Advanced Placement Literature and Composition - Ms. Wright [email protected] Pride and Prejudice By Jane Austen (1775-1817) Although Jane Austen was born the year before the Declaration of Independence and lived through the turbulent era of the Napoleonic Wars and the Battle of Waterloo, she enjoyed a quiet life in the English countryside. While caring for her widowed father, a clergyman, she created characters from the comfortable, upper-middle class into which she had been born. Because of her understanding of the foibles of human nature and her ability at satirical observations, the late eighteenth-century/early nineteenth century author distinguished herself as one who set the stage for the realistic English novel while bridging the literary time periods of the Enlightenment and Romanticism. Pride and Prejudice, her best-known work, was published anonymously (“By a Lady”). Set in rural England in the early nineteenth century, the comedy of manners deals with the business of courtship and marriage. Here the characters learn to know themselves by relinquishing that which has kept them from seeing the truth. Since the early nineteenth century, society has changed considerably. Because the idea of the class into which one was born was more respected in Austen’s day than now, fortune and societal rank were formally regarded. Thus, marriage was a social act. As you read and take notes, consider marriage as the major premise of the novel. Also in your notes include Austen’s use of humor through satire and irony. You will want to put page numbers of specific examples for reviewing. *NOTE: I recommend that you view the BBC presentation of the movie (the one starring Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy) before you read the novel. It cannot replace the reading, but it will establish a visual reference for the use of the language, the social customs, the geography, and more that will be unfamiliar to most modern students. Pride and Prejudice Vocabulary Add the definitions after the word. The sentence provided gives you context from the book. Chapter 1 1. scrupulous You are over scrupulous surely. 2. caprice Mr. Bennet was a mixture of … sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice. Chapter 3 3. fastidious I would not be so fastidious as you are. Chapter 6 4. pedantic Mary had a pedantic air and conceited manner. 5. propriety Mr. Darcy with grave propriety requested to be allowed the honour of her hand, but in vain. 6. complacency Her resistance had not injured her with the gentleman, and he was thinking of her with some complacency. Chapter 7 7. entailed Mr. Bennet’s property was entailed in default of heirs male. 8. felicity Mr. Philips visited all the officers, and this opened to his nieces a source of felicity unknown before. Chapter 8 9. indolent Mr. Hurst was an indolent man, who lived only to eat, drink, and play at cards. Chapter 9 10. profuse Mrs. Bennet was profuse in her acknowledgements. 11. partiality It is what everyone says of Jane; I do not trust my own partiality. Chapter 10 12. alacrity Miss Bingley moved with alacrity to the piano-forte. Chapter 11 13. implacable Implacable resentment is a shade in a character, a failing indeed. 14. propensity And your defect is a propensity to hate everybody. Chapter 13 15. impertinent It was very impertinent of him to write to you at all. Chapter 14 16. constitution Miss DeBourgh is of a sickly constitution. Chapter 16 17. imprudence He asserted that I had forfeited all claim to inheritance by extravagance and imprudence. Chapter 18 18. consequence Charlotte cautions Lizzy against favoring Wickham instead of Darcy, a man of ten times his consequence. Chapter 19 19. affectation Collins believes Elizabeth’s refusal is really just the affectation and coquetry of an elegant female. 20. coquetry See the sentence above. Chapter 31 21. ill breeding Mr. Darcy looked ashamed of his aunt’s ill breeding. 22. arch Elizabeth turned to him with an arch smile. 23. impolitic It was very impolitic to mention all you knew of my trouble. Chapter 35 24. verdure Every day was adding to the verdure of the trees. Chapter 46 25. acquiescence Darcy shook his head in silent acquiescence. Chapter 51 26. unabashed Lydia was Lydia still: untamed, unabashed, wild, noisy, and fearless. Chapter 52 27. palatable Sermon-making was not so palatable to you as it seems to be at present. Chapter 56 28. frivolous Your arguments have been as frivolous as the application was ill-judged. 29. importuned I must beg to be importuned no farther on the subject. Chapter 60 30. vulgarity Mrs. Philips’s vulgarity was another tax on his forbearance. 31. forbearance See the sentence above. 