflecting on what she thinks Fanny's.

So she's reflecting on what she thinks her niece is feeling and she's also telling her niece that it's okay to have these feelings.

Let's check your understanding of what we've read.

Which two things are true of the first three paragraphs of Jane Austen's letter? Pause the video and answer that question.

So, these two things are true.

First of all, Jane Austen is surprised by her niece's news.

And secondly, Jane Austen is sure her niece is not in love.

Those two things we find out upon reading that letter to Fanny.

Now, I want you to read the rest of Jane Austen's letter.

As you read, consider the following: What is Austen's opinion of Mr. A? What is the advice she gives to her niece? And what is Jane Austen's opinion on love in general? Pause the video, get reading, I hope you enjoy reading the rest of the letter.

Off you go.

Brilliant dedication and effort with your reading there.

I now want to check your understanding of the second section of the letter that you've just read.

Which two things are true of Jane Austen's letter in the section that you've just read? Pause the video and answer that question.

So, it's true that Jane Austen thinks Mr. A is a good man.

She reiterates all his good qualities in that section of the letter.

And it's also true that Jane Austen is very sympathetic to her niece.

Jane Austen tells her niece Fanny not to pursue Mr. A if she doesn't like him, and that shows she's sympathetic because despite Mr. A as having the.

because despite Mr. A having really great qualities, Jane Austen understands the inner world of her niece and understands that her niece should still have a decision and freedom in who she chooses to pursue a relationship with and fall in love with.

Now, I want you to answer the following questions about Austen's letter.

Refer to the text in your answers.

Here are your questions.

Number one, does Austen think that her niece is in love with Mr. A? Number two, what is the tone of Austen's letter? Number three, does Austen think Mr. A would make a good husband? Number four, why does Austen think her niece should not marry Mr. A? And five, what is Austen's attitude to disappointed love? Pause the video and answer those five questions making sure you refer back to the letter in your answers.

Pause the video and get answering.

Off you go.

I hope answering those questions has given you a secure understanding of the letter.

Let's go through some answers.

Number one, does Austen think that her niece is in love with Mr. A? Austen is sure that Fanny is certainly not in love with Mr. A.

At one point, she thought she was, but not any more.

Indeed, it seems that Fanny did quite like Mr. A at the beginning, but has slowly gone off him, and Austen senses that.

Number two, what is the tone of Austen's letter? Austen is kind, calling her niece, "dear Fanny".

She's also amused and talks about being ready to laugh at the idea of Fanny being in love.

But Austen is also quite resolute in her praise for Mr. A.

She repeatedly says what a good match.

Mr. A would be, saying phrases like, "you have no doubt of his having superior qualities" and "I recommend this match most thoroughly." Number three, does Austen think Mr. A would make a good husband? Austen argues that Mr. A would make an excellent husband because he's amiable, has strict principles and good habits.

She also points out that he's the son of a man of fortune.

Remember that Austen was writing in 1814 and the qualities of a man, including his habits, his morals, and indeed his wealth would've really mattered in him being a good prospect for marriage.

Number four, why does Austen think her niece should not marry Mr. A despite him having all of these great qualities? Austen is very emphatic that marriage without affection would be unendurable.

So despite it being quite advantageous for Fanny to marry Mr. A, Austen recognises that if she does not like Mr. A, if she does not have affection for Mr. A, then, the marriage would not be suitable for Fanny.

Fanny would not enjoy that marriage.

So Austen is both practical and sentimental at the same time in this letter.

Number five, what is Austen's attitude to disappointed love? Austen does not take disappointed love very seriously, saying she does not believe that it ever kills anybody.

So Austen is making quite a few jokes in her letter to her niece and Austen doesn't seem to think that Fanny's relationship with Mr. A is that make or break.

She doesn't feel like it's going to be the end of the world if Fanny chooses not to pursue Mr. A.

Potentially, Austen sees her niece as having many more options.

Well done for answering those five questions on Jane Austen's letter.

Alex and Izzy answered all those questions and then discussed some answers to delve deeper into the letter.

Alex said, "At first, I thought that Jane Austen sounded very cynical.

You get the impression that she only thought of Mr. A's money." Interesting observation from Alex.

It certainly may come across that way from one of the later paragraphs of that letter.

And Izzy says, "It was as if the first part of the letter was what she ought to say.

