Northanger Abbey is an 1817 novel by Jane Austen Set in England during the Regency period, it follows the story of the naïve Catherine Morland as she engages in romantic and social endeavours. Catherines visit to the spa town of Bath, and to the home of the wealthy Tilney family at Northanger Abbey, is the crux of the novel, as it brings out themes of reality and imagination, innocence and sophistication, and the importance of understanding social norms.
Essay Topic Ideas:
1. The Role of Imagination in Northanger Abbey: This essay would explore the use of imagination in the novel and discuss how it affects the actions and characters of the novel.
2. Social Hierarchy and Class in Northanger Abbey: This essay would discuss how class, money, and status are portrayed in the novel and how they affect the characters and their relationships.
3. Austen’s Critique of the Institution of Marriage in Northanger Abbey: This essay would explore Austen’s views on marriage and how they are presented in the novel.
4. The Portrayal of Women in Northanger Abbey: This essay would analyze the depiction of female characters and their roles in the novel.
5. Themes of Innocence and Experience in Northanger Abbey: This essay would analyze Austen’s presentation of innocence and experience, particularly as it applies to Catherine’s journey of growing up in the novel.