32. badinage (See the remarks between Darcy and Elizabeth in chapters 10 and 11, among others.) 33. obsequious (Decide which character fits this descriptive word.) Chapters 1-6 1. Describe Mr. and Mrs. Bennet and their relationship. Are they convincing characters? If so, how? 2. What details does Jane Austen select to convey to the reader the kind of person Mr. Bingley is? What details does she use to show the reader the kind of person Mr. Darcy is? 3. What contrasting qualities does the reader find in Elizabeth and Jane Bennet? Which sister seems more interesting? Why? 4. Why is the conversation between Elizabeth and Charlotte Lucas about marriage revealing? How do their points of view differ? 5. Jane Austen has a keen eye and ear for the little signs of ill will and jealousy between people. Point out such signs in these early chapters. 6. In Chapter 6 the reader is given a hint of possible conflict in Darcy. What is this conflict? How do you think it may be resolved from what you already know? 7. How does Austen reveal her sense of humor about people in these early chapters? Give examples. 8. What do you think is Austen’s opinion of the party at Sir William Lucas’s? What is the difference between her attitude and Darcy’s to the people present? 9. How does Miss Bingley’s attitude to Darcy differ from Elizabeth’s? 10. In these early chapters, Austen has given several clues as to the future development of the plot. What do you think these clues are? Chapters 7-12 11. Do you think Mr. Bennet’s criticism of Lydia and Catherine in Chapter 7 is justified? What criticism do you have of him as a father? What criticism do you have of Mrs. Bennet as a mother? 12. What aspect of Elizabeth’s personality is revealed in her walking three miles to see Jane? How does this quality show itself during Elizabeth’s visit at Netherfield? 13. What qualities were looked for in an “accomplished young lady” of the late eighteenth century? How does Elizabeth fit into this picture? What qualities do you think Austen particularly prizes in a young lady? 14. What does the discussion about books and reading in Chapter 8 reveal about Mr. Hurst? About Miss Bingley? About Mr. Darcy? 15. In your opinion what does Austen think of Miss Bingley? How is this shown in what Miss Bingley says and does in these chapters? 16. What in particular attracts Darcy to Elizabeth, beyond the fact that she is pretty? Why would this quality be more attractive to Darcy than to Bingley? Explain. How does Darcy’s attraction to Elizabeth affect the reader’s opinion of him? Why? 17. Near the end of Chapter 11, Elizabeth says: “…Follies and nonsense, whims and inconstancies do divert me, I own, as I laugh at them whenever I can.” Show specifically how this is Austen’s own point of view in these chapters. 18. Very little happens during Elizabeth’s visit to Netherfield. In fact, it can be considered quite dull in terms of outward occurrences. Why then, are these chapters interesting and lively? Chapters 13-18 19. In Chapter 13, the threatening entailment subplot hinted at in Chapter 7 assumes flesh and blood in the person of Mr. William Collins. Why is this threat particularly effective? How is this subplot related to the main plot? Consider both plot development and theme. 20. What is the chief criticism in the way Mr. Collins sees people? 21. From Mr. Collins’ description, what is your impression of Lady Catherine de Bourgh? Would you trust his description of her? Why? 22. Although Mr. Collins is an amusing character, does Austen have a serious purpose in showing how he goes after acquiring a wife? Do you think the author is preparing the reader for anything? What? 23. How does Austen create a feeling of interest and quiet suspense in the way she introduces Mr. Wickham? Is Elizabeth justified in believing Mr. Wickham’s story? Why? 24. When Elizabeth and Darcy meet at the Netherfield ball, what confirms her belief in Mr. Wickham’s story? What questions might you have asked Darcy if you were Elizabeth? 25. Why is Elizabeth humiliated at the supper table? How does Mary add to the humiliation? Why do you think Austen included these incidents? 26. In what way does the author show that people at the Netherfield ball are self-centered and unaware of their effect on other people? 27. Can you explain why Elizabeth might have been Mrs. Bennet’s least favorite child? Chapters 19-24 28. Why is Mr. Collins unable to believe Elizabeth when she refuses his offer of marriage? What criticism of men is implied here? What are the “rules” about proposals and rejections? What are the prospects of the Bennet family that result from Elizabeth’s decision? 29.