Реферат A new neighbor
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Part I
Chapter 1
A new neighbor
It is a well-known fact that a single man with a plenty of money must be in need of a wife. He may not know this, but neighbors with unmarried daughters are quite sure of it. So imagine the arrival in a neighborhood of a man who is single, rich and young. Imagine its effect on Mrs. Bennet who has four unmarried daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” she said one day, “Netherfield Hall has been let at last.”
Mr. Bennet continued to read his newspaper.
“Don’t you want to know who’s taken it?”
“You’re determined to tell me, and I’m ready to hear you,” he said.
“Well, then, it’s been taken by a rich young man called Bingley,” she said excitedly.
“Is he married or single?”
“Why single, my dear, and with
“Indeed, and how can it affect them?”
“My dear Mr. Bennet, how can you be so annoying? You must know that I’m hoping he’ll marry one of them.”
“Is that his intention in settling here?”
“Intention? Nonsense,” exclaimed his wife. “But it’s surely quite likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and so you must visit him.”
Mr. Bennet returned to his paper. “I don’t see the need. You and the girls can go. I’ll write him a note to say that I agree to his marrying whichever of the girls he chooses. Though perhaps I ought to recommend
Mrs. Bennet complained that it was impossible for her to call on a single gentleman. But her husband wouldn’t agree to visit Mr. Bingley. He was a strange mixture of clever jokes and long silences. Even after twenty-three years of marriage she didn’t understand him or his jokes. But, then, she was not as clever or educated as him. She was also easily upset. Her one aim in life was to find husbands for her daughters – Jane, Elizabeth, Catherine and
Mr. Bennet was one of the first to visit Mr. Bingley the next morning. He had always intended to go, but he had been determined not to tell his wife. Nor did he tell her after his return. But as he sat with his family that evening he talked continually of dances, of Mr. Bingley, of introductions. At last his wife could bear it no longer.
“I’m tired of Mr. Bingley! I don’t ever want to hear his name again,” she said.
“I’m sorry to hear that,” her husband replied. “But why didn’t you tell me before? If I’d known this morning I wouldn’t have called on him. But since I have, we can’t now escape knowing him.”
Mrs. Bennet’s joy can be imagined. But her husband didn’t stay to observe it. Nor could she find out from him what Mr. Bingley was like. For this, annoying though it was, she had to go to her friend and neighbor, Lady Lucas. From her she learnt that he was good-looking, charming and fond of dancing. And that was not all. He planned to attend the next public dance in the nearby town of
Chapter 2
The dance and after
The Bennets were not rich, but they lived comfortably with servants at Longbourn, their house in the country. Mr. Bennet received
However, the situation was worse than it seemed because of a lawyer’s agreement, made years before by Mr. Bennet’s grandfather. Since Mr. Bennet had no son, the property, when he died, would pass to a distant cousin. His daughters would have nothing unless they married. This explains the great hopes of Mrs. Bennet.
So when Bingley left for
Mr. Bingley was certainly good-looking and very friendly. But his companion, Mr. Darcy, attracted more attention. He was not only better-looking, but also (as people said) had
Her sister, Elizabeth, was not so lucky. Because there were not enough gentlemen she had to sit down for two dances. During this time Mr. Bingley left the dance-floor to speak to Darcy, who was standing near.
“Why aren’t you dancing?” he asked. “I’ve never seen so many attractive girls in all my life.”
“You’re already dancing with the only really attractive one,” Darcy replied, looking towards Jane.
“That may be true,” said Bingley, “but one of her sisters sitting just behind you is also very pretty.”
Darcy turned. “Bearable,” he said, “but why should I dance with a girl nobody else wants to dance with?”
When his family arrived home, Mr. Bennet had to listen to his wife describing every lady’s dress who Mr. Bingley had danced with dance by dance. “If only,” he said, “he’d broken his leg in the first dance!”
But Mr. Bennet just had to mention Mr. Darcy. “You should have seen him standing there alone, thinking himself so important. ‘Bearable’, indeed!”
Next morning, Jane expressed her surprise at Bingley asking her to dance a second time.
“It was no surprise to me, since you were by far the prettiest girl in the room,” replied
“Dear Lizzy, you shouldn’t say such things.”
“It’s true,” said
“They’re very pleasant, when you talk to them.”
They were fashionable
A week after
“A woman may often want to hide her feelings for a man,” said
“But Mr. Bingley must see that Jane likes him.”
“He doesn’t know her like you. She should try harder to attract him. Then, when she is sure of him, there’ll be time enough to fall in love with him.”
“That may be a good plan for a girl who only wants to get married,”
“I don’t think one can know a man before marriage, and it’s better that way. If people knew all about the person they were going to marry, they wouldn’t do it.”
“You say that,” said
But while
From that time
“What does he mean by listening to my conversation?” she said to
The truth was different. As Darcy saw more of
“Miss Eliza,” said Sir William to
“Please, Sir William,” she said, “I don’t want to dance. Mr. Darcy is only being polite.”
“This is hardly politeness,” Sir William said, “for who would refuse a chance to dance with Miss Bennet?”
“You are quite wrong,” said Darcy. “I was actually thinking how attractive a certain young woman is.”
“Indeed?” said Miss Bingley in a softer voice. She smiled and looked into his eyes. “And who is she?”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet.”
“Miss Elizabeth Bennet? I’m astonished. How long has she been a favourite? When’s the wedding to be?”
“That’s exactly what I expected you to say,” said Darcy. “A lady’s thought jumps straight from admiration to love, and from love to marriage.”
Chapter 3
Mrs. Bennet’s good idea
One morning a few days later, a servant arrived at Longbourn with a letter for Jane.
“Well, Jane, who’s it from? What’s it about? Tell us, my dear,” cried Mrs. Bennet impatiently.
“It’s from Miss Bingley,” Jane replied. “The gentlemen are going out to dinner with the officers from the regiment that has its camp at Meryton, and she asks if I can have dinner with her and her sister. Can I take a carriage?”
“No, my dear,” said her mother, who was disappointed that Jane would not see Mr. Bingley. “You’d better take a horse. It seems quite likely to rain, and then they’d have to ask you to stay the night.”
Jane did not like this idea, or the reason for it. But since her father said that the carriage horses were needed on the land that day, she had to go on horseback.
In fact, Mrs. Bennet’s plan succeeded all too well. Soon after Jane left it began to rain so heavily that she arrived quite wet. It went on all the evening and she did not return. But when next morning a note arrived to say that she was ill in bed, Mrs. Bennet’s plan did not seem so clever.
“What will they think when you arrive with mud on your shoes and stockings?” she cried.
When she arrived at Netherfield the whole company, exept for her sister, were still at breakfast. Bingley’s sisters received her politely, but she felt that they looked down on her for walking across muddy fields. Her shoes and stockings were dirty, and her hair was blown by the wind. But the exercise had given life and color to her face, and the gentlemen noticed this, and not the dirty shoes.
Jane was not well, and did not improve during the morning. So
“She’s a very sweet girl,” said Mrs. Hurst, “and I wish with all my heart she could find a good husband. But with such a family and no money there’s little chance of it. Her mother has no sense at all.”
“You should meet the uncle and the aunt in Meryton,” laughed Miss Bingley.
“And they’ve another uncle who is a merchant in
“If they had twenty uncles like that, it wouldn’t make the Miss Bennets any less attractive,” said Bingley, who was not happy with this talk.
“True,” said Darcy, “but it must still make it more difficult for them to marry men with good position in the world.” Bingley was silent, but his sisters continued to amuse themselves with their friend’s relations for some time.
Later that evening while Darcy was writing a letter Miss Bingley was trying to make him to talk to her.
“How happy your sister will be to receive a letter from you!” she said. But Darcy went on writing.
“How very fast you write!”
“You’re mistaken. I write very slowly.”
“Please tell your sister that I long to see her.”
“You asked me before, and I’ve already done so.”
Just then
“Miss Eliza Bennet,” said Miss Bingley as soon as she appeared, “let’s take a walk to the window. We can see if it’s still raining.”
“What can he mean?” Miss Bingley said.
“Why, he means to laugh at us,” said
“You are walking up and down,” Darcy explained, “either because you have secrets to discuss, or because you want me to admire you. But if the first is true, you can’t really want me; and if the second is true, I can see you much better from here.”
“Oh!” cried Miss Bingley. “How shall we punish him for such a speech?”
“Surely it’s easy for someone like you who knows all his faults,” said
“Mr. Darcy has no faults. He’s not to be laughed at.”
“Not to be laughed at! That’s a very unusual advantage, and I hope it remains unusual. I wouldn’t want to know many people like that,” said
“Miss Bingley’s too kind,” said Darcy. “I have my faults. I only try to avoid the foolish ones.”
“Such as pride?”
“Pride may be a fault in someone who has nothing to be proud about,” he said.
“But I have,” said Darcy. “For example, I find it hard to forgive people once I lose my good opinion of them. My dislikes are strong. That’s surely a fault.”
“Hatred is a fault. Oh, yes. Hatred is a good fault to choose. I can’t laugh at that.”
“Everyone has some fault like that,” said Darcy.
“And yours, you say, is a readiness to hate people.”
“And yours is wanting to misunderstand them. Or might I call it prejudice?”
At this point Miss Bingley grew tired of a conversation which she was not sharing in. “Let’s have some music,” she said, moving to the piano. Darcy followed her. He began to feel the danger of paying too much attention to Miss Elizabeth Bennet.
The next day Jane was a little better. Although both Mr Bingley and her mother wanted her to stay, she decided to go home.
Chapter 4
A visitor
Some days later, while the Bennet family was having breakfast, Mr. Bennet produced another little surprise.
