APIB English Literature and Composition
Major Works Data Sheet
Biographical information about the author: Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775 in Steventon to Reverend George Title: ___PRIDE AND PREJUDICE______and Cassandra Austen. She was the seventh child and formed a very close bond with bother her only other sister and her elder brother Henry, who would become her literary agent. Austen grew up with access to literature Author: ___Jane Austen______and open learning, with parents and siblings who encouraged her creativity and writing experiments. Her one brush with true love came in 1795 when she fell in love with the nephew of a neighbor, but neither truly had much to Date of Publication: ______1813______offer in a marriage so his family separated the pair and she never saw him again. The only offer of marriage she ever received she accepted, but rejected the next day, much like one of her heroines. The first draft of First Genre: ____novel of manners______Impressions, what we know today to be Pride and Prejudice, was completed in 1799 but not published until 1813. Three other of her novels were published in her lifetime: Sense and Sensibility (1811), Mansfield Park Historical information about the period of publication: (1814), and Emma (1815). The books were widely popular with the public This time period, known as the Regency Period, began in and for the most part received favorable criticism, aiding the financial 1811 when the Prince of Wales assumed the duties of King prospects of the Austen women. Jane‟s brother Henry was key in the success George III who suffered from porphyria and was declared of these publications. However, partway through her work on two new novels, Jane grew ill and died on July 18th, 1817. She is buried at the unfit to rule as his behavior became erratic and unpredictable. Winchester Cathedral. Her last two completed works, Northanger Abbey and King George III was largely unpopular for having lost the Persuasion were published posthumously in 1817. colonies in the Americas when they revolted in the 1770‟s. The Prince Regent was discouraged from making policies Characteristics of the genre: regarding official business or war and instead spent large A novel of manners typically deals with satirizing a particular time amounts of money that the Treasury could not cover on period and the behaviors accepted in it, or it describes one person or building projects and large parties. Though he was a large set of persons and their desires to defy the socially acceptable supporter of the arts, his reputation and self-indulgences behaviors or sentiments of the day. In terms of Pride and Prejudice, created in Jane Austen a vehement dislike for him, particularly this most strongly applies to Elizabeth who refuses to marry for when the Prince Regent gave her „the honor‟ of dedicating anything less than passion and love, who admits she will most likely Emma to him, which she could not refuse, nor hide her disdain die an old maid for refusing to settle for anything less. in her wording. Plot summary: Elizabeth Bennett is born the second oldest into an extraordinarily shallow family. Her one point of comfort is her elder sister, Jane, who is as quiet and reserved as she is beautiful and level-headed. The rest of her family is a disaster. Her father, while mostly reasonable, shows little concern for the workings of his family and remains reserved in the peace of his own library, apart from the rest of his family. Her mother and sisters are incredibly silly and possess only thoughts that involve ribbons, balls, gentlemen, and particularly the militia. Thus, they are practically worked up into a frenzy when a handsome, young gentleman named Mr. Bingley, possessing large sums of wealth, moves into the neighborhood with the company of his sister, Caroline, and his long-time friend, Mr. Darcy. The Bennett family immediately descends upon the single gentleman in hopes of him marrying one of the daughters. Indeed, he falls in love with Jane who is much too shy to show much encouragement, despite the mutual emotions. Mr. Darcy on the other hand, fails to impress anyone, despite his wealth. His cold arrogance and apparent disdain for others strike Lizzie particularly hard. She finds friendship in a handsome young officer who has equal hatred towards Darcy, Mr. Wickham. Meanwhile, Jane is invited to spend time with Caroline Bingley, and after catching a cold, is requested to stay there awhile with Lizzie as her nursemaid. This only intensifies Lizzie‟s dislike of everyone but Bingley, Bingley‟s love for Jane, Caroline‟s disdain for the Bennetts, and Darcy‟s attraction towards Lizzie‟s handsome eyes. Thus, almost everyone is glad to see them go, though the Bennetts less so when they discover Mr. Collins, who is to inherit everything from the Bennett family has come to visit the family in hopes of securing a wife. His interests first rest on Jane, but she‟s taken, so he moves on to Lizzie. He proposes to her and she rejects him quite forcefully. He then becomes engaged with Charlotte, Lizzie‟s dearest friend. The mood around the house grows even more gray when it is discovered Mr. Bingley has departed for London, dragged along by his sister and Darcy who declares Jane‟s indifference towards him. Jane also goes to London, to be with her aunt and uncle, and to try to reunite with Mr. Bingley. Meanwhile, Lizzie visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins and meets the cantankerous Lady Catherine who is Darcy‟s aunt and Mr. Collin‟s patroness. While alone one evening, Darcy barges in and announces that he can no longer hide how much he loves Lizzie and asks that she marry him. She coldly refuses and accuses him of separating her sister and Mr. Bingley and of his heartless behavior towards Mr. Wickham. He leaves but writes a letter addressing the two charges in which he is proven faultless except in thinking Jane didn‟t like Bingley. Lizzie travels with her aunt and uncle and accidentally encounters Darcy at his home. At the same time, Lydia is discovered to have run away with Mr. Wickham in a scandal that could ruin the whole family. Unknown to Lizzie, Darcy tracks them down and forces them to marry, paying off Mr. Wickham so that the scandal is abated. Mr. Bingley arrives back in the neighborhood and Jane faces her feelings reemerging, however there is no fear- Mr. Bingley appears and asks forgiveness and marriage to Jane who accepts. Lady Catherine arrives to speak to Lizzie of her engagement to Darcy which Lizzie has no knowledge of. Insulted and humiliated, Lizzie sends her from their home. Later, Darcy asks if Lizzie‟s feelings are the same as they had been before and she says no. The two sisters have a double marriage and stay tight friends.
