AP Literature

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Pride and Prejudice Reading Guide

The Four Ms: Money, Morals, Manners, and Men
Directions: The packet is divided up into various themes or issues. Divide up the questions amongst your
group of up to four people and answer them as you complete your reading. Once your work is completed,
copy and paste your teams work into one packet in which the answers fall in order with the questions.
I. Themes:
Change Versus Stability (Concern about the permanence of conservative values versus the idea of
adapting solid moral principles to new circumstances/conflict between conservative stability and a new
young individualism.)
Society, in Pride and Prejudice, is often presented as hierarchical, and its behavior is described as
ceremonious or codified. Jane Austen often satirizes ceremonies and forms, but also suggests that these
codes have an intrinsic value: they represent moral values of tolerance and compassion.
Q1. Think about the social aspect that Austen is satirizing in Mr. Collinss proposal to Elizabeth Bennet in
Part 1 (Chapters 1-23). Do you agree or disagree with her attitude toward the situation?
Q2. Look at the conversation between Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner concerning Wickham in Chapter 26
beginning with, You are too sensible a girl, Lizzie, to fall in love merely because you are warned against it
to, I will try to do what I think is wisest; and now, I hope you are satisfied. What ideas is Austen trying
to convey? How do the characters respond to the situation?
Q3. Note the conversation between Lady Catherine De Bourgh in Chapter 56 beginning with You can be
at no loss, Miss Bennet to understand the reason of my journey hither to, I take no leave of you, Miss
Bennet. I send no compliments to your mother. You deserve no such attention. I am most seriously
displeased. Analyze the attitudes expressed by both women.
Q4. Landed men occupy an important position. They are presented as trustees, holding influence, which
they can use well or badly and holding the happiness of others in their power. Consider this in terms of the
character, Darcy.
Good Manners Mirror Good Morals (There is the assumption that manners reveal a persons character.)
One critic argues that Jane Austen uses Elizabeth to define two principles that underlie standards of
propriety and to persuade the reader of their merit. Elizabeths principles include the idea that individuals
ought to respect rules as a means of maintaining order and decency in society. Secondly, that moral
judgment supersedes blind compliance with any rules. One can find numerous examples in which
characters either misinterpret or violate both social and moral rules and, in doing so, reveal their moral and
intellectual flaws. By establishing each characters manners when he or she first appears, Austen gives the
reader a dependable measure with which to judge the characters.
Q5. All forms of propriety are there for a purpose (be that purpose basically moral or basically a matter of
social convenience). Think in terms of Elizabeths walk to Netherfield to see Jane in Part I.
Q6. Misinterpretation of rules reveals character flaws-use the same incident from Q5 by thinking of the
reaction of various characters to the eventMrs. Bennet, Mary, Kitty, Lydia, and Mrs. Bingley.
Describe how the characters display their moral shortcomings through their lack of manners:
Q7. Charlotte, when she arrives to visit the Bennet family immediately after Elizabeth has refused Mr.
Collinss proposal of marriage in Chapter 20.
Q8. Mrs. Bennet take your pick of the many examples.
Pride and Prejudice (Elizabeth exhibits the language of prejudice, whereas Darcy the language of Pride.
Each of these languages expresses the same flaw love of self. Pride and prejudice are forms of the same
sin. Therefore, the structure of the novel depends less on the clash of mutually exclusive properties than on