“I hope,” he said to his wife, “you’ve planned a good dinner today, as I’m expecting a guest.” – “Who do you mean, my dear? I don’t expect anybody today – unless perhaps Charlotte Lucas stays. And I know my dinners are better than any she has at home.”
“The person I mean is a gentleman, and I’ve never seen him before in my life.” This news produced all the excitement that Mr. Bennet had hoped for. “Some weeks ago I received a letter from my cousin, Mr. Collins, who, as you know, will become the owner of Longbourn when I die.” – “Oh, that man!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “I can’t bear to hear his name. Why does the low allow him to do this to us?” She continued her loud complaints on his favorite subject of hers for some time, while her daughters tried to calm her.
“If you allow me to read this,” said Mr. Bennet, “you may learn why he’s coming.” He read aloud:
Dear Sir,
The quarrel between you and my father has always caused me unhappiness; and since his death I have often wished to end it. You will be pleased to hear that I have now made up my mind. Last Easter I became a parson and was appointed by the noble and honorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh to the care of this village. As a parson, I think it is my duty to spread peace. Therefore I hope that the question of Longbourn will not make you refuse my offer of friendship. I am deeply sorry that I will one day have to take over the home of your respected daughters. I apologize to them, and hope I may reduce this harm – but of this I will speak later. If you are willing, I shall present myself to your family on Monday next at four o’clock. I should like to stay twelve days as Lady Catherine has most kindly allowed me to be absent for this time. I remain, Dear Sir, your friend.
William Collins.
“So we can expect this man of peace at four,” said Mr. Bennet. “He may become a friend – if his Lady Catherine is kind enough to let him come again.”
To the younger Bennets the only interesting visitors were young officers from the camp near Meriton – not parsons. But Mrs. Bennet’s hatred of Longbourn’s future owner suddenly and strangely seemed to disappear.
Mr. Collins arrived exactly on time. He was a tall, serious, heavy-looking young man of twenty-five, with the manners of someone much older. He talked continuously to Mrs. Bennet, praising everything he saw, from her daughters to the dining-room furniture. Only when he praised the house itself was she upset. She could not forget that one day it would be all his. During the dinner Mr. Bennet said little. There was no need, for Mr. Collins had much to say. But when later they all returned to the sitting room he asked his guest about Lady Catherine and her house, Rosings.
This was a subject Mr. Collins was ready to talk about all night: how she had already asked him to dinner twice, and sent for him to be the fourth person at a game of cards; how she had planned shelves for his upstairs cupboards, and advised him to get married.
“Does she have any family?” asked Mrs. Bennet.
“One daughter – with a great deal of property.”
“Ah!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “Then she’s luckier than many girls. What’s she like? Is she beautiful?”
Mr. Collins gave some thought to his answer. “She’s a most charming young lady. Lady Catherine herself says that Miss de Bourgh has more real beauty than other girls, because she looks more truly noble. She’s not, however, in good health and her education has suffered. But she’s perfectly polite.”
“It’s sad that her health prevents her from mixing in society. As I told Lady Catherine myself, the world of fashion has lost one of its brightest jewels – I like to make little remarks like this. They please the ladies, and it is a duty I owe to Lady Catherine.”
“Quite right,” said Mr. Bennet. “How lucky to have this skill. Do these remarks suddenly enter your mind? Or do you think of them before?” “I think of them before, but try to make them sound natural when I bring them out,” said Mr. Collins. Mr. Bennet was fully satisfied. His cousin was even more foolish than he had hoped.
Chapter 5
Mr. Wickham
Any advice of Lady Catherine to Mr. Collins was a command. He had to get married, and that was why he had come to Longbourn. He had heard that his cousins were pretty girls, and had come to marry one of them. Nor did he change his mind when he saw them, and by the end of his first evening he had decided on Jane. But Mrs. Bennet made him think again. She approved his marrying one of her daughters, but she had to warn him – Jane might soon be marrying someone else. In the time it look for Mrs. Bennet to put a log on the fire, Mr. Collins’s feelings flew from Jane to
When they reached the town
This friend, Mr. Wickham was as charming as he was good-looking, and they all stood there talking for some time. It was such a pleasant conversation that they did not at first hear the sound of horses. It was Bingley and Darcy riding towards them. When they stopped, Bingley explained that they had been on their way to Longbourn to invite them to a dance at Netherfield. But
The two horsemen soon rode on, and the rest of them walked along to the house of Mr. Philips.
While Mrs. Philips and Mr. Collins exchanged polite words,
The next evening, after Mr. Collins’s long apologies for leaving his hosts alone, he and his cousins drove off to the Philips’s house at Meryton. Mr. Collins looked round. The room, he said, was quite like the small summer breakfast room at Rosings. This did not at first sound like praise to Mrs. Philips. But Mr. Collins was kind enough to tell her more about Lady Catherine’s house, and she began to understand that Mr. Collins was doing her a great honour.
As soon as the other gentlemen came in with Mr. Philips,
“About a month,” she replied. “I believe he has a fine house and a great deal of land in Derbyshire.”
“He has – and nobody could tell you more about Pemberley and the Darcys than me. I’ve known that house and family all my life. So you may wonder,” he went on, after seeing her surprise, “at the unfriendly meeting we had yesterday. Do you know him well?”
“As well as I shall ever want to. I don’t think he has a pleasant character,” said
“I’ve known him too long to be able to judge him fairly. But many people would disagree with you. They’re easily influenced by money and rank.”
“Not in this neighborhood. Nobody likes him here.”
“I wonder,” said Wickham, after a pause, “how long he’s likely to stay.”
“I’ve heard nothing about his leaving. But I hope your plans won’t be changed by his being here.”
“I shan’t be driven away by him. He has more reason for avoiding me since he’s treated me very badly. But I shan’t say a word against him. I still have too much respect for his father – one of the best men.”
Mr. Wickham began to talk of other things, but soon returned to Darcy. “I’m a disappointed man. I wasn’t brought up for the army but for the Church. Old Mr. Darcy promised me a good position in the Church. But when he died and this position became free, his son gave it to someone else.”
“But how could he act so badly?” cried
“He’s jealous. You see, my father looked after old Mr. Darcy’s property, and I was brought up and educated with the son. Perhaps I was too much of a favorite of the old man. I think his son has never forgiven me.”
Mr. Wickham shook his head. “It makes me sad to speak badly of any Darcy, but she’s like her brother – good-looking, but very proud. I used to play with her when she was a child, but she looks down on me now.”
“I’m surprised by his friendship with Mr. Bingley. Surely he must know what sort of man Mr. Darcy is.”
“Perhaps not. Mr. Darcy can be charming when he likes – especially to those he thinks are his equals.”
Just then the card party began to break up, and
Wickham looked up at the sound of that name. Later, taking
“You may not know,” he said, “that Lady Catherine is Mr. Darcy’s aunt. Her daughter will be very rich. It’s thought that she and Mr. Darcy will marry, and so bring together two large properties.”
Next morning
“I know exactly what to think,” said
However, a more important matter was now arising. The day of the Netherfield dance was near, and the entire Bennet family (except, of course, its head) was in a state of excitement.
“I’m not one of those who think parsons should never attend a dance – especially when it’s given by a gentleman of good character like Mr. Bingley,” he said. “I hope for the honor of dancing with all my cousins. Indeed, I would like to take this opportunity of asking for the pleasure of the first two dances with you.”
Worse followed. Rain kept the Bennets inside for days. So she was prevented from seeing more of Wickham. Worse still, it was becoming clear that Mr. Collins was taking an uncomfortably close interest in her. Surely, he ... but, no, that was impossible.
Chapter 6
The dance at Netherfield
But all her hopes depended of one thing – that Wickham would be there. So imagine her feelings on entering the room and finding he was not. Had Darcy persuaded his friend not to invite him? Later she learnt from
However, anger against Darcy was soon replaced by feelings of different kind. Mr. Collins was coming to claim her for his dances. He was no dancer, and what followed was misery. It was hard to say which was worse: the many times that he trod on her food, or the apologies that followed. But the dance ended at last, and she ran to
“It’s your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy,” she said, “I talked about the dance. You could talk about the size of the room or the number of dancers.”
“I’ll say whatever you want me to say,” he replied.
“That reply will do for the moment. Perhaps later I may say that private dances are pleasanter than public ones. But for the moment we can be silent.”
So they remained silent, until Darcy asked if she often walked to Meryton.
“Quite often. When you met us the other day we had just been making a new friend,”
“Mr. Wickham is always able to make friends,” he said coldly. “But he doesn’t find it so easy to keep them.”
“He’s been unlucky enough to loose your friendship, and is likely to suffer for it all his life,” she said.
The dance ended. Both dancers felt glad not to have to continue the conversation. Darcy led her to a seat next to Miss Bingley, and went off in anger: but anger that was more against Wickham than
“So, Miss Eliza,” said Miss Bingley, “your sister has been asking me about George Wickham. I hear you’re quite delighted with him. But you may not know that his father was old Mr. Darcy’s servant. Let me warn you, as a fried, not to believe everything he says. He has harmed Mr. Darcy. I don’t know how, but I do know that Mr. Darcy cannot bear to hear his name. I pity you, Miss Eliza. You’ll find out your favorite’s true character in the end.”
“So far as I understand you, Mr. Wickham’s only fault is that his father worked for old Mr. Darcy,” said
“I beg your pardon,” said Miss Bingley as she got up and walked away. “I was only trying to be kind.”
“Insulting girl,” said
But now a very excited Mr. Collins was coming towards her. Surely he could not want another dance?
“I’ve made a most important discovery,” he cried. “In this very room tonight is a close relative of Lady Catherine. I must offer him my respects at once.”
“You’re surely not going to introduce yourself to Mr. Darcy?”
