APIB English Literature and Composition
Major Works Data Sheet Biographical information about the author:
Title: ___PRIDE AND PREJUDICE________ Author: ___Jane Austen______ Date of Publication: _______1813________ Genre: ____novel of manners________ Historical information about the period of publication: This time period, known as the Regency Period, began in 1811 when the Prince of Wales assumed the duties of King George III who suffered from porphyria and was declared unfit to rule as his behavior became erratic and unpredictable. King George III was largely unpopular for having lost the colonies in the Americas when they revolted in the 1770‟s. The Prince Regent was discouraged from making policies regarding official business or war and instead spent large amounts of money that the Treasury could not cover on building projects and large parties. Though he was a large supporter of the arts, his reputation and self-indulgences created in Jane Austen a vehement dislike for him, particularly when the Prince Regent gave her „the honor‟ of dedicating Emma to him, which she could not refuse, nor hide her disdain in her wording.
Jane Austen was born December 16, 1775 in Steventon to Reverend George and Cassandra Austen. She was the seventh child and formed a very close bond with bother her only other sister and her elder brother Henry, who would become her literary agent. Austen grew up with access to literature and open learning, with parents and siblings who encouraged her creativity and writing experiments. Her one brush with true love came in 1795 when she fell in love with the nephew of a neighbor, but neither truly had much to offer in a marriage so his family separated the pair and she never saw him again. The only offer of marriage she ever received she accepted, but rejected the next day, much like one of her heroines. The first draft of First Impressions, what we know today to be Pride and Prejudice, was completed in 1799 but not published until 1813. Three other of her novels were published in her lifetime: Sense and Sensibility (1811), Mansfield Park (1814), and Emma (1815). The books were widely popular with the public and for the most part received favorable criticism, aiding the financial prospects of the Austen women. Jane‟s brother Henry was key in the success of these publications. However, partway through her work on two new novels, Jane grew ill and died on July 18 th, 1817. She is buried at the Winchester Cathedral. Her last two completed works, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion were published posthumously in 1817.
Characteristics of the genre: A novel of manners typically deals with satirizing a particular time period and the behaviors accepted in it, or it describes one person or set of persons and their desires to defy the socially acceptable behaviors or sentiments of the day. In terms of Pride and Prejudice, this most strongly applies to Elizabeth who refuses to marry for anything less than passion and love, who admits she will most likely die an old maid for refusing to settle for anything less.
Plot summary: Elizabeth Bennett is born the second oldest into an extraordinarily shallow family. Her one point of comfort is her elder sister, Jane, who is as quiet and reserved as she is beautiful and level-headed. The rest of her family is a disaster. Her father, while mostly reasonable, shows little concern for the workings of his family and remains reserved in the peace of his own library, apart from the rest of his family. Her mother and sisters are incredibly silly and possess only thoughts that involve ribbons, balls, gentlemen, and particularly the militia. Thus, they are practically worked up into a frenzy when a handsome, young gentleman named Mr. Bingley, possessing large sums of wealth, moves into the neighborhood with the company of his sister, Caroline, and his long-time friend, Mr. Darcy. The Bennett family immediately descends upon the single gentleman in hopes of him marrying one of the daughters. Indeed, he falls in love with Jane who is much too shy to show much encouragement, despite the mutual emotions. Mr. Darcy on the other hand, fails to impress anyone, despite his wealth. His cold arrogance and apparent disdain for others strike Lizzie particularly hard. She finds friendship in a handsome young officer who has equal hatred towards Darcy, Mr. Wickham. Meanwhile, Jane is invited to spend time with Caroline Bingley, and after catching a cold, is requested to stay there awhile with Lizzie as her nursemaid. This only intensifies Lizzie‟s dislike of everyone but Bingley, Bingley‟s love for Jane, Caroline‟s disdain for the Bennetts, and Darcy‟s attraction towards Lizzie‟s handsome eyes. Thus, almost everyone is glad to see them go, though the Bennetts less so when they discover Mr. Collins, who is to inherit everything from the Bennett family has come to visit the family in hopes of securing a wife. His interests first rest on Jane, but she‟s taken, so he moves on to Lizzie. He proposes to her and she rejects him quite forcefully. He then becomes engaged with Charlotte, Lizzie‟s dearest