establishing a pattern of balance a change in one element parallels an opposite change in the other. As
Darcy and Elizabeth discard both pride and prejudice in order to find each other, they change their patterns
of speech and thought to grow to share a less selfish rhetoric.
Though both pride and prejudice manifest self-love, each has its own characteristics or linguistic
expression. The antagonism between Lizzie and Darcy is thus more a war of words than ideas. Pride
nourishes itself through isolation and elevation; therefore, the language of pride is reserved and
authoritative. Prejudice is an inordinate love of ones own perceptions; therefore, the language of prejudice
must be both fluid and dogmatic.
Darcys language is formal and precise. Even with his own social class Bingley and his sisters and Lady
Catherine Darcy speaks with a detachment born of his intellectual superiority. Such language is not
suited to intimacy but to the exercise of authority. Though sometimes ironic, it is not witty and never
jocular.
Elizabeths language, on the other hand, is dominated by a sense of irony and the wit that such an ironic
viewpoint generates. In respect to Darcy, Elizabeths language is subversive; she seeks to undermine his
authority through verbal aggression.
Q9. Provide examples of how Elizabeths language demonstrates prejudice.
Q10. Provide examples of how Elizabeths language demonstrates pride.
Q11. Provide examples of how Darcys language demonstrates prejudice.
Q12. Provide examples of how Darcys language demonstrates pride.
Q13. Provide examples that show changes in Elizabeth away from prejudice.
Q14. Provide examples that show changes in Darcy away from pride.
II. A Series of Social Events
If taken as a whole, the plot consists of a series of social events; there are visits, dinners, walks, and formal
balls. Groups of characters meet, and the story moves on, during these social events. The plot is made up
of many social events, so one of them is similar to a brick that builds the plot: one social event is a part of
the structure of the plot. To determine how this works, one can examine how one social event fits into the
novel as a whole.
Some social events are smaller, involving only two or three characters, and others are bigger. As one
analyzes one event, think of the whole plot, keeping a distance from the text. Is there a social occasion that
stands out because it is a turning point, a significant unit in the string of occasions that is the plot? The
Netherfield ball is important because it brings the first stage of the novel to an end. Also, almost all of the
characters are present. Several persons go away straight after the ball, so it is the last time the large group
of characters we have come to know are all together in one place.
Q15. What expectations do the characters have before the event? Analyze the event itself and the outcome.
Q16. What do people say before, during, and after the ball?
Q17. What do their conversations imply?
Q18. What are they thinking about?
Q19. Describe the elements of the characters which affect their behavior in the scenes.
III. Letters, Letters, Letters
Jane Austen employs the device of letters for a variety of purposes to reveal character, to reveal actions,
and to further the plot line. Find an example of each and discuss how Austen accomplishes her purpose
through the letters.
Q20. Example of a letter revealing character: Explain what quality is revealed.
Q21. Example of a letter revealing Action: Show what action is made known.
Q22. Example of a letter revealing plot line: Explain how the letter is a necessary tool in furthering the
sequence of events.

IV. Change
An obvious issue of change is expressed as a vigorous movement towards discovering real values that will
stand up to rational scrutiny; and the discarding of false, superficial values, the trivia and absurdities so
abundant in Longbourn and Meryton at the start of the novel.
Q23. The most obvious example would be the character of Darcy. From the time of Darcy delivering his
letter to Elizabeth after her refusal of his marriage proposal, until the couple reunite at Pemberly, Darcy is
not on stage. What changes does Darcy go through and why do they occur?
Q24. While Darcys changes are more shocking and occur outside of the action, Elizabeth remains the
focus of the piece. What purpose is served by having her change be subdued, albeit more revealed through
action and dialogue?
V. Irony
Q25. Jane Austen uses the Horation style of satire or irony, in which she gently scoffs at mans foibles.
It evokes gentle laughter from the reader. Find three examples and explicate their uses and meaning.
VI. Houses
There are several examples of homes that serve as mirrors the personality of the owner. Explain how
each does this so well.
Q26. Netherfield
Q27. Pemberly
Q28. Rousing Park
VII. Marriage
There are six marriages detailed in this novel: Mr/Mrs. Bennet, Jane/Mr. Bingley, Lydia/Wickham, the
Gardiners, Charlotte/Mr. Collins, and Elizabeth/Darcy.
Q29. As you read the novel, what is Austen relating about her point of view of this institution?
Q30. What does Austen say about a good marriage?
Q31. What does she say about falling in love and love itself?
VIII. First Lines
Q32. The first sentence is probably one of the most famous and most important first sentences in
literature? Analyze it. How is it important to the piece? What does it reveal? How is it, or does it,
contradict Austens views on marriage and love?