“Indeed I am. I believe him to be Lady Catherine’s nephew. It’s my duty to introduce myself, and tell him that she was quite well two weeks ago yesterday.”
She could not hear what Mr. Collins said. She only saw the expression on Darcy’s face become more and more distant. The meeting ended with a short bow from Mr. Darcy and he moved away. “I have no reason to be dissatisfied,” said Mr. Collins, as he returned rubbing his hands. “Mr. Darcy received me most politely.”
It was at supper, however, that
Mrs. Bennet could only talk of one thing – her hopes of Jane’s marriage to Bingley. She never got tired of repeating its advantages: that Mr. Bingley was so rich; that Bingley’s sisters loved Jane so much, and that the younger daughters might meet other rich men.
Mrs. Bennet returned home happily certain that in three months Jane would be settled at Netherfield. She was equally sure that her second daughter would soon be Mrs. Collins. But she did not care so much about this. For
I. Checking Comprehension
1.
Answer the questions:
1. Where did the Bennet family live? What money did the family live on? How large was the family?
2. What made Mrs. Bennet and some of her daughters so excited when Mr. Bennet told them he had called on Mr. Bingley?
3. What was the difference between Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy? What made their arrival so important for the ladies of Meryton?
4. What did Jane think of Mr. Bingley’s sisters? What was
5. How did Darcy’s ideas of
6. What kind of man was Mr. Collins? What impression did he make on people? What did he mostly choose to speak about?
7. What made
8. What did Mr. Wickham tell
9. What spoiled
10. What did Mrs. Bennet feel after the dance?
2.
Put the sentences in the right order to make the outline of the events in Part I.
1. Mr Wickham’s leaving for
2. The Bennet family.
3. Darcy’s writing a letter to his sister.
4. Mr. Wickham’s conversation with
5.
6.
7. Mr. Collins – a visitor to the Bennet family.
8. Miss Bingley’s warnings concerning George Wickham.
9.
10. A visit to Mrs. Philips and the Bennet girls’ new acquaintance.
3.
Choose the right item.
1.
Mr. Collins lived ...
a) in Netherfield; b) at Longbourn;
c) in
2.
Mr. Bennet had £ ... a year.
a) 10000; b) 2000; c) 5000; d) 8000.
3.
Mrs. Bennet got the desirable information of what Mr. Bingley was like from ...
a) her husband; b) her daughters;
c) Lady Lucas; c) Mrs. Philips.
4.
The public dance in the nearby town of
a)
5.
At the Lucas’s house Mr. Darcy was always near
a) wanted to make jokes about her;
b) wanted to show that he was looking down on the society of Meryton;
c) had fallen in love with her;
d) began to change his ideas of her and wanted to know her better.
6.
When Sir William asked Mr. Darcy to dance with
a) was willing to do it; b) was unwilling to do it;
c) agreed only being polite; d) refused to do it.
7.
Mrs. Bennet was against
a) she thought Eliza might fall ill;
b) the weather was very nasty;
c) the way to Netherfield was long and dangerous;
d) the people at Netherfield could look down on her for walking across
muddy fields.
8.
Mr. Collins decided to marry because ...
a) it was required of him socially;
b) he had fallen in love with
c) Mrs. Bennet talked him into marrying one of her daughters;
d) That was Lady Catherine’s advice.
9.
At the Philips’ house in Meryton it was ... who introduced the subject of their meeting with Darcy.
a)
10.
a) to win Mr. Wickham’s heart;
b) to win Mr. Darcy’s heart;
c) to win Mr. Collins’s heart;
d) to get as many invitations for dance as possible.
4.
Say who in Part I is characterized in this way.
1. His looks, his manners, his conversation put him far above the other officers. Here at last ... was a true gentleman.
2. She’s a most charming young lady. She has more real beauty than other girls, because she looks more truly noble. She’s not, however, in good health and her education has suffered. But she’s perfectly polite.
3. He seems an interesting mixture: humble and self-important at the same time.
4. She might not be exactly beautiful, but she had nice eyes. As for her conversation, it was not like fashionable
5. She was twenty eight, had little money to expect from her family. Also she was not so pretty. She sometimes felt she was getting too old to find a husband.
6. He was a strange mixture of clever jokes and long silences.
7. She was not as clever or educated as her husband. She was also easily upset. Her pleasures were visiting, talking and clothes.
8. He was good-looking, charming and fond of dancing. He was a rich young man with £
9. She was very pretty and had good sense, but she didn’t seem to see people’s faults. She used to hide her feelings under cheerful friendliness which she showed to everyone.
10. They were fashionable London Ladies who could be charming when they liked. They were proud. They looked down at the country society of Meryton.
II. Discussing the Text
1.
Explain why in Part I:
1. Mrs. Bennet was quite excited that Netherfield had been let at last;
2. Mr. Bennet was one of the first to visit Mr. Bingley the next morning after the latter’s arrival;
3. Mrs. Bennet became alarmed when Mr. Bingley had left for
4. Mr. Darcy who attracted so much attention at the beginning was less admired later on;
5. Mr. Darcy did not want to invite
6. Mrs. Bennet was glad that Jane had to go to Netherfield on horseback;
7. Bingley’s sisters and the gentlemen at Netherfield saw
8. Miss Bingley was friendly when
9. Mr. Darcy decided to stay where he sat writing a letter though Miss Bingley invited him to join Elizabeth and herself;
10. Miss Bingley thought Mr. Darcy has no faults.
2.
Add more details to these:
1. “I hope,” said Mr. Bennet to his wife, “you’ve planned a good dinner today, as I’m expecting a guest.”
2. The Bennets were not rich, but they lived comfortably ... However, the situation was worse than it seemed ...
3. Mr. Bennet was fully satisfied. His cousin was even more foolish than he had hoped.
4. “As I told Lady Catherine myself, the world of fashion has lost of its brightest jewels – I like to make little remarks like this.”
5. This was the subject Mr. Collins was ready to talk about all night.
6. “Nobody could tell you more about Pemberley and the Darcys than me.”
7.
8. Mrs. Bennet’s hatred of Longbourn’s future owner suddenly and strongly seemed to disappear.
9. “You may not know that Lady Catherine is Mr. Darcy’s aunt.”
10. Miss Bingley: “Let me warn you, as a friend, Elizabeth, not to believe everything Mr. Wickham says.”
3. Say what happened:
1. in the neighborhood of Longbourn that made the ladies of the Bennet family excited;
2. during the public dance in the town of
3. during a party at the Lucas’s house;
4. to Jane when she went to Netherfield to have dinner with Miss Bingley and her sister Mrs. Hurst;
5. to
6. while Darcy was writing a letter to his sister;
7. when Mr. Collins arrived at Longbourn;
8. when Elizabeth and her sisters were walking with Mr. Collins to their mother’s sister, Mrs. Philips;
9. during the dance at Netherfield.
4.
Comment on the following and if possible give your own opinion.
1. It is a well-known fact that a single man with plenty of money must be in need of wife.
2. The situation of the Bennets was worse than it seemed because of a lawyer’s agreement, made years before by Mr. Bennet’s grandfather.
3. “A woman may often want to hide her feelings for a man,” said
4. If people knew all about person they were going to marry, they wouldn’t do it.
5. A lady’s thought jump straight from admiration to love, and from love to marriage.
6. Pride may be a fault in someone who has nothing to be proud about.
7. At Meryton in the Philips’s house Mr. Collins said the room there was quite like the small summer breakfast room at Rosings.
8. “I’m a disappointed man. I wasn’t brought up for the army but for the church.”
9.
10. Mrs. Bennet returned home happily certain that in three months Jane would be settled at Netherfield. She was equally sure that her second daughter would soon be Mrs. Collins. But she didn’t care much about this for
5.
Give a talk on one of these topics. Mention the indicated points.
1. The Bennet family: the place where they lived, the money the family lived on, interests of all the members of the family, the way they spent their time, their relatives.
2. The Bingleys: Mr Bingley and his sisters (Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst), the difference between the sisters and their brother, their attitude to the Bennet family, to Meryton society.
3. Mr Collins: the relationships to the Bennet family, the present position, the real and declared aim of his visit to Longbourn, his ideas of life and his attitude to the nobility, his favourite topics of conversation, his little remarks, his wish to “spread peace”, his ability to dance.
4. Mr Wickham: his appearance, his way of behaviour, his meeting with the Bennet girls and Mr Darcy, his conversation with Elizabeth, his attitude towards Mr Darcy and his sister, his absence at the dance at Netherfield.
5. Elizabeth Bennet: her appearance, her parents’ attitude towards the young lady, her ideas of her own mother, her feelings for Jane, her sense of humour, her manner of leading the conversation, her ideas of Mr Darcy, Mr Bingley, Mr Collins and Mr Wickham.
6. Jane Bennet: her appearance, her mother’s plans about her future, her attitude to people,
7. Maryton society: people who were of some importance in the neighbourhood, their interests, the way of their living.
8. Mr. Darcy: the interests of local people in the gentleman, certain changes in the opinion, his attitude to the local society, to Miss Bingley, to
6.
Compare these characters:
1. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley.
2. Elizabeth and Jane Bennet.
3. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet.
4. Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham.
7.
Act out the talks between:
1. Mr. Bennet and Mrs. Bennet before the public dance;
2. Elizabeth and Charlotte about Jane and her possible marriage;
3. Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet at Netherfield;
4. Mr. Bennet and Mr. Collins on the day of his arrival to Longbourn;
5. Mr. Wickham and Elizabeth Bennet at the Philips’;
Part II
Chapter 7
Mr. Collins makes an offer
The next day Mr. Collins asked
“Oh dear – yes, certainly – I’m sure Lizzy will be very happy – come, Catherine, I need you upstairs,” said Mrs. Bennet, picking up her pins and needles.