friend. The mood around the house grows even more gray when it is discovered Mr. Bingley has departed for London, dragged along by his sister and Darcy who declares Jane‟s indifference towards him. Jane also goes to London, to be with her aunt and uncle, and to try to reunite with Mr. Bingley. Meanwhile, Lizzie visits Charlotte and Mr. Collins and meets the cantankerous Lady Catherine who is Darcy‟s aunt and Mr. Collin‟s patroness. While alone one evening, Darcy barges in and announces that he can no longer hide how much he loves Lizzie and asks that she marry him. She coldly refuses and accuses him of separating her sister and Mr. Bingley and of his heartless behavior towards Mr. Wickham. He leaves but writes a letter addressing the two charges in which he is proven faultless except in thinking Jane didn‟t like Bingley. Lizzie travels with her aunt and uncle and accidentally encounters Darcy at his home. At the same time, Lydia is discovered to have run away with Mr. Wickham in a scandal that could ruin the whole family. Unknown to Lizzie, Darcy tracks them down and forces them to marry, paying off Mr. Wickham so that the scandal is abated. Mr. Bingley arrives back in the neighborhood and Jane faces her feelings reemerging, however there is no fearMr. Bingley appears and asks forgiveness and marriage to Jane who accepts. Lady Catherine arrives to speak to Lizzie of her engagement to Darcy which Lizzie has no knowledge of. Insulted and humiliated, Lizzie sends her from their home. Later, Darcy asks if Lizzie‟s feelings are the same as they had been before and she says no. The two sisters have a double marriage and stay tight friends.
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 2
Describe the author‟s style, incl narrator/point of view, metaphors/similes: Austen uses a third person omniscient narrator with the majority of the novel coming out of Elizabeth‟s point of view through past tense. This point of view often has much of the same wit or wry humor that Elizabeth retains through the entire novel. The tone is rather light and comical, almost as Austen describes it “light, bright, and sparkling.” Since most of the novel is told and described through dialogue, there aren‟t all that many metaphors or similies.
Examples that demonstrate the style (you need more than one example): “As soon as they were gone, Elizabeth walked out to recover her spirits; or in other words, to dwell without interruption on those subjects that must deaden them more.” Chapter 54. Ironic tone about her own confusion. “The tumult of her mind was now painfully great. She knew not how to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for half an hour. Her astonishment , as she reflected on what had passed, was increased by every review of it.” Chapter 34
Memorable Quotes Quote “It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Ch. 1 page 5 “Which do you mean?” and turning round, he looked for a moment at Elizabeth, till catching her eye, he withdrew his own and coldly said, “She is tolerable; but not handsome enough to tempt me; and I am in no humour at present to give consequence to young ladies who are slighted by other men.” Chapter 3, page 13 “Vanity and pride are different things, though the words are often used synonymously. A person may be proud without being vain. Pride relates more to our opinion of ourselves, vanity to what we would have others think of us.” Chapter 5, page 21 “It is better to know as little as possible of the defects of the person with whom you are to pass your life.” Chapter 6 page 24 “In vain have I struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you.” Elizabeth‟s astonishment was beyond expression. She stared, coloured, doubted, and was silent. This he considered sufficient encouragement, and the avowal of all that he felt and had long felt for her, immediately followed.” Chapter 23 “I have been a selfish being all my life, in practice, though not in principle.” Chapter 58
“Elizabeth was much too embarrassed to say a word. After a short pause, her companion added, “You are too generous to trifle with me. If your feelings are still what they were last April, tell me so at once. My affections and wishes are unchanged, but one word from you will silence me on this subject forever.” Elizabeth feeling all the more than common awkwardness and anxiety of his situation, now forced herself to speak; and immediately, though not very fluently, gave him to understand, that her sentiments had undergone so material a change, since the period to which he alluded, as to make her receive with gratitude and pleasure, his present assurances.” Chapter 58
Significance This summarizes the assumption of the majority of the Bennett family and gives a wonderful insight into the mentality of Mrs. Bennett and the three younger Bennett sisters. This firmly establishes his reputation of being rude and haughty among many. It also begins the struggle Darcy has with himself in order to confess his attraction towards Elizabeth and also her own dislike towards him, which is one of the many reasons for her refusal of marriage upon his first attempt.
