Essay Contest

To foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen, JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest, with support generously provided by the Sonia Raiziss Giop Foundation.

Students interested in the life and works of Jane Austen are encouraged to enter. The Essay Contest is open to students world-wide at the high school, college/university, and post-graduate levels of study. Entrants must be enrolled at least part-time in coursework during one or more semesters/quarters of the contest year. (Part-time is defined as a minimum of six credit hours for college undergraduates and three credit hours for graduate students.)

2009 Essay Contest

The topic for the 2009 Essay Contest is:

Siblings abound in Jane Austen’s novels. Some siblings act as foils to each other; others are in competition; still others are mutually supportive and encouraging. Examine the importance of siblings in one or two Austen novels. Discuss how they function in the novel and how they embody larger themes. You may focus on one sibling relationship or you may compare relationships, either within a novel or between two novels.

The Submissions page includes important rules about format and submission of essays and a link to the official Essay Contest entry form. Entries must be postmarked by May 1, 2009.

Essay Contest Prizes

JASNA awards three prizes in each of three categories: High School, College/University, and Post-Graduate. (JASNA does not offer scholarships.)

First Place

Second Place

Third Place

Questions? Contact Lynn Sherick at lynn.sherick@gmail.com. Please use “JASNA Essay Contest” in your subject line.