The Jane Austen Playgroup

The desire to share my love of Jane Austen with my daughter prompted me to write this story. I wanted to find a way to introduce young children to Austen’s world without simply summarizing the plots of her novels. If you have suggestions for Austen-related activities for kids, please share them by commenting below, or email me (semsley at gmail dot com). Thanks!

Every month, my Mom and I go to the Jane Austen Playgroup to see my friends Laura, Sophie, Alex, and Zachary. All the moms have tea in flowery teacups, except for Zachary’s mom. She likes coffee better. The kids have juice or hot chocolate, and our moms tell us about the six famous books Jane Austen wrote. They talk a lot about Mr. Darcy, the hero of Pride and Prejudice. Zachary’s mom teases Sophie’s mom, because she says Sophie’s mom wishes she could marry Mr. Darcy.

On a snowy day in January, we go to Alex’s house and his mom plays the piano. The rest of us dance. Alex’s mom tells us about Anne from Persuasion, who thinks Captain Wentworth doesn’t love her anymore. She plays the piano while he dances with other young ladies. Laura tries to persuade Alex’s mom to dance, too. Eventually she puts some music on so she can join us. We all like dancing and we dance until we’re very tired.

In February Laura and her mom invite us to their house for a Valentine’s party. We watch Mr. Darcy propose to Elizabeth in the Pride and Prejudice movie. Then we make valentines to give each other. My Mom says we’re wasting gold paper, the way the rich sisters Maria and Julia do in Mansfield Park. She likes it, though, when I give her a big valentine and a kiss. Zachary’s mom gives Sophie’s mom a pretty card that says, “I admire and love you, love, Mr. Darcy.” Sophie’s mom laughs and says “Thank you,” but she looks kind of sad.

Sophie and her mom can’t come to our meeting in March because they both have the flu. Alex’s mom says it’s probably because they went out in the rain, and she thinks we should send them a present — dried cherries for Sophie and a bottle of wine for her mom. Alex says if he were sick he would want chicken soup instead. His mom says we should send the same things Mrs. Jennings gives Marianne, from Sense and Sensibility, when she doesn’t feel well. Laura’s mom tells us about how handsome Mr. Willoughby rescues Marianne when she hurts her ankle.

On a rainy day in April we go to the art gallery where Zachary’s mom works. We look for portraits that look like Jane Austen’s characters. My Mom says Jane Austen used to do the same thing, too. Laura and her mom find a portrait that they think looks a lot like Elizabeth’s older sister Jane, from Pride and Prejudice, but no one can find a portrait that looks like Elizabeth. My Mom says Mr. Darcy must keep the portrait of her at home at Pemberley.

Finally the weather is nice, and in May we visit a ship that Zachary’s mom says is kind of like Captain Wentworth’s ship in Persuasion. Zachary and Alex argue about who will be the captain, but they both agree there shouldn’t be any girls on their ship. Laura and Sophie and I decide we’d like our own ship anyway. Sophie’s mom says it’s romantic for a captain to bring his wife on board with him. She tells us in the book Captain Wentworth’s sister says she was always happy on her husband’s ship. She was only worried when he was at sea without her.

On a very hot morning in June we go to a u-pick strawberry field and we eat fresh strawberries until we can’t eat any more. We pick some to take home, too. Alex’s mom says it’s like picking strawberries with Emma Woodhouse and her friends at Mr. Knightley’s house in the book called Emma. She talks about how expensive it is to buy strawberries in the city. She says she loves strawberries more than any other fruit, except maybe cherries and currants.

In July we drive to the country to visit a beautiful old house that was built a long time ago. It’s as big as Alex’s house and Laura’s house and my house put together. Sophie’s mom says the house looks like Mr. Darcy’s Pemberley. Laura’s mom says the garden could use some improvements. When we’re getting ready to go home, Sophie and Zachary race to be the first one out of the gate, and Sophie tears her new dress on a nail.

In August, when it’s too hot to do anything else, we go to the beach. Zachary’s mom says we’ll pretend we’re at the beach in Sanditon, from the story Jane Austen didn’t finish. Alex says he feels sick, but he goes swimming anyway. Then he drinks chocolate milk and eats two sandwiches. Sophie and Laura and I build an enormous sandcastle. Zachary’s mom says we should call it Trafalgar House, like the house in Sanditon.

In September we put on a play. Zachary’s mom says it should be a tragedy, like Hamlet. Sophie’s mom says it should be a comedy, because happy endings are better for kids. They agree on “Lovers’ Vows,” just like the play in Mansfield Park. Alex is excited because he will get to make lots of speeches and wear a satin cloak. I get to be a lady named Amelia, and Zachary is a clergyman. Laura doesn’t want to be in the play, but Zachary talks her into reading a small part.

In October we go to Zachary’s house for dinner and his mom reads from a scary book. She says she’s pretending to be Catherine from Northanger Abbey, so she reads by candlelight. Zachary opens a drawer in a big black cabinet. Just as he starts to pull out a notebook, the candle suddenly burns out. Sophie and Alex shriek and Zachary’s mom turns the light on. I’m not afraid at all. Sophie’s mom tells Zachary’s mom we’re too young for games like this. Zachary’s mom laughs and says it’s just a Hallowe’en trick. “What’s in the notebook?” I ask. Zachary hands it to me, but all I can see inside is a boring shopping list.

In November we meet at my house. We get to stay up late so we can look at the stars. When it gets dark, we go into the backyard. My Mom shows us how to find the stars of Cassiopeia. She tells us that Fanny and her cousin Edmund like stargazing in Mansfield Park. Mom says she always likes to look at stars. The sky is so beautiful it makes her feel the whole world is in harmony. I think Cassiopeia looks like a queen’s crown. Zachary says it’s just a big W.

On December 16th, we have a birthday tea party for Jane Austen at Sophie’s house. We eat little cakes and sandwiches. Alex’s mom brings syllabub, which she says is kind of like pudding. Alex eats two helpings. I like the little cakes better. Sophie’s dad has a cup of tea with us too. When her mom gives him a sandwich, he says, “Thank you, dearest, loveliest Elizabeth,” and she smiles. My mom reads to us from Pride and Prejudice. Then the grown-ups have champagne and the kids drink lemonade in fancy glasses and we all say “To Jane!”

© Sarah Emsley, 2010. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Sarah Emsley with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.