This quote by Mary perfectly describes the majority of the characters in the novel. Darcy and Elizabeth, while proud, are not exceptionally vain. Meanwhile, Mrs. Bingley, Mrs. Bennett, Lady Catherine, and Mr. Collins are all incredibly vain.
This statement by Charlotte is highly ironic- both Darcy and Elizabeth both know each other‟s faults before they ever notice the other‟s good attributes. Darcy‟s proposal to Lizzie marks the turning-point in the novel. Before hand, she could only focus on his arrogance and pride and other negative attributes. However, afterwards, because of what Darcy begins to reveal about his past and his character, she begins to see him in a different light that leads to her love for him in return.
Elizabeth causes Darcy to have a sort of epiphany about the way he was raised- to be well mannered but never control his temper, to be well educated but never control his pride. Elizabeth has illuminated for him the faults within himself, something he feels the need to repay for the generous gift it is to him. This is a truly humbling statement from Darcy.
This moment for Elizabeth is entirely out of character. She is embarrassed and fumbles with words in her response to Darcy because of a joyfully incoherent moment.
Major Works Data Sheet Name
Role in the story
Elizabeth Bennett
Protagonist
Fitzwilliam Darcy
Antagonist to Elizabeth
Jane Bennett
Elder sister and closest friend of Lizzie
Charles Bingley
Darcy’s closest friend and Jane’s love
Mr. Bennett
Elizabeth’s absent father
Mrs. Bennett
Elizabeth’s absolutely ridiculous mother
Mr. Wickham
Lizzie’s possible love interest who ends up being the ultimate antagonist
Lydia Bennett
Elizabeth’s youngest foolish sister
Catherine Bennett
Elizabeth’s second youngest sister The clergyman who is to inherit everything
Mr. Collins
Miss Bingley
Charles’s sister
Charlotte Lucas
Lizzie’s dearest friend
Mr. &Mrs. Gardiner
Lizzie’s aunt and uncle
Lady Catherine
Mr. Collins patroness and Darcy’s aunt
Georgiana Darcy
Darcy’s younger sister
Page 3 Characters Significance The main character and second eldest daughter of the Bennett‟s. Certainly the most well-read, intelligent, and a supposed good judge of character. The wealthy nephew of Lady Catherine de Bourgh. While generally good in character, incredibly proud and thus tortured by his affections for the lower social ordered Elizabeth. Her relationship with Bingley brightly contrasts the tense relationship between Darcy and Lizzie. She serves as Lizzie‟s biggest confident. His arrival is the impetus of the novelas a wealthy, single, attractive young man, he‟s easy fodder for the preying mothers nearby. He serves as contrast to Darcy‟s behavior. Serves only to spur on his wife‟s and daughter‟s ridiculousness, and rather absent as a father else wise. One of the chief sources of humiliation for the elder Bennett girls because of her silliness and shallow attitude towards marriage and men. Initially charms all of the Bennett family including Elizabeth, but is revealed to have vile character by Darcy‟s statement, just in time for him to run off with Lydia. Headstrong without the head. She throws her silly, foolish self at every man she see‟s until Wickham catches her. Only exists as Lydia‟s shadow, despite her older age. Makes marriage attempts on Jane, Elizabeth and finally Charlotte Lucas. His attempt on Lizzie convinces her she will become an old maid. Separates, with Darcy‟s help, her brother and Jane due to her family and her hidden love for Darcy. Accepts Mr. Collins‟s proposal for convenience. Serve as Lizzie‟s makeshift parents and escort her to the Lake District. Makes it exceptionally clear that Elizabeth is not to marry Darcy due to her social status. Shows one of the softer sides of Darcy‟s loving character.
