A summary of a novel provides a strong background for teachers and students. Using the highlights of each chapter, it is easier for students to analyze the novel and for teachers to provide instruction. The brief summary can be used as it is, or extrapolated upon by either teachers or students as they read the novel.
Understanding the Purpose of Northanger Abbey
Northanger Abbey [Oxford University Press, 2008] was the first novel Jane Austen completed, yet was published after her death. It is a parody of the Gothic novel popular at the time. Catherine Morland, the main character, has enjoyed reading Gothic novels such as Mysteries of Udolpho by Anne Radcliffe [1794].
The novel is published as two sections, Book 1 and Book 2. In Book 1, Catherine begins her adventure by going to Bath with family friends. Book 2 begins with the introduction of Frederick Tilney and Catherine's invitation to Northanger Abbey.
Summary of Book One of Northanger Abbey
Chapter 1: Seventeen-year old Catherine Morland is introduced as the unlikely heroine of the novel. She is invited by friends of her parents, the Allens, to accompany them to the resort town of Bath.
Chapter 2: Catherine prepares for her trip to Bath, and shortly after her arrival, attends a ball. She is dismayed at not being asked to dance, but hopeful at overhearing a couple of young gentlemen say she is pretty.
Chapter 3: Catherine attends a socialite gathering place called the Lower Rooms, where she meets Henry Tilney, her love interest. She and Henry have immediate chemistry and Henry's wit and playfulness in discussing small talk and journal writing captivate Catherine.
Chapter 4: Catherine and Mrs. Allen go the next day to various places as Catherine longs to see Henry again. While she doesn't find Henry, Mrs. Allen discovers an former schoolmate of hers, Mrs. Thorpe. They revive their acquaintance and Mrs. Thorpe introduces Catherine to her daughters. The eldest daughter, Isabella, becomes close friends with Catherine.
Chapter 5: Catherine and Isabella deepen their friendship as Catherine confides in Isabella of her feelings for Henry Tilney. The narrator also discusses, in detail, opinions of novel reading by the characters in novels.
Chapter 6: Catherine and Isabella discuss Radcliffe's novel, Mysteries of Udulpho. Catherine is dominated by Isabella via dialogue. Isabella shows her own character by saying one thing and doing another, as she does before pursuing the young men at the end of the chapter.
Chapter 7: Instead of overtaking the two young men, Catherine and Isabella encounter their brothers, James Morland and John Thorpe. James and Isabella immediately seem romantically interested in each other, which Catherine doesn't notice. John asks Catherine to dance with him at the ball.
Chapter 8: At the ball, John leaves Catherine to go to the card room and James and Isabella dance together, leaving Catherine alone. Henry and his sister, Eleanor, arrive and join Catherine. Henry wants to dance with Catherine but she must refuse because she is waiting for John. Catherine has a less than enjoyable evening because she is annoyed with John and would have preferred to spend time with Henry.
Chapter 9: Catherine wishes to get to know Eleanor Tilney, Henry's sister, better but is instead pressured into going on a carriage ride with Isabella and James in one carriage and John with Catherine. John spends the entire three hour ride boasting about himself and being disagreeable.
Chapter 10: Catherine attends the theater with James, the Allens, and the Thorpes. At the theater, and the next day, at the Pump Room, Catherine remains oblivious to the flirtations between James and Isabella, but is pleased to finally spend time with Eleanor. The following night, Catherine attends a ball and is able to dance with Henry.
Chapter 11: Catherine expects to go walking with Eleanor and Henry, but rain spoils the plans. She is pressured to go to Bristol to see a castle with John, Isabella and James. She goes, and sees Henry and Eleanor walking toward her house. Catherine wants to stop the carriage but John won't let her.
Chapter 12: The next night, Catherine attends the theater and meets up with Henry. He is cool towards her, thinking she preferred to spend time with John. However, he warms when he realizes she has no feelings for John. Catherine sees John speaking with Henry's father and hopes that he will like her.
Chapter 13: Catherine meets General Tilney, Henry's father for the first time and he is polite and kind to her. She chats with the General and Eleanor for a while until the General invites Catherine for dinner sometime in the future.
Chapter 14: The next day, Catherine goes for a walk with Henry and Eleanor. They discuss novels and histories, as well as art.
Chapter 15: Catherine receives a note from Isabella asking her to visit. Catherine does so to find that James and Isabella are engaged. John believes that Catherine wants to marry him although Catherine has no idea that John is expecting this.
Using the Summary for Analysis of Book One of Northanger Abbey
The summary of Northanger Abbey can be used to help analyze the novel, for further research, and for preparation in writing essays. When researching vocabulary, themes and quotes, it can be handy to have a summary to help pinpoint where in the book an event, word, phrase or dialogue occurred, such as when searching for episodes in which Catherine's experiences mirror that of a Gothic novel.
Angela Kleinow - I graduated from the University of Michigan, where I focused on Science Fiction and Fantasy for my senior seminar while working with the ...
Join the Conversation