“Mother, please don’t go – I’m sure anything Mr. Collins has to say can be heard by anybody,” said
“Nonsense, Lizzy. I want you to stay and hear Mr. Collins,” said her mother and left the room.
“Believe me, my dear Miss Elizabeth,” Mr. Collins began, “your modesty only adds to your charm. Without this show of unwillingness you would be less attractive to me. But let me put your mind at rest. Your mother has given her permission for this little talk. The subject of it can be no secret to you. Almost as soon as I arrived here, I chose you as the companion of my future life. But before I let my feelings run away with me, let me give my reasons for getting married.”
He then went on to do this. First he thought it right for a parson to set a good example. Secondly he thought marriage would add to his happiness. Thirdly, and most important of all, Lady Catherine advised it.
“A gentleman like you, Mr. Collins, should marry,” she had said. “Choose carefully. Choose a lady for my sake – and for your own sake choose an active, useful sort of person. Bring her to Hunsford, and I will visit her.”
Mr. Collins said he was sure
“Now,” he said, “it only remains for me to express the full strength of my feelings for you. I care nothing for money, since I know that you have none – except, of course, for the £1000 at four per cent which will be yours when your mother dies. Be sure that I shall never say a word of complaint about this when we’re married ...’
Mr. Collins was not in the least discouraged. “I know young ladies very often refuse offers of marriage which they intend to accept later.”
“If there really are young ladies like that,” said
“When I next speak to you on this subject,” he said, “I’m sure I shall receive a different answer.”
“Surely, Mr. Collins, I have made my answer clear enough,” said
“I still prefer to think that your refusal, dear cousin, is not serious. My reason is that I have so much to offer: my position in life, my connection with the de Bourgh family. After all, having so little money, you may not receive any other offer of marriage. I cannot really think you will refuse me in the end.”
“If she is that sort of girl,” said Mr. Collins, “perhaps she would not do for Lady Catherine.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Collins. She is only silly sometimes. Leave her to me,” replied Mrs. Bennet, and she went straight to Mr. Bennet’s library.
“Oh, Mr. Bennet,” she said, “we are all in confusion. You must come and make Lizzy marry Mr. Collins. She says she won’t have him, and he may change his mind and not have her.”
Mr. Bennet remained calm. He sent for
“Yes,” cried Mrs. Bennet, “or I’ll never speak to her again.”
“Well,” said Mr. Bennet, “you have a hard choice. If you refuse Mr. Collins, your mother won’t never speak to you. If you accept him, I shan’t speak to you.”
On the last day of his stay, before anyone else was up, Mr. Collins left Longbourn and walked to the Lucas’s house.
The Bennets had noticed his absence, but received no explanation, even when he left for home the next day. However, when Mrs. Bennet said she hoped to see him again at Longbourn, he surprised them. He said he would like to come and stay again very soon. Mr. Bennet, who did not wish for such a quick return, asked if he thought Lady Catherine would let him leave Hunsford again. But Mr. Collins did not seem to think this a difficulty, and after long speeches of thanks, drove off.
Mrs. Bennet at first thought he was planning to return to make an offer to one of the younger girls. But later that day
“Let’s hope for better things, my dear,” he said. “Perhaps you may die before me.”
Chapter 8
Disappointments
If
This was bad news. But the second letter brought worse. The Bingleys would not return that year. She said her brother was sorry he had not had time to see his friends before he left. She also mentioned Darcy’s sister. She clearly hoped Bingley would marry her.
It was some days before Jane showed this letter to her sister. “I’ll forget him in the end,” she said. “There is nothing to blame him for. If I imagined stronger feelings on his side, the fault is mine.”
“The fault is not yours,” said
“Please, Lizzy,” said Jane. “You only hurt me more by blaming him. You can’t expect a lively young man to be always so careful of other people’s feelings.”
“I don’t accuse Bingley of trying to deceive you – only of weakness. He’s too much influenced by his sister and Mr. Darcy. She wants him to marry Miss Darcy. Also Miss Bingley wants to marry Mr. Darcy. She thinks one marriage may lead to another. She followed her brother to
Mr. Bennet treated the matter lightly. “So, Lizzy,” he said, “your sister is disappointed in love, I hear. But she mustn’t sorry. It makes a girl interesting to her friends. Perhaps you could arrange for the same to happen to you. There are enough officers in town to disappoint every girl in the country. Wickham could be your man. He would disappoint you admirably.”
In fact, Wickham tried to make Jane feel better. Everything he had told
“I don’t blame Jane,” said Mrs. Bennet, “for she would have got Mr. Bingley if she could. But Lizzy! It makes me mad to think she might have been Mrs. Collins by now. The result is that the Lucas’s, who always think of themselves before anybody else, will now have a daughter married before me. But I’m very glad to hear what you say about long sleeves.”
Later, alone with
“So much the better,” said
“Miss Bingley will break off their friendship,”
That week among the daily guests at dinner the most regular was Mr. Wickham. Mrs. Gardiner could not help noticing how much he and Elizabeth were together.
“You’re too sensible, Lizzy, to fall in love simply because someone warns you against it,” she said. “So I’m not afraid of asking you to be careful. I’ve nothing to say against Mr. Wickham, who seems an interesting young man. And if he had money, I don’t think you could do better. But two people without money would not make a good marriage.”
“My dear Aunt, you’re being very serious.”
“Yes, and I hope you’ll be serious too.”
“Well, then, have no fear. At present I’m not in love with him. But he is by far the most attractive man I’ve ever met. And where there’s love, you know, young people are rarely held back by lack of money. How can I promise to be wiser than the rest? But, yes, I’ll be careful.”
Soon after Jane and the Gardiners departed for
Letters came from Jane in
Meanwhile, Wickham’s interest in
March came, and the visit to Hunsford was talked of again. By then
Jane seemed pleased to see them, although their aunt said that she was often very unhappy. Mrs. Gardiner also found time to speak to
“I’d be sorry if he was only interested in money,” she said. “He paid this girl no attention before.”
“If she doesn’t mind his attention, why should we? A man without money can’t always behave as we might wish. I’m tired of polite young men. Thank heaven I’m going tomorrow to stay with Mr. Collins! In the end stupid men are only ones worth knowing.”
“Take care, Lizzy,” said her aunt. “That sounds like disappointment.” But seeing that her niece was upset, she said that Mr. Gardiner was planning a trip to the Lakes in the summer. Would she like to join them? She accepted with delight. To see the Lakes had for long been the dream of her life.
Next day Hunsford appeared just as it had been described. Mr. Collins immediately took them on a tour of the house. As he spoke,
Next morning
She followed her and saw two ladies in the light carriage talking to the Collinses at the garden gate.
“Is that all?” cried
“Why,” said Maria, “it must be Miss de Bourgh and Mrs. Jenkinson who looks after her. Just look at her. I didn’t expect her to be so thing and pale.”
“She’s very rude to keep
“Oh,
At last the carriage moved on, and Mr. Collins came in, rubbing his hands delightedly. “We’re all invited to dinner tomorrow,” he said. “Who could have expected such attention as this so soon after your arrival? This is true de Bourgh politeness.”
Chapter 9
At Rosings
All next day Mr. Collins could talk of nothing but Rosings. “Don’t worry too much about your dress,” he said. “Lady Catherine will not think badly of you for being plainly dressed. She likes to see a difference in clothes between the different ranks of society.” Even when the ladies had all gone to their rooms, he came several times to their doors telling them to hurry. Lady Catherine did not like to be kept waiting. The result was that Maria arrived at the great house in a state of terror, and even her father felt nervous.
They passed through the entrance hall, where Mr. Collins unnecessarily pointed out the high ceiling and several large statues. They then followed the servants through a smaller room to an enormous sitting room, where Lady de Bourgh, her daughter and Mrs. Jenkison were sitting.
Their hostess was a tall, large woman with a face of strong character. She did little to make their visitors feel at home or to forget their lower place in society. She spoke as someone who knew she was right. And every remark showed a strong belief in her own importance. Wickham’s description had been just right. Her daughter was quite different. She seemed without character. She spoke little, and when she did, had nothing interesting to say.
Dinner was very grand with all the servants and silver plates that Mr. Collins had promised. He sat at the end of the table opposite Lady Catherine, and loudly praised every dish as soon as it appeared.
When the ladies left the gentlemen and went back to the sitting room, there was nothing to do but listen to Lady Catherine talk. This she did without stopping, giving her opinions and advice about everything. At last she turned her attention to
Lady Catherine was not at all satisfied with the education of the Bennet girls. “No teacher? How was that possible? Four daughters brought up at home without a teacher? I never heard of such a thing. Who taught you, then? Who attended to you?”
“We were always encouraged to read,” replied
“Yes, no doubt, that’s what a teacher is meant to prevent. If I’d known your mother, I would have strongly advised her to get one. It’s remarkable how many families I have helped in this way. I’ve placed four nieces of Mrs. Jenkinson in good families. Mr. Collins, did I tell you Lady Metcalf called yesterday to thank me? She finds Miss Pope a treasure. ‘Lady Catherine,’ she said, ‘you’ve given me a treasure.’
When the gentlemen joined the ladies again, the company sat down to play cards. At
In the carriage
Sir William left after a week, and the Collinses and their remaining guests settled down to the quiet country life of Hunsford. Mr. Collins spent much of his time gardening, and when Miss de Bourgh drove by, he would call out excitedly to the others.
Sometimes Lady Catherine herself called. During these visits she would ask what they were doing, advise them to do it differently, try to rearrange the furniture or scold the maid. Rosings gave
Just before Easter she learnt that Lady Catherine was expecting guests – her nephews, Mr. Darcy and a Colonel Fitzwilliam. It would be interesting to see Darcy with Miss de Bourgh. It would show if Wickham was right about the plan for them to marry. The visitors’ arrival was reported by Mr. Collins, who had spent all morning walking in the lane in order to bow to their carriage when it appeared. The next day he hurried off to Rosings, eager to show his respect.