Major Works Data Sheet Page 2
Describe the author‟s style, incl narrator/point of view, Examples that demonstrate the style (you need metaphors/similes: more than one example): Austen uses a third person omniscient narrator with the “As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth walked out majority of the novel coming out of Elizabeth‟s point of to recover her spirits; or in other words, to dwell view through past tense. This point of view often has without interruption on those subjects that must much of the same wit or wry humor that Elizabeth retains deaden them more.” Chapter 54. Ironic tone about through the entire novel. The tone is rather light and her own confusion. comical, almost as Austen describes it “light, bright, and “The tumult of her mind was now painfully great. sparkling.” Since most of the novel is told and described She knew not how to support herself, and from through dialogue, there aren‟t all that many metaphors or actual weakness sat down and cried for half an similies. hour. Her astonishment , as she reflected on what had passed, was increased by every review of it.” Chapter 34
Memorable Quotes Quote Significance
“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a This summarizes the assumption of the majority of the Bennett family and gives a single man in possession of a good fortune, must wonderful insight into the mentality of Mrs. Bennett and the three younger Bennett be in want of a wife.” Ch. 1 page 5 sisters. “Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her This firmly establishes his reputation of being rude and haughty among many. It also eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is begins the struggle Darcy has with himself in order to confess his attraction towards tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; Elizabeth and also her own dislike towards him, which is one of the many reasons and I am in no humour at present to give for her refusal of marriage upon his first attempt. consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.” Chapter 3, page 13 “Vanity and pride are different things, though the This quote by Mary perfectly describes the majority of the characters in the novel. words are often used synonymously. A person may Darcy and Elizabeth, while proud, are not exceptionally vain. Meanwhile, Mrs. be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to Bingley, Mrs. Bennett, Lady Catherine, and Mr. Collins are all incredibly vain. our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” Chapter 5, page 21 “It is better to know as little as possible of the This statement by Charlotte is highly ironic- both Darcy and Elizabeth both know defects of the person with whom you are to pass each other‟s faults before they ever notice the other‟s good attributes. your life.” Chapter 6 page 24 “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My Darcy‟s proposal to Lizzie marks the turning-point in the novel. Before hand, she feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me could only focus on his arrogance and pride and other negative attributes. However, to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” afterwards, because of what Darcy begins to reveal about his past and his character, Elizabeth‟s astonishment was beyond expression. she begins to see him in a different light that leads to her love for him in return. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed.” Chapter 23 “I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, Elizabeth causes Darcy to have a sort of epiphany about the way he was raised- to be though not in principle.” Chapter 58 well mannered but never control his temper, to be well educated but never control his pride. Elizabeth has illuminated for him the faults within himself, something he feels the need to repay for the generous gift it is to him. This is a truly humbling statement from Darcy.
