Pride and Prejudice

Volume 1, Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. Mr. Bingley (Volume 1, Chapter 1)

2. Lydia (Volume 1, Chapter 2)

Short Answer

1. She complains to Mr. Bennet frequently and has a temper when she doesn’t get her way. She is silly and criticizes Kitty for coughing because it disrupts her nerves. (Volume 1, Chapters 1-2)

Volume 1, Chapters 4-6

Reading Check

1. The former Mr. Bingley made his money in trade. (Volume 1, Chapter 4)

2. His pride (Volume 1, Chapter 5)

3. Charlotte does not think Jane is showing Mr. Bingley enough affection. (Volume 1, Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. Mr. Bingley sees everything in a positive light. He enjoys the Meryton ball, and he thinks the girls at the ball were among the prettiest he has ever seen. Mr. Darcy, in contrast, found no enjoyment in the ball and thought the people were without beauty or fashion. His disposition is more reserved and more negative than Mr. Bingley’s. (Volume 1, Chapter 4)

2. He was critical of her and the townspeople previously at the Meryton ball. In her mind, his disposition is one that is typically critical. (Volume 1, Chapters 3-6)

Volume 1, Chapters 7-10

Reading Check

1. Jane travels to visit the Bingley sisters in the rain on horseback, so she develops a cold. (Volume 1, Chapter 7)

2. Answers may vary. They criticize her relations for working in trade and the Bingley sisters’ father also worked in trade. She has a wild appearance after walking to Netherfield, she walked too far, she has too much independence, her mother is silly, and her sisters chased officers.

Short Answer

1. Mrs. Bennet is primarily concerned with seeing her children married. She initially finds a way to get Jane to stay at the Bingley estate overnight. When Jane is sick, she also schemes by insisting that Jane stay longer, even though Jane is recovering. (Volume 1, Chapters 7-10)

Volume 1, Chapters 11-15

Reading Check

1. Lady Catherine de Bourgh (Volume 1, Chapter 13)

2. Mr. Collins is a clergyman and sees it as his duty to reconnect with the Bennet family because Mr. Bennet and his father had a disagreement. (Volume 1, Chapter 13)

3. The officers and Mr. Wickham (Volume 1, Chapter 15)

Short Answer

1. He presents himself as humble but is bragging about his connections to Lady Catherine de Bourgh. He also enters the Bennet home with the intention of marrying one of the girls, but says he is there to make amends for past wrongs. He uses flattery to garner the attention of those he wishes to gain something from, such as Lady Catherine and Mrs. Bennet. (Volume 1, Chapters 13-15)

2. Mr. Bennet is happy to see the girls because it restores some sense and animation to the household. Mrs. Bennet is displeased because she would like for Jane to be with Mr. Bingley as much as possible. (Volume 1, Chapter 12)

Volume 1, Chapters 16-18

Reading Check

1. Mr. Darcy (Volume 1, Chapter 16)

2. Miss de Bourgh, Lady Catherine’s daughter and Mr. Darcy’s cousin (Volume 1, Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. Elizabeth, along with Mr. Bennet, makes fun of Mrs. Bennet. Mrs. Bennet also appears to prefer the daughter that will marry the richest gentleman, because Mrs. Bennet indicates Jane is now her favorite daughter. (Various chapters)

Volume 1, Chapters 19-23

Reading Check

1. Mr. Bingley has been called to London on business. (Volume 1, Chapter 21)

Short Answer

1. Mrs. Bennet does not value sense or affection in a relationship for her daughters as much as she does stability, flattery, and the acknowledgement she gains by having married daughters. (Volume 1, Chapters 13-23)

Volume 2, Chapters 1-6

Reading Check

1. If Mr. Collins is forgotten, it is comfortable. (Volume 2, Chapter 5)

2. Opinionated and proud (Volume 2, Chapter 6)

Short Answer

1. She is too good and never thinks ill of anybody. She defends people who should not be defended and is not as suspicious of Bingley’s sisters as she should be. (Volume 2, Chapter 3)

Volume 2, Chapters 7-11

Reading Check

1. Colonel Fitzwilliam (Volume 2, Chapter 7)

2. She believes he is selfish and insensitive, and she could never love someone who has ruined her sister’s happiness. (Volume 2, Chapter 11)