An hour later
Colonel Fitzwilliam was the younger son of a lord: a man of about thirty, not good-looking, but in every way a gentleman. He talked easily and pleasantly, and so made up for the silence of his cousin, though Darcy did ask
Two days later they were invited to Rosings. It was noticeable that they were not as welcome as before, when they were the only company; and Lady Catherine talked most of the time to Darcy. Fitzwilliam, though, was glad to see them. Life at Rosings was dull for him. He much preferred to talk to Mrs. Collins’s pretty friend. Indeed, they talked with such spirit that at last his aunt turned round.
“What’s that you’re saying, Fitzwilliam?” she said. “What are you talking of? What are you telling Miss Bennet? Let me hear what it is?”
“We are talking of music, Madam,” the Colonel said.
“Of music! Then speak louder. It’s my greatest delight. I must share in the talk if you are speaking of music. There can be few people who enjoy music more than me. How is Georgiana getting on, Darcy?”
Darcy replied that his sister was making progress.
“Tell her from me, she cannot hope to be good unless she practices a great deal. I’ve told Miss Bennet this several times. She’s welcome to come here every day and play on the piano in Mrs. Jenkinson’s room. She would be in no one’s way in that part of the house.”
Darcy looked ashamed at this remark, and his aunt went on to other subjects. But when later
“You’re trying to frighten me, Mr. Darcy, by coming over to hear to my play,” she said.
“Frighten you? I think you sometimes enjoy stating opinions that you don’t hold,” he said.
“Tell me more,” said Fitzwilliam. “I’d like to know how he behaves among strangers.”
“You shall, then. But be prepared for something bad. I first met your cousin at a dance. And at this dance do you know what he did? He only danced twice, although there were more ladies than men.”
“I didn’t know any ladies there,” said Darcy.
“Of course, nobody can be introduced at a dance.”
“I don’t find it easy to talk to strangers.”
“Shall we ask the reason for this?” said
Fitzwilliam smiled. “We won’t try,” he said.
“All right,” said Darcy, laughing. “I understand. Bring me young ladies and I’ll practice to please you.”
During the evening
Next morning
“Near?” said
“What’s fifty miles of good road? Only half a day’s journey.”
“I still wouldn’t say that
“I suppose,” continued Darcy, “that you wouldn’t like to live so far from Longbourn.”
“What does this mean?” asked
But when
Chapter 10
Mr. Darcy speaks
One day, as
“So, are you leaving on Saturday?” she asked.
“Yes – if Darcy doesn’t change his mind again. He arranges things just as it pleases him.”
“I don’t know anybody who enjoys pleasing himself more than Mr. Darcy,” said
“Don’t we all, when we can,” replied Fitzwilliam. “It’s just easier to do it when, like him, one is rich. We who are poor have to do what other people want.”
“Not in small things. In bigger ones younger sons may suffer. They cannot always marry who they like.”
“Unless they like rich women – which they often do.”
“Men in my rank of society,” said Fitzwilliam, “can’t often afford to marry without some thought of money.”
“Is this,” thought
“Ah, but you’re wrong,” said Fitzwilliam. “He has to share the care of his sister with me. His father left both Darcy and myself in charge of her.”
“And does she give you much trouble? Young ladies of her age are not always easy to control. If she is a true Darcy she, too, may like to please herself.”
As she spoke,
“But I’m sure she’s charming,” she continued. “She seems a great favorite of some ladies I know, Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley.”
“Their brother is a great friend of Darcy.”
“Oh, yes,” said
“Why, yes,” said Fitzwilliam. “From something Darcy said, I think he really does take care of him.”
“What do you mean?”
“I hear he saved Bingley from an unwise marriage.”
“That’s quite possible,” replied Fitzwilliam, “But it would make my cousin’s success seem much less.”
Her companion left her at the house with much to think about. Now she knew it was Darcy who had destroyed her sister’s hopes rather than Miss Bingley. Jane herself could not have been the reason for Darcy’s actions. It was his own pride. He could not allow his friend to marry into a family which he looked down on. These thoughts brought on a head-ache. She could not go with her cousins to tea at Rosings.
Alone in the house later that evening, she heard the door-bell rang. To her amazement Darcy walked in. After rather hurriedly asking how she felt, he started walking up and down the room. Then, turning suddenly, he said in a voice that he could hardly control: “I’ve struggled against my feelings, but it’s no use. I have to tell you that I love you.”
When he had finished she said: “It’s usual to thank gentlemen who come with an offer of marriage, for it’s a great honor to a lady. But in this case I don’t think I can. I’ve never asked for your love, and you don’t really want to give it to me. I’m sorry to cause unhappiness to anyone, and I can only hope that yours will not last long.”
Darcy leaned back against the fire-place. His face was pale with anger. For some moments he could not speak. At last he said: “Is that your only reply? Or am I not allowed to know why you refuse me?”
“I might equally well ask,” said
She paused to see the effect of her words, but he showed no sings of shame or sorrow. “I’ve no wish to deny it. I can only say that I’ve been kinder to my friend than I’ve been to myself.”
“But this is not all. Long before I knew what you’d done to my sister I knew what you’d done to Mr. Wickham. Can you deny that you’ve destroyed his life?”
“You take a strong interest in that gentleman’s affairs,” said Darcy, less calmly than before.
“Anyone who knows about his misfortunes can’t help taking an interest in him.”
“His misfortunes!” said Darcy with a bitter laugh. “Oh, yes, his misfortunes have been great indeed. And this is your opinion of me. I could have pretended just to love you without saying anything else. But I hate to hide my feelings, and I’m not ashamed of them. Could you expect me to feel pleased with your relations, whose rank in life is so much below my own?”
“You’ve said enough,” said Darcy. “I understand your feelings for me, and can only be ashamed of the feelings I have for you.” With those words he left.
Do not be afraid that I shall repeat the offer I made last night. I neither want to upset you, nor to appear foolish. My hopes are best forgotten. But since you made certain remarks about my actions and character, you must let me answer them.
You accuse me of two things: first, that I separated Mr. Bingley and your sister without any thought of their feelings; secondly, and worse, that I was unjust to Mr. Wickham. I hope when I have explained, you will no longer blame me for either. But if I hurt you again, I can only say that I must be honest.
I saw from the first that Bingley was attracted to your sister. But it was only at the Netherfield dance that I understood how far things had gone. A remark of Sir William Lucas showed me that everyone expected him to marry. I also failed to notice in your sister any signs of love for my friend. Perhaps I was wrong; but although she seemed to enjoy my friend’s company, she did not seem to love him.
There were other reasons why I acted as I did. Your family’s position in society is one. This did not seem to worry my friend as much as it worried me. But also – it hurts me to say this – I often found the manners of your mother, your younger sisters, and sometimes even your father, hard to accept.
After my friend left for
I do not know what Mr. Wickham has accused me of. So I had better explain that his father was an honest man who served my father well. Because my father had a good opinion of the son, he gave him a gentleman’s education, intending him to enter the Church. But I was of the same age, and knew him better. I could see that he was bad from the beginning.
When my father died he left Mr. Wickham £ 1000, and asked me to give him a good position in the Church, as soon as one became free. But Mr. Wickham did not think he was suited to the Church, and I agreed. He suggested I should give him money to study low instead, and I agreed to this, too. He went off to
There is something else you should know about Mr. Wickham, but this must be a secret. When my father died, he left my sister in the care of Fitzwilliam and myself. About a year ago we took her away from school and settled her in my
Mr. Wickham’s aim was, of course, my sister’s money. But revenge must also have been in his mind.
This is the story of my dealing with Mr. Wickham. If you doubt it, you may approach Colonel Fitzwilliam who will tell you the same.
Fitzwilliam Darcy.
But when he spoke of Wickham, her feelings became confused. She wanted to disbelieve him, but as she reread the letter it became more and more difficult to blame him. True, he gave no proof of his accusation against Wickham, but neither could she prove him wrong. She tried to remember examples of Wickham’s good deeds or kind words, but could only remember good manners.
When she read about Darcy’s sister, she remembered her conversation with Fitzwilliam. She remembered, too, how Wickham had boasted that he would not be driven away from the Netherfield dance by Darcy. Yet he had allowed this to happen. Also, it was only after Darcy and the Bingleys left Netherfield that Wickham had started to spread his stories widely. As for Darcy, though all agreed that he was proud, only Wickham had ever said he was unjust.
Thnking of Jane made her return to the letter. At least, this part of his explanation could not be believed. But on rereading it she again felt unsure. Charloote, too, had seen what Darcy described. Jane did not show her feelings openly. As for the remarks about her family, these hurt. But could she deny them?
Thinking these thoughts, she walked for two hours before returning home. There she learnt that Darcy and his cousin had called to say goodby, but could not stay.
I. Checking Comprehension
1. Choose the right item.
1. Lady Catherine lived at ...
a) Longbourn; b) Rosings; c) Hunsford.
2. Colonel Fitzwilliam was Lady Catherine’s ...
a) brother; b) uncle; c) nephew.
3. ... were Miss Darcy’s Gardians.
a) Mr. Darcy and Mr. Collins;
b) Mr. Darcy and Mr. Wickham;
c) Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam.
4. When Lady Catherine’s nephews arrived the Collinses and
a) as welcome there as before; b) more welcome than before;
c) less welcome than before.
5.
a) careless; b) clever; c) witty.
6. After
a) she had been blind; b) unsure; c) Darcy was not writing the truth.
2. Say “true”, “false” or “I don’t know”.
1. Mr. Collins thought that
2. There was only one reason for Mr. Collins to get married.
3. Mr. Collins liked the fact that
4. Mrs. Bennet accepted the fact that
5.
