Pride and Prejudice (Edexcel GCSE English Literature): Exam Questions

In this extract, Mr Collins proposes to Elizabeth, telling her he has “your respected mother’s permission”.

Explain how family is important elsewhere in the novel.

In your answer, you must consider:

• how the behaviour of the Bennet parents affects their daughters

• how Lydia’s actions threaten the reputation of the whole family.

[20 marks]

Read the following extract from Chapter 49 of Pride and Prejudice and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the novel, the Bennet family learn that Lydia is to marry Mr Wickham and mistakenly believe that they have Mrs Bennet’s brother, Mr Gardiner, to thank for this.

[Mrs Bennet] ‘My dear, dear Lydia! she cried: ‘This is delightful indeed! – She will be married! – I shall see her again! – She will be married at sixteen! – My good, kind brother! – I knew how it would be – I knew he would manage every thing. How I long to see her! and to see dear Wickham too! But the clothes, the wedding clothes! I will write to my sister Gardiner about them directly. Lizzy, my dear, run down to your father, and ask him how much he will give her. Stay, stay, I will go myself. Ring the bell, Kitty, for Hill. I will put on my things in a moment. My dear, dear Lydia! – How merry we shall be together when we meet!’

Her eldest daughter endeavoured to give some relief to the violence of these transports, by leading her thoughts to the obligations which Mr. Gardiner’s behaviour laid them all under.

‘For we must attribute this happy conclusion,’ she added, ‘in a great measure, to his kindness. We are persuaded that he had pledged himself to assist Mr. Wickham with money.’

‘Well,’ cried her mother, ‘it’s all very right; who should do it but her own uncle? If he had not had a family of his own, I and my children must have had all his money you know, and it is the first time we have ever had any thing from him, except a few presents. Well! I am so happy. In a short time, I shall have a daughter married. Mrs. Wickham! How well it sounds. And she was only sixteen last June. My dear Jane, I am in such a flutter, that I am sure I can’t write; so I will dictate, and you write for me. We will settle with your father about the money afterwards; but the things should be ordered immediately.’

She was then proceeding to all the particulars of calico, muslin, and cambric, and would shortly have dictated some very plentiful orders, had not Jane, though with some difficulty, persuaded her to wait, till her father was at leisure to be consulted. One day’s delay she observed, would be of small importance; and her mother was too happy, to be quite so obstinate as usual. Other schemes too came into her head.

‘I will go to Meryton,’ said she, ‘as soon as I am dressed, and tell the good, good news to my sister Phillips. And as I come back, I can call on Lady Lucas and Mrs. Long. Kitty, run down and order the carriage. An airing would do me a great deal of good, I am sure.’

Explore how Austen presents Mrs Bennet in this extract.

Give examples from the extract to support your ideas.

[20 marks]

In this extract, Mrs Bennet is very excited about the marriage of Lydia to Mr Wickham.

Explain how marriage is important elsewhere in the novel.

In your answer, you must consider:

• the different opinions about marriage

• who gets married during the course of the novel.

[20 marks]

Read the following extract from Chapter 3 of Pride and Prejudice and then answer the question that follows.

At this point in the novel, Mr. Bingley and Mr. Darcy go to the ball at Meryton assembly rooms.

Mr. Bingley had soon made himself acquainted with all the principal people in the room; he was lively and unreserved, danced every dance, was angry that the ball closed so early, and talked of giving one himself at Netherfield. Such amiable qualities must speak for themselves. What a contrast between him and his friend! Mr. Darcy danced only once with Mrs. Hurst and once with Miss Bingley, declined being introduced to any other lady, and spent the rest of the evening in walking about the room, speaking occasionally to one of his own party. His character was decided. He was the proudest, most disagreeable man in the world, and every body hoped that he would never come there again. Amongst the most violent against him was Mrs. Bennet, whose dislike of his general behaviour, was sharpened into particular resentment, by his having slighted one of her daughters.

Elizabeth Bennet had been obliged, by the scarcity of gentlemen, to sit down for two dances; and during part of that time, Mr. Darcy had been standing near enough for her to overhear a conversation between him and Mr. Bingley, who came from the dance for a few minutes, to press his friend to join it.

‘Come, Darcy,’ said he, ‘I must have you dance. I hate to see you standing about by yourself in this stupid manner. You had much better dance.’

‘I certainly shall not. You know how I detest it, unless I am particularly acquainted with my partner. At such an assembly as this, it would be insupportable. Your sisters are engaged, and there is not another woman in the room, whom it would not be a punishment to me to stand up with.’

‘I would not be so fastidious as you are,’ cried Bingley, ‘for a kingdom! Upon my honour, I never met with so many pleasant girls in my life, as I have this evening; and there are several of them you see uncommonly pretty.’

‘You are dancing with the only handsome girl in the room,’ said Mr. Darcy, looking at the eldest Miss Bennet.

‘Oh! she is the most beautiful creature I ever beheld! But there is one of her sisters sitting down just behind you, who is very pretty, and I dare say, very agreeable. Do let me ask my partner to introduce you.’

‘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.’

Explore how Austen presents Mr. Darcy in this extract.

Give examples from the extract to support your ideas.

[20 marks]

In this extract, first impressions of Mr. Darcy are not favourable.

Explain how first impressions are presented elsewhere in the novel.

In your answer, you must consider:

• what first impressions are made

• how some first impressions change.

[20 marks]