The influence of polite manners on communication in and structure of Jane Austen's Novels

This thesis is primarily concerned with individual structural analyses of Jane Austen's novels. It employs a new theory of story structure called Dramatica, which makes a departure from the standard methods of analysis that have trouble penetrating deeper than the surface structure of a story, and rather studies the basic conflicts between the individual components of the story. The thesis shows the advantages of this approach and tentatively recommends the ways in which it could be used in future works. The following part explores the changes in both society and literature (in particular concerning the development of the novel) which predated and therefore could influence Jane Austen. It also points out certain customs and behaviours which are not familiar to the present day reader and the knowledge of which can both simplify and enrich the study of the works. The final part applies the results of the analyses (the most important themes of the novels) to some passages from the stories. The aim is firstly to show the complexity and interconnectedness of Jane Austen's oeuvre, and secondly, to show it in the context of the conventions of the time