Directions:
- After reading the lecture, answer one of the main questions, which will appear in bold type. This question is due no later than Thursday, Mar. 2. Following that will be other questions, in black, which you should read and think about--they may help you answer the main question. However, you are not required to answer these questions in writing.
- Your responses to other students' answers are due by midnight on Sunday, March 5. Remember: in order to get the full 20 points, you MUST respond thoughtfully to at least 2 other people's postings. This set of discussion questions is worth a possible 20 points.
- Late answers and responses receive 0 points, so post early :)
We will be using the Canvas Discussion Board for this class. Click on the link below to get to the LACCD portal, sign in, and then click on the link for Canvas in the right column. This will take you to the Canvas dashboard. From there, click on the square with the name of our class. Once you've entered the class, you will find the "Discussions" link on the left side of the screen:
Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
1. Dorothy Van Ghent, in her article "On Pride and Prejudice," argues that Elizabeth is attracted to Darcy because of his wealth. Do you agree? Why or why not?
2. Do you see Mrs. Bennet as a good mother or a bad one?
- How does the opening line set the tone for the entire novel? What themes (ideas) are introduced in the opening chapters of the novel?
- How does Darcy alienate Elizabeth at the dance? Is his conduct explained satisfactorily later in the novel?
- How is money shown to be important right from the opening chapters of the novel?
- How are Elizabeth's attitude toward marriage and her mother's different?
- How are Charlotte's attitudes toward marriage introduced? How does the author prepare you for her later decision to marry Mr. Collins?
- When Jane falls ill at Bingley's house, why does her mother insist she stay there?
- When does Darcy begin to be attracted to Elizabeth? How does he talk himself out of it?
- How does Mr. Collins's letter to Mr. Bennet reveal what sort of person he is?
- What happens when Darcy and Wickham first meet each other?
- What is Wickham's version of the conflict between him and Darcy? Why does Elizabeth believe him? Why does the reader?
- What is Darcy's account of the conflict? How does this change our opinion of Wickham? Of Darcy?
- Why does Mr. Collins propose to Elizabeth? Why does she refuse him? Why does he propose to Charlotte? Why does she accept?
- Why is Elizabeth's mother so angry with her for turning down Mr. Collins's proposal?
- What is Mrs. Gardiner's objection to Wickham? How does Elizabeth defend him? What does this conversation between them tell you about the relationship between love and money in this society?
- How has Charlotte adjusted to life as Mr. Collins's wife? Is she happy? How does Elizabeth feel about her after the visit? What does this passage tell you about the roles of women and about marriage in this society?
- How did Darcy interfere to keep Bingley away from Jane? How does Elizabeth feel about this? How does he justify it later? Does Elizabeth change her mind after hearing his reasons?
- What is Elizabeth's reaction to Darcy's first proposal?
- What changes Elizabeth's opinion of Wickham? How does her new knowledge change her views of his past behavior?
- How does her new knowledge of Wickham change her views of Darcy?
- What responsibility does her father bear for what happened to Lydia? What is her mother's share of the responsibility?
- Lydia seems unrepentant of her sins, and Austen refrains from having her come to a bad end. Why do you think she chose to handle the character this way?
- How does her visit to Pemberley change Elizabeth's view of Darcy? How do her uncle and aunt help to change her opinion of him?
- How does Darcy help to resolve the problem with Lydia and Wickham? Why does he take such an active role in the matter?
- Why does Lady Catherine visit Elizabeth? Does she go away happy?
- What is Elizabeth's response to Darcy's second proposal? How has their relationship changed?
- The original title of the novel was First Impressions. How is this appropriate for the novel?
- The revised and final title is, of course, Pride and Prejudice. How is this appropriate for the novel?