6. Wickham knew a lot of things about music and literature.
7. Mrs. Gardiner thought Jane could see Mr. Bingley in
8.
9. Mr. Collins never spoke of Rosings after
10.
3.
Put the sentences in the right order to describe
1. The travelers spend a night in
2. Lady Catherine asks a lot of questions a gives a lot of advice.
3. Both Darcy and Fitzwilliam show a lot of interest in
4. Darcy brings
5. Lady Catherine’s nephews arrive at Rosings.
6. Mr. Collins takes his guests on a tour about his house.
7. Mr. Darcy cones along to Hunsford and has a conversation with
8. Darcy speaks of his love for
9.
10. Mr. Collins and his guests are invited to dinner at Rosings.
11. Colonel Fitzwillam tells
4. Say who in Part II is characterized in this way:
1. He is too much influenced by his sister and Mr. Darcy.
2. He is a man of thirty, not good-looking but in every way gentleman.
3. She is a woman who speaks as someone who knows she is right.
4. She is a sensible woman who has always been close to Jane and Elizabeth.
5. She is a girl without character, who speaks little, and when she does, has nothing interesting to say.
6. She likes to see a difference in clothes between the different ranks of society.
7. She is a girl who is easily hurt.
8. She is unhealthy girl with a bad-tempered look.
9. She is a tall, large woman with a face of strong character.
5. Answer the following questions.
1. What made Mr. Collins propose to
2. There were a lot of disappointments in Meryton that season, weren’t there? What was
3. Where did Jane spend the winter? What made her accept Mrs. Gardiner’s invitation? Did she manage to see any member of the Bingley family? What was the result?
4. When did
5. What kind of life did the Collinses and their guests lead after Sir William’s departure? Who came to visit lady Catherine before Easter? What made
6. When did the invitation to visit Rosings again come? Were the guests received in the same way as before? What was the difference? How did Lady Catherine share in the talk about music? What was Mr Darcy’s interest in Miss de Bourgh? How often did Fitzwilliam and Darcy visit the Collinses? What in your opinion made their visits so frequent?
7. What did Fitzwilliam tell
8. In what way did Mr. Darcy speak of his love for
9. How did
10. What did
6. Add more details to these.
1. The next day Mr. Collins asked
2. “You have a hard choice: if you refuse Mr. Collins, your mother won’t speak to you. If you accept him, I shan’t speak to you.”
3.
4.
5. Jane was upset by the events at Netherfield.
6. Help came from Mr. Bennet’s brother and his wife who arrived as usual to spend Christmas at Longbourn.
7. Mrs. Gardiner couldn’t help noticing how much Mr. Wickham and Elizabeth were together.
8. Meanwhile, Wickham’s interest in
9. March came, and the visit to Hunsford was talked of again.
10. “We’re invited to dinner at Rosings tomorrow.”
II. Discussing the Text
1.
Say why in Part II:
1.
2. Mr. Collins was determined not to return to Hunsford before the day he had planned;
3.
4.
5.
6. Mr. Darcy and his relative visited Hunsford so often;
7.
8.
9.
2. Say:
1. what happened in Longbourn which made Mrs Bennet disappointed;
2. what happened to Mr Collins after
3. how Mr Bennet treated the matter of the Bingley’s not coming back that year;
4. who tried to help Jane to overcome her disappointment in love and how they did it;
5. how
6. what struck
7. what was unusual in Darcy’s remarks about
8. what made Darcy write to
3.
Comment on the following and if possible give your own opinion.
1. “Let’s hope for better things, my dear,” he said. “Perhaps you may die before me.”
2. All the next day Mr. Collins could talk of nothing but Rosings ... The result was that Maria arrived at the great house in a state of terror, and even her father felt nervous.
3. Mr. Darcy could not allow his friend to marry into a family which he looked down on.
4. “There is no way in which you could have made me accept you. From our first meeting I was struck by your pride, your self-importance, your carelessness about the feelings of others.”
5. When Mr. Darcy’s father died he left Mr. Wickham £ 1000.
6.
4.
Give a talk on one of these topics.
1. Mr. Collins’s idea of getting married.
2.
3. Disappointments in the Bennet family.
4. A visit to Hunsford.
5. Lady Catherine’s manner of treating people: a) her equals, people she was interested in; b) her unequal;
6. Darcy’s pride.
7. Darcy’s letter to
5.
Compare these characters:
1. Mr. Darcy and Colonel Fitzwilliam;
2. Elizabeth and Charlotte;
3. Lady Catherine and her daughter.
6.
Act out the talks between:
1. Mr. Collins and Elizabeth while he was proposing (ch. 7);
2. Mr. Collins and Charlotte (ch. 7);
3. Jane and Elizabeth discussing Mr. Bingley’s decision not to return (ch. 8);
4. Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner discussing the state of things at Longbourn (ch. 8);
5. Maria and Elizabeth (ch. 8);
6. Lady Catherine and Elizabeth at Rosings (ch. 9);
7. Elizabeth and Darcy while he was proposing
8. Darcy, Fitzwilliam, Elizabeth and Lady Catherine during one of the evenings at Rosings (ch. 10).
Part III
Chapter 11
The gentlemen left the next morning, and Mr. Collins and his guests dined at Rosings that same day. “Those two young men were very sorry to leave,” Lady Catherine said. “I thought Darcy seemed particularly sad. He gets more and more fond of Rosings.”
Mr. Collins was quick to suggest that Miss de Bourgh might have some part in Darcy’s fondness for Rosings. This remark was well received by mother and daughter alike.
She had re-read his letter till she knew every word. When she studied the expression of his thoughts, she was angry with him. When she studied the thoughts themselves, she was angry with herself. For he was often right. Her younger sisters did behave badly. Her father would not control them, and her mother did not even see the need. They were uneducated, lazy and only interested in their appearance.
At last came the end of their stay at Hunsford. Lady Catherine wished them a good journey and invited them back to stay with the Collinses next year. Miss de Bourgh held out a pale, thin hand for them to shake.
“It seems only a few days since we arrived,” said Maria, as their carriage drove off next morning. “Yet how many things have happened!”
“A good many, indeed,” replied
“We’ve dined nine times at Rosings, besides having tea three times. What a lot I’ll have to tell!”
“And I,” thought Elizabeth, “what a lot to hide!”
Two days later Elizabeth, Maria and Jane left
“But you must lend us the money,” added
“We have some other news for you,”
“I’m sure he never cared three pence for her,” said Catherine, “the nasty, spotty little creature.”
“I was hoping one of you might find a husband before getting back,” said
As soon as they had settled down after the excitement of coming home again,
Even Mrs. Bennet never mentioned Bingley to Jane. “Well, Lizzy,” she said, “what’s your opinion of this sad business of Jane’s? For my part I’m determined never to speak of it again to anybody. I told my sister Philips so the other day. He’s a very unkind young man, and I don’t suppose there’s the least chance of getting him now.”
“I don’t believe he’ll ever come again.”
“Well, it’s for him to choose. Nobody wants him to come. The only good thing is that Jane may die of a broken heart, and then he’ll be sorry.”
But Jane’s sorrows were soon equaled by those of
“What’s to become of us! What are we to do!” they exclaimed. “How can you go about smiling, Lizzy?”
Their loving mother shared their sorrows. She remembered how she had suffered twenty-five years before. “I’m sure I cried for two whole days when Colonel Miller’s regiment went away.”
“If only we could go to
“If only!” said
But there was a sudden end to
“But what
“Whoever knows you and Jane,” said Mr. Bennet, “cannot think badly of you for having two silly sisters. We’ll have no peace if
On the regiment’s last night Wickham dined at Longbourn. He had not sat with
“Very different – but I think Mr. Darcy improves.”
“You mean his manners. I dare not hope that his true character has improved,” said Wickham.
“Oh, no,” said
She added: “I mean that the more one knows him, the better one understands him.” Wickham by now looked definitely unhappy. He said very little more to
After
Chapter 12
Derbyshire
In August, the Gardiners collected
One evening, while planning the next day’s journey at their inn, Mrs. Gardiner remarked that Pemberley was not far away. “Wouldn’t you like to see a house you’ve heard so much about?” she asked. “They say the grounds are delightful.”
They entered the park, and after driving for some time through beautiful woods, came out on to higher ground. There, across the valley, on the far side of a lake, was the great house. It would be something, thought
Darcy, they were told again, was away, but was expected the next day with a large party of friends. What an escape! To have missed him by one day! Meanwhile they had stopped in front of some family pictures.
“And that,” said the woman, “is my master.”
“It’s a very fine picture,” said Mr. Gardiner. “But, Lizzy, you can tell us whether it’s like him or not.”
The housekeeper’s respect for
“Does the young lady know Mr. Darcy?” she asked.
“A little,”
The housekeeper needed no more encouragement to talk about her master, and how she wished he would spend more time at Pemberley. “If only he would get married! But I don’t know who’s good enough for him.” Mrs. Gardiner smiled, but the housekeeper shook her head.
“I say no more than the truth, and anybody who knows him will say the same. I’ve never heard an angry word from him, and I’ve known him since he was four.” This was amazing. But she had more to say: about his gifts to the poor, his fairness to the farmers who rented his land and his kindness to his sister. “This account of him is quite different from that of your friend,” whispered Mrs. Gardiner.
When they had seen the house, they were handed over to a gardener who was to show them the grounds. As they waited away,
The Gardiners had recognized Darcy from his picture, and expressed their admiration. But
As they walked by the lake her thoughts were still of Darcy. How his behavior had changed! No longer his old stiff manners, but true politeness. She did not understand. What was now passing through his mind? In spite of her refusal was it possible he might still have some feeling for her?
