Pride and Prejudice

# Discussion Questions: *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen 1. **First Impressions vs. Reality:** Elizabeth Bennet famously misjudges Mr. Darcy based on her initial perceptions. How do pride and prejudice play a role in their early misunderstanding? Can you recall any instances in your own life where first impressions were misleading? 2. **Marriage and Society:** The novel begins with the claim that "a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." How does Austen both support and critique the societal pressures surrounding marriage in Regency-era England? 3. **Character Foils:** In what ways do the relationships of Jane & Bingley, Lydia & Wickham, and Charlotte & Collins contrast with Elizabeth and Darcy's relationship? What insights do these pairings provide on love, practicality, and social norms? 4. **Female Agency:** Considering the limited choices available to women in the early 19th century, how much true agency do characters like Elizabeth, Charlotte Lucas, and Lydia exercise in their decisions? Which character's choices do you admire the most, and why? 5. **Class and Social Mobility:** How does Austen portray characters like Lady Catherine de Bourgh, Mr. Wickham, and the Bingley sisters to comment on class anxiety and snobbery? Does the novel have an optimistic or pessimistic view on social mobility? 6. **Narrative Voice and Irony:** Austen's narrator often employs irony. Choose a passage where the narrator's tone contrasts with the literal meaning of the words. How does this irony influence the reader's sympathy or judgment of a character? 7. **Darcy's Transformation:** Mr. Darcy experiences significant growth throughout the novel. Which events or relationships catalyze his change, and do you find his transformation believable? What does this suggest about the potential for self-improvement?

ap_lit · aqa · ib_lang_lit · common_core_ela

## Discussion Questions: *Pride and Prejudice* by Jane Austen 1. **Pride & Self-Awareness:** Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy both struggle with pride and prejudice at different times throughout the story. How do their paths to self-awareness differ, and what key events act as turning points for each of them? 2. **Marriage & Society:** The novel portrays marriage as a vital social institution and a personal decision. How do the various marriages shown (such as Jane & Bingley, Lydia & Wickham, and Charlotte & Collins) reflect the different reasons people had for marrying in Regency-era England? Which marriage do you think Austen supports the most, and why? 3. **First Impressions:** The book was initially titled *First Impressions*. How does the theme of misjudgment based on first impressions influence the story? Can you recall a moment when a character's initial impression turned out to be completely wrong? 4. **Class & Social Mobility:** How does social class affect the relationships and choices of the characters? In what ways does Austen critique or uphold the class structures of her time? 5. **Irony & Narrative Voice:** Austen is well-known for her use of irony. Identify a passage or character where irony stands out the most. What does Austen's ironic tone reveal about her own views on the society she portrays? 6. **Female Agency:** Considering the limited choices available to women in the early 19th century, how do characters like Elizabeth, Charlotte Lucas, and Lydia each assert agency in their lives? Whose decisions do you find most relatable, and why?

ap_lit · aqa · ib_lang_lit · common_core_ela