Adjectives Witty, sharp-tongued, intelligent, prejudiced, ultimately good-natured Intelligent, honest, proud, loyal, reserved
Beautiful, reserved, gentle, naïve
Naïve, genial, easygoing, unaware
Sarcastic, cynical, loving, absent Silly, boisterous, obnoxious
Handsome, deceptive, shallow, untrustworthy,
Foolish, silly, immature, self-centered
Foolish, boy-crazy, immature Obsequious, snobbish, self-inflated and important Beautiful, conniving, self-inflated, conceited Pragmatic, sensible, nonromantic Sensible, loving, nurturing Rich, bossy, snobby
Talented, shy, beautiful
Major Works Data Sheet
Page 4 Setting
Significance of the opening scene
The setting is some point during the Napoleonic Wars in Longbourn, rural England. The landscape is comprised of vast amounts of lands and fields dotted with huge manors owned by both the vastly wealthy and the reasonably welloff. The town is within walking distance and London is a carriage ride away. Lizzie also visits Pemberley, Darcy‟s home in Darbishire, and the Lake District which comprises of rugged landscapes of natural beauty including forests, rivers, cliffs and mountains. The journey‟s are particularly important in the development of Darcy and Elizabeth‟s relationship.
The opening scene begins with the information that Mr. Bingley has moved into the neighborhood, which truly is the impetus behind all the initial foolishness, and, though we don‟t know it, launches us immediately into the action of meeting the future husbands. The scene introduces us to the silliness of the Bennett family, and contrasts sharply so that we know immediately the kind, gentle spirit of Jane, and the strong-willed and intelligent spirit of Elizabeth. This also is one of the very few moments that we see Mr. Bennett act in his father role, though it could be argued that he is only doing it to spur on his wife and sillier daughters into more foolishness. Significance of the ending/closing scene
Symbols The only real symbol that exists in this book devoid of symbols (since much of the book relies on dialogue for description and detail) is Darcy‟s home, Pemberley, which exists as a symbol of its owner. Elizabeth is enchanted by its natural beauty and charm, just as she is beginning to warm in her relationship with Darcy. Pemberley lacks artificial appearance as Darcy does, and possesses a natural importance which swells with arrogance like the stream before the mansion. Like this stream, Darcy is not falsely adorned or formal, and he exists with a beautiful sort of natural honesty.
The ending scene is as close to a fairy-tale ending as anyone could ask for- nearly everyone ends up happily. Elizabeth and Darcy are quite happy together and Jane and Mr. Bingley move nearby to escape their mother and become closer to the Darcy couple. Catherine grows some common sense under the tutelage of her elder sisters. Mr. Bennett, though missing his daughter incredibly, visits often, as do the Gardiners who are more than welcome due to bringing Darcy and Elizabeth together. Lydia and Mr. Wickham remain at a distance which is more than fine for everyone else. In a novel that is nothing like a fairy tale, full of messy characters who make critical mistakes and cause each other emotional pain and struggle, the end chapter demonstrates that everything works out alright in the end.
Works Cited Jane Austen - Biography, Timeline, Books, Movies, Quotes, Fashion. Web. 19 Apr. 2011. . SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNote on Pride and Prejudice.” SparkNotes.com. SparkNotes LLC. 2007. Web. 13 Apr. 2011. Possible Themes: Use 3 text examples for support. Document correctly.
How does Pride and Prejudice satirize or criticize the social norms of the day? How does Pride and Prejudice use class and reputation as obstacles to love? What does Pride and Prejudice say about the inevitability of love? Consider both Darcy and Elizabeth and Jane and Mr. Bingley. What statement about love is Austen trying to deliver through her headstrong romantic heroines?