As they turned back at the end of the lake they saw Darcy again approaching. When he asked
When Mrs. Gardiner felt tired and took her husband’s arm, Darcy and Elizabeth walked on ahead. She could not wait to explain that she had thought he was away. He explained that, having so many guests to prepare for, he had thought it better to return a day earlier. Among these guests were Bingley and his sisters. He also asked if he could introduce his sister to her. She refused his invitation to enter the house, and they stood talking until the others appeared. There was much that she wanted to say, but so many subjects seemed forbidden.
“I was surprised,” said Mrs. Gardiner, as they drove away. “He has perfect manners. I wonder how you came to think him so unpleasant?”
When Miss Darcy arrived,
After the visit she did not have to fear curious questions from her uncle and aunt. Could she even have answered them? How did she feel about Darcy? She had stopped hating him long ago. She was ashamed of having hated him. More than that she did not know.
That evening Mrs. Gardiner remarked that Miss Darcy’s call should be returned the next day. Only one thing made
At Pemberley next morning conversation was not easy. Georgiana was not used to being a hostess, and Bingley’s sisters said little. But when the gentlemen entered, the conversation came to life. Miss Bingley then let loose her feelings. “I hear, Miss Eliza, that Colonel Forster’s regiment has left. That must be a great loss for your family.”
She dared not mention Wickham’s name, but
After Elizabeth and her aunt had gone, she said more. “It’s amazing that she was thought to be beauty in Meryton,” she said to Darcy. “I believe even you thought her pretty once.”
“Yes,” said Darcy, after remaining silent through several similar remarks, “and now I think she is the most attractive woman I have ever met.”
Meanwhile,
“Good heavens!” he exclaimed. “What’s the matter?”
She sent the servant to fetch her uncle and burst into tears. It was some minutes before she recovered enough to tell him what had happened.
“I might have prevented it,” she said. “If only I’d told my family what I knew about his character!”
Darcy hardly seemed to hear. He walked about deep in thought until Mr Gardiner appeared, then he left.
Chapter 13
A wedding
They traveled fast, reaching Longbourn by dinner-time the next day. Mrs. Bennet received them as might be expected: with tears, wild attacks against Wickham, but mostly with complaints about her own sufferings. Mr. Gardiner told her not to get alarmed. He would go straight to
“Just find them,” said Mrs. Bennet, “and if they’re not married, make them get married. Don’t wait for wedding-clothes. Tell
The Gardiners left next morning, and from then the Bennets could only wait for news. Mrs. Philips called sometimes “to give them comfort”, as she said. But since she never came without fresh stories of Wickham’s unpaid debts, she always left them feeling worse.
A letter from Mr. Collins contained the same kind of comfort.
Mr. Bennet finally returned, but with no news of the missing pair. His wife was not too pleased. “What! Have you come without
Then two days later came another letter from Mr. Gardiner with better news.
“So you’ll agree to this,” said
“I must,” her father said. “There are only two things I want to know: first, how much money your uncle has paid Wickham, and secondly, how I am ever going to repay your uncle.”
“Money!” cried Jane, “whatever do you mean?”
“I mean that no man of any sense would marry
“I can’t believe our uncle can spare so much money,” said
But no thoughts of money entered Mrs. Bennet’s head when they told her the news. “My dear, dear
The news of the coming marriage spread quickly through the neighborhood. It would have been more interesting if
Mr. Bennet let her run on until the servants had left the room, then said: “Before you choose a house for your daughter, Mrs. Bennet, let this be understood. There is one house in this neighbourhood where they will not be received, and that is Longbourn.”
That was Mrs. Bennet’s first shock. The second was when he told he would not give a penny for new clothes for
The wedding day arrived. In spite of his hard words, Mr. Bennet had been persuaded by Jane to let the Wickhams come on to Longbourn from
While the Wickhams stayed
“My uncle was so late coming to take us to the church,” she said, “that I got quite frightened that he wouldn’t come at all. But then I thought Mr. Darcy could always give me away ...”
“Mr. Darcy!” cried
“Why yes – with Wickham, you know. But I quite forgot. That was a secret, and I promised not to say.”
“If it was a secret you need say no more,” said Elizabeth, but she could not leave Darcy’s presence at the wedding unexplained. She wrote to her aunt.
In her reply Mrs. Gardiner said she thought
Darcy had then told Mr. Gardiner what he had arranged. He said he did not want it to be known that he had given money to Wickham. He wanted it to appear that Mr. Gardiner had done so. Mr. Gardiner had not liked this arrangement, but Darcy had forced him to agree.
Chapter 14
A return
The departure of
“As soon as Mr. Bingley arrives at Netherfield,” said Mrs. Bennet to her husband, “you must call on him.”
“You made me call on him last year, promising he would marry one of my daughters. But it all ended in nothing. I shan’t waste my time again,” he replied.
She then said that she would ask him to dinner whether Mr. Bennet called or not. However, before she could do this, and only two days after his arrival at Netherfield, Bingley was seen riding towards the house – but not alone. Catherine shouted from the window:
“There is a gentleman with him, Mama. It’s that man who used to be with him before – that tall, proud man.”
“Goodness!” said her mother. “Mr. Darcy – so it is! Well, any friend of Mr. Bingley is welcome here, but I must say that I hate the sight of him.”
She received Bingley with great friendliness. Too much friendliness,
“We were afraid you’d never come back again,” said Mrs. Bennet. “There have been changes since you left. Miss Lucas is married, and so is one of our daughters. It was in the papers, but it wasn’t put in properly – nothing about her family or where she lived. I don’t know how my brother came to make such a mistake.”
While Bingley gave his good wishes,
“He husband has now joined another regiment,” Mrs. Bennet went on. “It shows he has some friends.”
As this was directed at Darcy,
“If he comes here only to be silent,” she complained to Jane, “why does he come at all?”
Meanwhile, Mrs. Bennet thought only of trying to leave Jane and Bingley alone together. After Mr. Bennet had gone off as usual to his library, she would sit looking hard at her other daughters as a sign to make them leave the room. But Catherine often did not understand these signs and would ask her mother what she wanted, while
In any case Bingley refused to be hurried. He wanted to choose his own time and place. But in the end he did indeed ask Jane to be his wife. Jane’s feelings do not need to be described. As for her mother,
“I’m sure you’ll be very happy,” he said. “Each of you thinks so much of the feelings of the other that you’ll never agree to anything. You’re so kind-hearted that every servant will cheat you, and so ready to give that you’ll never have enough money.”
Chapter 15
An unexpected visit
One morning, a week after Bingley asked Jane to marry him, a large carriage drown by four horses stopped outside the house. It was too grand for any of the neighbors. So the ladies were prepared to be surprised when the door opened and their visitor was shown in. It was Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
“It’s nothing to compare with Rosings, I dare say, my Lady,” said Mrs. Bennet, “but it’s much larger than Sir William Lucas’s.”
After more remarks like this from Lady Catherine, silence fell. Then, turning to
“I should be glad to take a walk in your grounds, if you would give me the favor of your company.”
“Go, my dear,” cried Mrs. Bennet, “and show Lady Catherine everything. I’m sure she’ll enjoy the rose garden.”
It soon became clear, however, that enjoyment was not the purpose of Lady Catherine’s visit. “I’m quite sure you know the reason for my visit here,” she said.
“Why, no,” said
“Miss Bennet, although you may choose to be insincere, I do not. Let me come to the point. A most alarming report has come to my ears. I hear that you have hopes of marrying my nephew, Mr. Darcy. This cannot, of course, be true.”
“If you know this story to be untrue, why did you come so far to tell it to me?”
“To make sure that the report is publicly denied.”
“But by coming here you’re likely to make the report more widely believed – if such a report exists.”
“Miss Bennet, I must have an answer. Has my nephew made you an offer of marriage or not?”
“If he has,” said
“Understand this. Such a marriage can never take place. Mr. Darcy is to marry my daughter.”
“If that is so, you need have no fear that he would ask to marry me,” said
Lady Catherine paused a moment, then replied: “The arrangement between them is of a special kind. They were intended for each other from childhood. It was my wish, and his mother’s. These wishes are not to be upset by a young woman like you. So tell me, is there, or is there not, an agreement between you?”
“No.”
Lady Catherine looked more pleased. “And do you promise never to enter into such an agreement?”
“I shall make no such promise,” said
Lady Catherine then turned her full anger on her. She raged on about
Where had this story come from? From the Collinses
Next morning the affair came up again when her father approached with a letter in his hand. “I’d like you to read this,” he said. “It amuses me a great deal. I didn’t know I had two daughters about to marry.”
“You’ll be surprised when you hear of your admirer,” her father went on. “The letter is from Mr. Collins. I shan’t waste time on his good wishes to Jane and Mr. Bingley, but listen to this: ‘Your daughter Elizabeth may not long remain unmarried. The young gentleman who admires her has very advantage as a husband – and yet, let me warn my cousin. We believe that his aunt. Lady Catherine does not look on this affair with a friendly eye.’ ”
“So, my dear,” said Mr. Bennet. “Mr. Darcy is your man. Could there be anyone less likely? Mr. Darcy, who never looks at any woman except to find a fault – who probably never looked at you at all. Really, I wouldn’t give up Mr Collins’s letters for anything.”
He laughed. But
Bingley was now a daily visitor to Longbourn, where he spent the mornings with Jane. But one day, a week after Lady Catherine’s visit, two horsemen appeared. “Why!” cried Mrs. Bennet. “Here’s that unpleasant Mr Darcy again with dear Bingley. I’m sorry, Lizzy, but I think you’ll have to talk to him today.”
It seemed a good idea for all of four of them to go for a walk. So they set off two by two along the lane. Elizabeth and Darcy went faster than Jane and Bingley, and quite soon they were some way ahead.
