Study Questions for Pride and Prejudice

Part I

1. In the opening scene of the movie, what is causing Mrs. Bennet’s excitement and why?

2. What is Mrs. Bennet’s opinion of Mr. Bingley’s sisters? What is their opinion of her?

3. Why does Mrs. Bennet make Jane go to Netherfield on horseback, rather than a carriage? What happens as a result?

4. Mr. Darcy says the Bennet girls will have difficulty finding suitable husbands. Why is that?

5. What does Darcy say is his one weakness?

6. What is entailment? To whom is Mr. Bennet’s estate entailed?

7. Why does Mr. Collins come to visit the Bennets?

8. Who is Lady Catherine de Bourgh?

9. What is the prior relationship between Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham?

10. How old is Lydia? In what ways has she so far behaved inappropriately?

11. What is the relationship between Mr. Darcy and Lady Catherine?

12. What is Wickham’s excuse for not attending Bingley’s ball? What does his friend suggest is the real reason?

13. In what ways do various members of the Bennet family embarrass themselves at Bingley’s ball?

14. What are Collins’ reasons for marrying? 15 Who receives Collins’ second proposal and why does she accept?

Part II

1. How does Miss Bingley treat Jane while in London?

2. Why does Charlotte feel her marriage is very tolerable?

3. Why is Lady Catherine surprised that all of Lizzie’s sisters are “out”?

4. Col. Fitzwilliam reveals something about Darcey’s involvement in Bingley’s love life. In what way did Darcey interfere and why?

5. Why does Darcey say he should not propose to Lizzie? Why does he do it anyway?

6. What reasons does Lizzie give for rejecting him?

7. What really happened that caused Darcey to hate Wickham?

8. What were Darcey’s objections to Bingley marrying Jane?

9. Why does Mr. Bennet allow Lydia to go away with Col. Foster’s wife? Why does Lizzie object?

10. Why is the initial meeting between Darcey and Lizzie so awkward for her?

Part III

1. What does Darcey ask Lizzie to allow him to do while she is in town?

2. Why has Lydia left Brighton? Who left with her?

3. What does Mrs. Bennet think will happen if her husband finds Lydia?

4. According to Lizzie, how will Lydia’s behavior affect her sisters? 5. Who discover’s Lydia’s whereabouts?

6. What is Mrs. Bennet’s main concern once Lydia is found?

7. Why does Lady Catherine visit the Bennets? What promise does she demand from Lizzie? Does Lizzie give it?

8. What effect does her visit have on Mr. Darcey?

9. How does Mr. Bennet respond to news of Lizzie’s engagement? What does he say would cause him grief in regards to Lizzie’s marriage?

10. So, what did you think about the whole thing?