But then she changed direction and said what she really believed," in the final paragraph when she said, "Oh, don't marry him if you don't like him." I wonder if you agree with Alex or Izzy on those answers.

What ideas can you add to Alex and Izzy's discussion? What impression did you get whilst reading this letter? Pause the video and discuss.

So my feeling was that Austen truthfully wanted her niece to pursue Mr. A because of his advantages.

I felt that the last part of the letter in which she tells Fanny not to marry Mr. A if she doesn't like him, I felt that that was a bit of an afterthought, that she didn't really mean that section but she felt like she had to say it.

Okay, let's move on now to reading John Steinbeck's letter to his son.

Our next letter was written by John Steinbeck to his son, Thom.

Steinbeck was the winner of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for his novel, "Grapes of Wrath".

He also wrote "Of Mice and Men".

His letter to his son Thom was written in 1958.

So as we've said, over a century after Austen's letter to her niece.

And Thom was 14 at the time of writing, meaning Tom was much, much younger than Fanny was.

Now, I want you to read John Steinbeck's 1958 letter to his son Thom independently.

Remember to use your independent reading strategies listed below to help you with your comprehension of this text.

Pause the video and get reading this letter.

Off you go.

Brilliant focus there.

I'm sure you've noticed how different Steinbeck's letter is to Austen's.

Now, let's check your understanding of what you've just read.

Which two things are true of Steinbeck's letter? Pause the video and answer this question.

So, John Steinbeck's son is in love with a girl called Susan.

That is true.

And Steinbeck is very sympathetic to his son's feelings.

That is also true, and we learn that in the letter.

Now below is a summary of ideas expressed in Steinbeck's letter.

For each statement below, I want you to find a word or phrase from the letter that supports it.

So can you find evidence that Steinbeck is warm and empathetic in his letter? Can you prove that Steinbeck states love can be wonderful and harmful? Can you find evidence that Steinbeck's.

Can you find evidence that Steinbeck believes that once you have found the best source of love you should celebrate and cherish it? And can you find evidence to show Steinbeck's belief that you shouldn't be anxious about love? Pause the video and find evidence to support those four bullet points on the screen there.

Off you go.

Great job! I hope that task has helped in your comprehension of Steinbeck's letter.

It is a short letter, but the advice in there is very useful and there's a lots of gems in that letter.

Alex and Izzy shared and discussed some of the quotations they found.

Alex said that, "Steinbeck comes across as a very understanding father.

But he's also making sure his son realises you have to treat love responsibly." And Izzy has noticed that Steinbeck refers to his wife's experiences of love.

She's not Thom's mother.

So this suggests that Steinbeck thinks love can be complex.

I wonder if you picked up on similar things as you read the letter.

What can you add to Alex and Izzy's discussion? Pause the video and join in the discussion.

Now, we're on to our final learning cycle where we'll be comparing Austen and Steinbeck's advice.

Let's dig deeper into the advice that Austen gives her niece.

How does Austen talk about Mr. A and what advice does she seem to be giving? Pause the video and discuss.

Austen talks of Mr. A in a positive way.

She calls him a sterling man and she says she recommends him most thoroughly.

She's seemingly encouraging her niece to fall in love with Mr. A, or at least pursue Mr. A more seriously.

Discuss now what advice does Austen end the letter with? Pause the video and discuss.

However, by the end of the letter, Austen seems to give an entirely different message, that Fanny should not pursue Mr. A.

She says, "If his deficiencies of manner strike you, give him up at once." Now I want you to discuss, do you think Austen gives good advice to her niece? Would you be satisfied with this advice if it was given to you? Pause the video and discuss.

One thing I picked up on is that the advice could appear contradictory.

Therefore, it might not be considered useful advice.

Because on one hand, Austen tells Fanny that Mr. A is a great man and seems to really, really recommend him.

But then, at the end says, "If there's something you don't like about him, don't go for him." Now we're going to compare the advice Austen gives to the advice that Steinbeck gives.

Discuss now, what does Steinbeck focus his letter on? Pause the video and discuss.

You may have said that Steinbeck does not focus on Thom's love interest and her qualities, but rather focuses on the general idea of love itself.

Now I want you to discuss how is the focus of Steinbeck's letter different from Austen's letter? Pause the video and discuss.