“Elizabeth was much too embarrassed to say a This moment for Elizabeth is entirely out of character. She is embarrassed and word. After a short pause, her companion added, fumbles with words in her response to Darcy because of a joyfully incoherent “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your moment. feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.” Chapter 58
Major Works Data Sheet Page 3 Characters Name Role in the story Significance Adjectives The main character and second eldest Witty, sharp-tongued, Elizabeth Bennett Protagonist daughter of the Bennett‟s. Certainly the intelligent, prejudiced, most well-read, intelligent, and a ultimately good-natured supposed good judge of character. The wealthy nephew of Lady Catherine Intelligent, honest, Fitzwilliam Darcy Antagonist to de Bourgh. While generally good in proud, loyal, reserved Elizabeth character, incredibly proud and thus tortured by his affections for the lower social ordered Elizabeth. Her relationship with Bingley brightly Beautiful, reserved, Jane Bennett Elder sister and contrasts the tense relationship between gentle, naïve closest friend of Lizzie Darcy and Lizzie. She serves as Lizzie‟s biggest confident. His arrival is the impetus of the novel- Charles Bingley Darcy’s closest friend as a wealthy, single, attractive young Naïve, genial, and Jane’s love man, he‟s easy fodder for the preying easygoing, unaware mothers nearby. He serves as contrast to Darcy‟s behavior. Mr. Bennett Elizabeth’s absent Serves only to spur on his wife‟s and Sarcastic, cynical, father daughter‟s ridiculousness, and rather loving, absent absent as a father else wise. Mrs. Bennett Elizabeth’s absolutely One of the chief sources of humiliation Silly, boisterous, ridiculous mother for the elder Bennett girls because of obnoxious her silliness and shallow attitude towards marriage and men. Mr. Wickham Lizzie’s possible love Initially charms all of the Bennett Handsome, deceptive, interest who ends up family including Elizabeth, but is shallow, untrustworthy, being the ultimate revealed to have vile character by antagonist Darcy‟s statement, just in time for him to run off with Lydia. Lydia Bennett Elizabeth’s youngest Headstrong without the head. She Foolish, silly, immature, foolish sister throws her silly, foolish self at every self-centered man she see‟s until Wickham catches her. Catherine Bennett Elizabeth’s second Only exists as Lydia‟s shadow, despite Foolish, boy-crazy, youngest sister her older age. immature Mr. Collins The clergyman who is Makes marriage attempts on Jane, Obsequious, snobbish, to inherit everything Elizabeth and finally Charlotte Lucas. self-inflated and His attempt on Lizzie convinces her she important will become an old maid. Miss Bingley Charles’s sister Separates, with Darcy‟s help, her Beautiful, conniving, brother and Jane due to her family and self-inflated, conceited her hidden love for Darcy. Charlotte Lucas Lizzie’s dearest friend Accepts Mr. Collins‟s proposal for Pragmatic, sensible, convenience. nonromantic Mr. &Mrs. Lizzie’s aunt and Serve as Lizzie‟s makeshift parents and Sensible, loving, Gardiner uncle escort her to the Lake District. nurturing
Lady Catherine Mr. Collins patroness Makes it exceptionally clear that Rich, bossy, snobby and Darcy’s aunt Elizabeth is not to marry Darcy due to her social status. Georgiana Darcy Darcy’s younger sister Shows one of the softer sides of Talented, shy, beautiful Darcy‟s loving character.
Major Works Data Sheet Page 4
Setting Significance of the opening scene
The setting is some point during the Napoleonic Wars in The opening scene begins with the information that Longbourn, rural England. The landscape is comprised of Mr. Bingley has moved into the neighborhood, which vast amounts of lands and fields dotted with huge manors truly is the impetus behind all the initial foolishness, owned by both the vastly wealthy and the reasonably well- and, though we don‟t know it, launches us off. The town is within walking distance and London is a immediately into the action of meeting the future carriage ride away. Lizzie also visits Pemberley, Darcy‟s husbands. The scene introduces us to the silliness of home in Darbishire, and the Lake District which comprises the Bennett family, and contrasts sharply so that we of rugged landscapes of natural beauty including forests, know immediately the kind, gentle spirit of Jane, and rivers, cliffs and mountains. The journey‟s are particularly the strong-willed and intelligent spirit of Elizabeth. important in the development of Darcy and Elizabeth‟s This also is one of the very few moments that we see relationship. Mr. Bennett act in his father role, though it could be argued that he is only doing it to spur on his wife and sillier daughters into more foolishness.
Significance of the ending/closing scene
The ending scene is as close to a fairy-tale ending as anyone could ask for- nearly everyone ends up happily. Elizabeth and Darcy are quite happy together and Jane and Mr. Bingley move nearby to escape their mother and become closer to the Darcy Symbols couple. Catherine grows some common sense under The only real symbol that exists in this book devoid of the tutelage of her elder sisters. Mr. Bennett, though symbols (since much of the book relies on dialogue for missing his daughter incredibly, visits often, as do description and detail) is Darcy‟s home, Pemberley, which the Gardiners who are more than welcome due to exists as a symbol of its owner. Elizabeth is enchanted by bringing Darcy and Elizabeth together. Lydia and its natural beauty and charm, just as she is beginning to Mr. Wickham remain at a distance which is more warm in her relationship with Darcy. Pemberley lacks than fine for everyone else. In a novel that is nothing artificial appearance as Darcy does, and possesses a like a fairy tale, full of messy characters who make natural importance which swells with arrogance like the critical mistakes and cause each other emotional pain stream before the mansion. Like this stream, Darcy is not and struggle, the end chapter demonstrates that falsely adorned or formal, and he exists with a beautiful everything works out alright in the end. sort of natural honesty. Works Cited Jane Austen - Biography, Timeline, Books, Movies, Quotes, Fashion. Web. 19 Apr. 2011.
How does Pride and Prejudice satirize or criticize the social norms of the day? How does Pride and Prejudice use class and reputation as obstacles to love? What does Pride and Prejudice say about the inevitability of love? Consider both Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Mr. Bingley. What statement about love is Austen trying to deliver through her headstrong romantic heroines?