Brief Questions
From where is the title Pride and Prejudice derived?
Ans: Likely from Fanny Burney’s novel Cecilia.
Who is the protagonist?
Ans: Elizabeth Bennet.
What is the setting?
Ans: Early 19th-century England, mainly in Longbourn, Hertfordshire.
Who is Mrs. Bennet?
Ans: A frivolous mother obsessed with marrying off her daughters.
Who is Lydia Bennet?
Ans: The youngest Bennet sister; elopes with Wickham.
Who is Mr. Collins?
Ans: A pompous clergyman set to inherit Longbourn.
Who is Georgiana Darcy?
Ans: Darcy’s shy younger sister.
Who is Colonel Fitzwilliam?
Ans: Darcy’s well-mannered cousin.
Who is Caroline Bingley?
Ans: Bingley’s snobbish sister.
Who is Mary King?
Ans: A young heiress in Meryton, briefly pursued by Wickham after inheriting £10,000.
What is the "universally acknowledged truth" at the start?
Ans: A wealthy single man must want a wife.
What is Meryton?
Ans: A town near Longbourn.
What is Longbourn?
Ans: The Bennets’ village home.
Describe Mrs. Bennet’s personality.
Ans: Ignorant, loud, and obsessed with marriage.
What is Mrs. Bennet’s main goal?
Ans: To marry off her daughters.
What is a "chaise and four"?
Ans: A carriage pulled by four horses.
What is Michaelmas?
Ans: A September festival marking rent payments.
What is Boulanger?
Ans: A dance.
With whom did Darcy dance at the first ball?
Ans: Mrs. Hurst and Caroline Bingley.
What did Darcy say when Bingley asked him to dance with Elizabeth?
Ans: "She is tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt me."
Who overheard Darcy’s remark?
Ans: Elizabeth.
How does Elizabeth react when Charlotte defends Darcy’s pride?
Ans: She disagrees, believing pride is a flaw.
What is a "hack chaise"?
Ans: A rented carriage.
What are Elizabeth’s views on marriage?
Ans: It should be based on love, not convenience.
What is entailment?
Ans: A law restricting inheritance to male heirs (Mr. Collins).
What is rogout?
Ans: A rich meat dish.
To whom is Longbourn entailed?
Ans: Mr. Collins.
Who is Mr. Collins’s patroness?
Ans: Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
What is Rosings Park?
Ans: Lady Catherine’s estate.
What is a phaeton?
Ans: An open horse-drawn carriage.
What are tythes?
Ans: A church tax (10% of income).
Why does Mr. Collins want to marry?
Ans: To please Lady Catherine and set a good example.
Why does Charlotte marry Mr. Collins?
Ans: For financial security, not love.
How old is Elizabeth?
Ans: Around 20.
Describe the Bennets’ marriage.
Ans: Mismatched—Mr. Bennet is witty, Mrs. Bennet is foolish.
How many sisters does Darcy have?
Ans: One (Georgiana).
Who is Lady Catherine de Bourgh?
Ans: Darcy’s arrogant aunt.
What is Pemberley?
Ans: Darcy’s grand estate.
Why does Mr. Bennet favor Elizabeth?
Ans: She is intelligent and sensible.
What was the novel’s original title?
Ans: First Impressions.
What is Netherfield Park?
Ans: First Impressions.
Why does Wickham marry Lydia?
Ans: Darcy bribes him to save the Bennets’ reputation.
How many daughters do the Bennets have?
Ans: Five (Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, Kitty, Lydia).
Why is Miss Bingley jealous?
Ans: Darcy prefers Elizabeth over her.
How old is Jane?
Ans: Nearly 23.
Where do the Bennets live?
Ans: Longbourn village, near Meryton.
What is the novel’s first ironic line?
Ans: "It is a truth universally acknowledged..."
What is a novel?
Ans: A long fictional story about human experiences.
Who represents pride in the novel?
Ans: Darcy.
How does Darcy overcome his pride?
Ans: Elizabeth’s rejection humbles him.