Short Answer

1. Mr. Darcy indicates that he is shy and not gifted at conversing with people outside of his own circle. He also admits he struggles to repress his feelings for Elizabeth, which may have prevented him from speaking to her. (Volume 2, Chapter 8-11)

Volume 2, Chapters 12-15

Reading Check

1. A letter from Mr. Darcy (Volume 2, Chapter 12)

2. Miss Darcy, Mr. Darcy’s sister (Volume 2, Chapter 12)

3. Her family (Volume 2, Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. Elizabeth quickly disapproves of Mr. Darcy because of his poor manners and reserve. She immediately thinks his only motivation is to criticize and slight her. Likewise, Mr. Wickham’s amiable characteristics cause her to assume the best of him. However, her assumptions about Mr. Bingley are indeed correct because, as she initially believed, he was persuaded to give Jane up.

Mr. Darcy’s first impressions of Elizabeth quickly change to that of admiration; however, he discourages the intimacy between Jane and Mr. Bingley because he assumes Jane does not reciprocate Mr. Bingley’s feelings. (Various chapters)

Volume 2, Chapters 16-19

Reading Check

1. Mr. Bingley (Volume 2, Chapter 17)

2. Go to Brighton with Colonel and Mrs. Forster and the soldiers (Volume 2, Chapter 18)

Short Answer

1. Mr. and Mrs. Bennet do not curb the frivolities of the younger sisters. Mrs. Bennet even encourages those behaviors in her younger daughters. Mr. Bennet’s disappointment in his marriage causes him to withdraw or mercilessly tease Mrs. Bennet. The rift in the marriage has left the children at a disadvantage. (Volume 2, Chapters 18-19)

Volume 3, Chapters 1-3

Reading Check

1. Pemberley (Volume 3, Chapter 1)

2. Shy, gentle, cordial, and of good humor (Volume 3, Chapter 2)

Short Answer

1. Elizabeth believes Miss Bingley is jealous of her. It is likely true because Miss Bingley teases Mr. Darcy about Elizabeth’s relations, her looks, and her hem being dirty after a long walk. She criticizes Elizabeth to Miss Bingley as well and is also frequently rude to Elizabeth directly. (Various chapters)

Volume 3, Chapters 4-10

Reading Check

1. To visit Lady Lucas to share the good news (Volume 3, Chapter 7)

2. She believes they are secretly triumphing over their misfortune. (Volume 3, Chapter 5)

Short Answer

1. The townspeople once held Mr. Wickham as “angelic” but have since come to believe he is the “wickedest.” He has left many debts upon his departure to Brighton. Elizabeth, too, once regarded him as one of the most amiable people she has ever met, but after hearing of his deception to Miss Darcy, his debts, love of money and taking advantage of Lydia, she changes her mind. (Various chapters)

Volume 3, Chapters 11-14

Reading Check

1. Both have a good disposition and are very generous. (Volume 3, Chapter 13)

2. She believes Jane’s goodness makes her happier. (Volume 3, Chapter 13)

Short Answer

1. Lady Catherine believes it is “impossible” that Darcy would marry Elizabeth but drives from Rosings to ensure it does not happen, indicating she believes it is possible. She also states that Pemberly would be polluted by Lydia’s marriage to Mr. Wickham, but a similar situation could have occurred with Miss Darcy, who resides at Pemberly, had Mr. Wickham’s duplicity not been discovered. Likewise, Lady Catherine calls her “unfeeling and selfish,” clearly not seeing the irony in that statement as Lady Catherine herself is unfeeling and selfish in the way she speaks to Elizabeth. (Volume 3, Chapter 14)

Volume 3, Chapters 15-19

Reading Check

1. He tells Mr. Bennet that Elizabeth will soon be engaged to Mr. Darcy and that Lady Catherine disapproves of the match; he also chastises Mr. Bennet for accepting Lydia into his house. (Volume 3, Chapter 15)

2. With the wish of giving Elizabeth happiness (Volume 3, Chapter 16)

Short Answer

1. It is possible to marry for love if one is discerning. (Various chapters)