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PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Chapter 1 A novel is a conversation between a reader and a writer.    

Resume Jane Austen Name: British Nationality: 1775, a large family Birth: Education: Hobbies: Writing style: Jane Austen British 1775, a large family Self-study, family education Reading and writing Upper-class, country life, love story “I declare after all there is no enjoyment like reading! How much sooner one tires of any thing than of a book! -- When I have a house of my own, I shall be miserable if I have not an excellent library.” ― Jane Austen

Jane Austen’s Major Works (in order of publication) Sense and Sensibility (1811) Pride and Prejudice (1813) Mansfield Park (1814) Emma (1816) Northanger Abbey (1818) Persuasion (1818) 4

Characters Mr and Mrs Bennet A couple with 5 daughters Mr Bingley A young new comer of large fortune Sir William and Lady Lucas Another couple in the village Jane, Lizzy, Lydia Mr and Mr Bennet’s daughters

Persuasion Appreciation Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account, for in general, you know they visit no new comers. “My dear Mr. Bennet,” replied his wife, “how can you be so tiresome! You must know that I am thinking of his marrying one of them.” (Line 30) Persuasion

Characters Mr and Mrs Bennet A couple with 5 daughters Mr Bingley A young new comer of large fortune Sir William and Lady Lucas Another couple in the village Jane, Lizzy, Lydia Mr and Mr Bennet’s daughters

Contrast Preference Appreciation Mr Bennet: “They have none of them much to recommend them. They are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.” Mr Bennet: “You are over-scrupulous, surely. I dare say Mr. Bingley will be very glad to see you; and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to his marrying whichever he chooses of the girls; though I must throw in a good word for my little Lizzy.” Mrs Bennet: “I desire you will do no such thing. Lizzy is not a bit better than the others; and I am sure she is not half so handsome as Jane, nor half so good humoured as Lydia. But you are always giving her the preference.” Contrast Preference

Conversation Hear about focus Mr and Mrs Bennet Call on Mr Bingley persuasion Marry a daughter to preference

Attitude Hear about focus excited Mr and Mrs Bennet Call on Mr Bingley persuasion hopeful Marry a daughter to preference annoyed

excited, hopeful, annoyed Attitude Mr Bennet replied that he had not. Mr Bennet made no answer. “You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.” “How so? How can it affect them?” “Is that his design in settling here?” “I see no occasion for that.” “It is more than I engage for, I assure you.” indifferent excited, hopeful, annoyed Contrast

Character of Mr.& Mrs. Bennets quick-minded, sarcastic, humorous, reserved, capricious. a woman of mean understanding, little information and uncertain temper, self-pitying, snobbish, vulgar in taste. Mr. Bennet: Mrs. Bennet: Contrast 12

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE Chapter 1

Theme Value of marriage Why does Mr Bingley’s arrival cause such a stir at Mr Bennet’s or even in the village?

A single man who is financially stable needs a wife. Value of marriage Theme The Opening Sentence It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife. What does this sentence mean? A single man who is financially stable needs a wife. What does this sentence imply? A woman without a fortune needs a man with a fortune for a husband.