This was the first time since Pemberley that they had been along together, and
They had walked for two hours without knowing where they had been. Then as soon as they returned, Darcy went straight to see Mr. Bennet. It was some time before he reappeared and asked
It was not easy to persuade him that her feelings had changed, and that it was Darcy she loved, not Pemberley or £
When Mrs. Bennet heard the news she was for a time quite unable to say anything. She got up, sat down again and when she spoke could only say: “Goodness me! Lord bless me! Dear me! Who would have thought it? And is it really true? Oh my sweetest Lizzy! How rich you will be! What jewels, what carriages you’ll have! Jane’s is nothing to it – nothing at all! Such a charming man! Oh Lord!”
What is left to say? Elizabeth and Jane were married, and Bingley bought a property in Derbyshire close enough to Pemberley for the sisters to visit. Catherine, warned by the example of
The letter that Lady Catherine sent to Darcy on his marriage was so insulting to
As for Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner, their wish to revisit Pemberley was granted many times over, for they were regular and ever-welcome guests.
I. Checking Comprehension
1.
Put the sentences in the right order to describe
1.
2. The housekeeper showed them Pemberley.
3.
4. Then, from round the corner suddenly appeared Mr. Darcy.
5. Darcy asked
6. The gardener was to show them the grounds.
8. At the end of the
2. Say “true”, “false” or “I don’t know” (chapter 12).
1.
2.
3. Jane was glad that
4. The Gardiners did not have enough time to go to the lakes.
5. Pemberley stood on the far side of the lake.
6. The lake was not deep.
7.
8. The Gardiners did not like Mr Darcy.
9. Darcy asked if he could bring his sister to call on
10. Georgiana Darcy was clearly unused to company.
11. Going to Pemberley to turn the call
12.
3. Say who in Part III is characterized in this way:
1. a person who gave gifts to the poor and showed fairness to the farmers;
2. a pleasant elderly woman;
3. a gentleman with perfect manners;
4. uneducated people, lazy and only interested in their appearance;
5. a nasty spotty little creature;
6. a wild silly girl who can never be happy until she makes a fool of herself somewhere;
7. a tall girl, quite pretty, not at all proud, but clearly unused to company;
8. a tall proud gentleman to whom Mrs Bennet offered only cold politeness;
9. “You are so kind-hearted that every servant will cheat you, and so ready to give that you’ll never have enough money.”
10. a man who never looks at any woman except to find fault;
11. a woman never settled, always short of money, depended on help from her sisters.
4. Answer the questions.
1. Who met
2. What did
3. What helped
4. What made Wickham look alarmed during his conversation with
5. How were Mr. Gardiner’s plans for the summer changed? What was
6. What made
7. How did the housekeeper’s opinion of Mr. Darcy differ from
8. What impression did Mr. Darcy produce on
9. What happened to
10. On what condition did Mr. Darcy agree to marry
11. What was the reaction of people to
13. What made Lady de Bourgh visit the Bennets? How long did she stay? Did she leave disappointed?
14. How did the Bennet sisters settle after their marriages?
II. Discussing the Text
1.
Say why in Part III:
1.
2. Mr. Bennet allowed
3. the Gardiners gave up the idea of going to the Lakes;
4.
5.
6.
7. Wickham agreed to marry
8. Mrs. Bennet was shocked when her husband informed her of
9. Darcy had arranged everything about
10. Mrs. Bennet was full of great friendliness towards Mr. Bingley;
11. Mrs. Bennet treated Mr. Darcy with cold politeness;
12. Lady Catherine de Bourgh visited Longbourn.
2.
Add more details to these:
1. In August, the Gardiners collected
2. Then, from round a corner suddenly appeared the owner of Pemberley.
3.
4.
5. The news of
6. Darcy said he didn’t want it to be known that he had given money to Wickham.
7.
8. “Your daughter Elizabeth may not long remain unmarried,” wrote Mr. Collins.
9. Bingley was now a daily visitor to Longbourn.
10. Lady Catherine called on Mr. Darcy and tried to make him promise not to marry Elizabeth Bennet.
3. Say what happened:
1. at the end of
2. during the last days of the regiment’s stay in Meryton;
3. during
4. when
5. when
6. when Mrs. Bennet began discussing the problem of a house for
7. at Longbourn after
8. at Longbourn after the departure of
9. at Longbourn during Lady Catherine’s visit;
10. to Mrs. Bennet when she heard the news of Darcy’s proposal.
4.
Comment on these:
1. At last came the end of
2. As the housekeeper of Pemberley showed Elizabeth and the Gardiners round the house,
3. “There are only two things I want to know,” said Mr. Bennet. “First, how much money your uncle, Elizabeth, has paid Wickham, and second, how I am ever going to repay your uncle.”
4. The news of
5. Mrs. Bennet received Bingley with great friendliness. Too much friendliness,
6. “Miss Bennet,” said Lady Catherine, “although you may choose to be insincere, I do not. Let me come to the point. A most alarming report has come to my ears. I hear that you have hopes of marrying.”
Summing Up
1. Give the name(s) of:
1. the Bennet sisters;
2. the person who has rented Netherfield;
3. his married sister and his unmarried sister;
4. Mr. Bingley’s best friend;
5. Elizabeth Bennet’s friend;
6.
7. Darcy’s sister;
8. Darcy’s aunt;
9. Georgiana’s gardians;
10.
2. Say all you can about:
a) Netherfield; b) Longbourn; c) Pemberley; d) Rosings.
3. Choose one of the female characters of the book and describe her in detail giving your own opinion of her:
1. Elizabeth Bennet; 7. Georgiana Darcy;
2. Mrs. Bennet; 8. Miss de Bourgh;
3. Jane Bennet; 9. Miss Bingley;
4.
5. Charlotte Lucas; 11. Mrs. Hurst;
6. Lady de Bourgh; 12. Mrs. Philips.
4. Choose one of the male characters of the book and describe him in detail giving your own opinion of him:
1. Mr. Bennet; 5. Mr. Wickham;
2. Mr. Collins; 6. Mr. Fitzwilliam;
3. Mr. Bingley; 7. Mr. Gardiner.
4. Mr. Darcy;
5. Answer these questions:
1. What kind of parents were Mr. and Mrs. Bennet? What do you think of their methods of raising children?
2. Did Bennet sisters have much in common? In what way were they different? Which of them appeals to you most?
3. What do you think of “husband hunting”? Is the problem relevant nowadays? Is it as important as it used to be? What has changed in the life of women since the time described in the book?
4. Can you describe your attitude to Lady de Bourgh? What do you think of such people? Have you ever met such people in life? What are their characteristic features?
5. Do you like Jane Bennet? Do you see many imperfections in this character? Do you think it is good to be so kind-hearted? Is it an advantage? Give your reasons.
6. Have you ever met such people as Mr. Collins? How can you characterize him? Why do you think people disliked him? What adjectives will you choose to speak of him?
7. What do you think of Mr. Wickham? Why do you think women liked him so much? Why did
8. How can you characterize
9. Can you say that
Consolidating the material
(final discussion)
1. Give your opinion:
1. The novel “Pride and Prejudice” was completed in 1797 and originally it was called “First Impressions”. What do you think made the author change the title? In what way did the new title reflect the essence of the book better?
2. Whose pride and whose prejudice was Jane Austen referring to? Is there less pride and prejudice at the end of the story?
2. Get ready to discuss:
1. Charlotte Lucas said, “Happiness in marriage is simply a question of chance”. Do you agree with her?
2. Elizabeth Bennet disapproved of her sister’s relationship with Mr. Wickham. She believed that the girl was completely lacking in morals if she could live with a man without being married. Would she have been of the same opinion if she lived two centuries later?
3. Thorough knowledge of music, singing, drawing, dancing and modern languages was a must for the education of an accomplished lady of Jane Austen’s age. Was there anything else essential for young ladies’ up-bringing?
3. Get ready to give a brief talk on one of the following topics:
1. Jane Austen: her family, her life, her literary work and heritage (consult Encyclopedia Britannica if necessary).
2. Relationships and manners of the English middle class as described in the novel.
3. Popular social events and public entertainment of the early 19th century aristocracy in
4. Look up some information about the places mentioned in the book, find them on a map of
5. Express your opinion of the book, give your arguments, illustrate them with examples.
6. Write an essay: “Marriages and the rules of polite society of Jane Austen’s age.”
List of Literature
1. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice (adapted by John Turvey). – Longman Group UK Limited, 1991.
2. Longman Classics. Мировая классика на английском языке. Под ред. проф. О. В. Афанасьевой. – М., ЦентрКом, 2000.
3. Enjoyable English Classics. Любимые классические произведения на английском языке. – М., Жизнь и мысль, ООО «Русское слово», 1999.
Contents:
| | | page |
| Part I | Chapter | 3 |
| | Chapter 2. The dance and after | 4 |
| | Chapter 3. Mrs. Bennet’s good idea | 7 |
| | Chapter | 9 |
| | Chapter 5. Mr. Wickham | 11 |
| | Chapter 6. The dance at Netherfield | 14 |
| | Exercises | 16 |
| | | |
| Part II | Chapter 7. Mr. Collins makes an offer | 22 |
| | Chapter 8. Disappointments | 25 |
| | Chapter 9. At Rosings | 28 |
| | Chapter 10. Mr. Darcy speaks | 32 |
| | Exercises | 36 |
| | | |
| Part III | Chapter 11. | 41 |
| | Chapter 12. Derbyshire | 44 |
| | Chapter | 47 |
| | Chapter | 49 |
| | Chapter 15. An unexpected visit | 51 |
| | Exercises | 54 |
| | Summing up | 57 |
| | Consolidating the material | 59 |
| | | |
| List of literature | 60 | |