So, we know that in Austen's letter she spends the majority of the letter discussing Mr. A's attributes, whereas Steinbeck doesn't talk about Susan's attributes at all, really.

So, we already see how the focus of Steinbeck says it is completely different from the main focus of Austen's letter.

Now discuss, do you notice any similarities or differences in the tone of Steinbeck's letter compared to Austen's? Pause the video and discuss.

You may have said that both authors have a sympathetic tone to their writing, but perhaps Jane Austen's tone is slightly more pragmatic than Steinbeck's.

And finally, whose advice do you think is more valuable, Austen or Steinbeck's? Pause the video and discuss.

Now, recapping the context of the letters can help you to understand why the advice each author gives is different.

Austen was writing in 1814 to her niece, and Steinbeck was writing in 1958, a century later, to his son.

How does this influence the advice they both give? Pause the video and discuss.

You may have said the following: "In 1814, love and dating was seen as a precursor to marriage and raising a family." "For a woman, especially in 1814, the focus was on finding an advantageous match to uphold social status and reputation." "And in 1958, a century later, especially for a male, there would not be the same emphasis on finding an advantageous match." So perhaps this is why Austen writes a lot about the qualities of Mr. A, whereas Steinbeck does not feel the need to write about the qualities of Susan at all in his letter.

Let's check your understanding of what we've just talked about.

Austen writes to her young niece in 1814.

Compared to Steinbeck her advice may be more.

Loving, blunt, or pragmatic? Pause the video and answer that question.

Off you go.

More than a few said Austen writing in 1814 to her young niece means that her advice may be more pragmatic than Steinbeck's.

And this is because it was important for a young woman in 1814 to find a match that would give her advanced years and benefits in life.

And this means that a loss of looking for a partner is practical rather than leading with feelings.

Let's look now at the start of a response that seeks to compare the different advice given by the two writers.

"Both Austen and Steinbeck give advice on young love, however Austen focuses heavily on the qualities of her niece's love interest, stating: 'I feel the sterling worth of such young man' and 'you have no doubt of him having superior qualities', perhaps at the expense of focusing on her niece's feelings.

By repeatedly commenting on the favourable qualities of Mr. A, Austen almost imposes the opinion that Fanny should pursue him." So that's how this comparative response has started out.

It's linked the writers using the correlative conjunction both, it's introduced a difference, and it's also used a range of evidence to support the idea stated.

Finally, it's made inferences about the advice Austen gives based on the evidence provided.

So, you can think of those things as your success criteria.

Use correlative and comparative conjunctions, use evidence to support your ideas, and make inferences based on your evidence.

It's your turn now to write the next part of the comparative response, explaining the differences between Austen and Steinbeck's advice.

You could use the following ideas to guide you: How does Austen's tone compare to Steinbeck's? How does the level of independence and freedom each author bestows onto their teenage family member differ? You could compare the main focus of Austen's letter compared to Steinbeck's, and you could discuss how the time period and respondee or addressee of each letter affects the type of advice each author gives.

Pause the video and get writing the next part of the comparative response.

Off you go.

Brilliant writing there.

You might have written something like this: "Steinbeck on the other hand, is more permissive in his advice.

He mostly focuses on his son's feelings and the concept of love in general.

The philosophical nature of his advice allows Thom more freedom to make his own decision about love, regardless of the person he falls in love with.

By not focusing too much on Thom's love interest, Susan, Steinbeck allows his advice to be universal and readily applied to any circumstance.

The difference in Austen and Steinbeck's advice may be due to the unique time period in which Austen wrote.

1814 was a time where women were expected to secure an advantageous match to ensure a comfortable marital life and uphold their reputation.

Due to the patriarchal society, Fanny would've been reliant on her suitor to provide security for her, which Austen clearly recognises, hence giving more pragmatic, rather than philosophical advice." Pause the video now and add in anything to your response that you want to based on looking at that model answer.

Off you go.

Great job on your comparative response.

Here's what we've learned today.

When comparing, look for similarities and differences.

Look for subtle differences where there is a clear similarity, but subtle variations.

To express differences, use correlative and comparative conjunctions.

Recapping the context of a text can help you to understand why the advice or attitude of each writer is different.

And circumstances may be similar, but differences like being a man or a woman or living in different centuries will make a big difference to how circumstances are experienced.

Thank you so much for joining me in today's lesson.

I hope to see you in another lesson soon.