Charles Lamb and Jane Austen :
AWere separated by a life time
BWere separated by a century
CWere born decades apart
DWere born in the same year
Answer:
D. Were born in the same year
Read Explanation:
Biographical Coincidence of Charles Lamb and Jane Austen
- Charles Lamb and Jane Austen, two prominent figures in English literature, share a significant biographical detail: they were born in the same year, 1775.
- This shared birth year places them in the same generation of writers, though their literary styles and thematic concerns differed considerably.
Charles Lamb (1775-1834)
- Lamb is best known for his Essays of Elia, a collection of personal essays marked by their wit, sentimentality, and nostalgic reflections on London life.
- His other notable works include Tales from Shakespeare (co-authored with his sister, Mary Lamb) and the autobiographical novel The Adventures of Ulysses.
- Lamb's prose is characterized by its gentle irony, melancholic undertones, and deeply personal voice.
- He was a contemporary and friend of Samuel Taylor Coleridge and William Wordsworth, key figures of the Romantic movement.
Jane Austen (1775-1817)
- Austen is celebrated for her six major novels, including Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, and Mansfield Park.
- Her novels are renowned for their insightful social commentary, exploration of manners, and witty portrayal of the landed gentry in Regency England.
- Austen's distinctive style features free indirect discourse, sharp dialogue, and a focus on the domestic lives and romantic entanglements of her heroines.
- Although born in the same year as Lamb, Austen's focus was primarily on the novel of manners and social satire, distinct from Lamb's more personal and essayistic approach.
Significance for Competitive Exams
- Knowing that these two influential authors were born in the same year can be a useful piece of information for multiple-choice questions focusing on literary timelines and authorial contemporaries.
- Questions might test the ability to associate authors with their birth years and recognize such coincidences.
