Pride and Prejudice
Plot Volume One
Learning Objective
To understand the main plot features of the novel Pride and
Prejudice – Volume One.
Success Criteria
• To retell the story of Pride and Prejudice.
• To understand the structure of the novel.
Plot
The novel is typical of an early nineteenth century
text in that it was originally published as a three
volume set.
Volume One relates to chapters 1 – 23, Volume Two
relates to chapters 24 – 42, and Volume Three
relates to chapters 43 – 61.
Chapter 1
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The novel begins with the narrator
ironically noting that, ‘It is a truth
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universally acknowledged, that a single man in
possession of a good fortune must be in want
of a wife.’ With this line she sets up the main
themes of the novel – marriage and fortune.
The reader is introduced to the Bennet family and sees
the peculiar relationship between Mr and Mrs Bennet.
Mrs Bennet is looking forward to the arrival of Mr Bingley –
‘a young man of fortune’ – who has taken Netherfield Park.
We find out that the Bennets have five daughters and Mrs Bennet
wishes to see them all married quickly.
Mr Bennet seems very uninterested in the arrival of the young man
and says he will not visit him. This would mean that Mrs Bennet and
her daughters could not speak to him, as their families would not
have been properly introduced.
Activity Chapter One
Imagine the diary entries for
this day for both Mr and Mrs
Bennet.
How do they each react to the
news about Mr Bingley?
What writing style do you think
each would have?
Share your entries with a
partner.
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Chapter 2
• Mr Bennet continues to tease his family about
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not visiting Mr Bingley. At the end of the chapter
Mr Bennet reveals that he has actually visited the
young man, and that they will all get the chance
to meet him and his friends at a ball at the
Assembly Rooms.
• During this chapter we begin to see how Mr Bennet
feels about his wife and children. He is very sarcastic
about most of them, and some critics have suggested
that he seems dissatisfied with family life.
Activity Chapter Two
Begin a small character
diagram of the Bennets
showing what you have already
learned about each person in
the family.
Add lines between characters in
different colours to show
relationships between the family
members (friendships, marriage
etc.).
Chapter 3
Mr Bingley returns Mr Bennet’s visit, but
the Bennet women only catch a glimpse
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of him.
A dinner invitation is issued to Mr Bingley
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but he is going to London, and so the first
time the ladies of the Bennet household meet
Mr Bingley and his friends, is at the Assembly
Room Ball in Meryton.
Mr Bingley is found to be an amiable (friendly) young man.
He has brought his two sisters (Mrs Hurst and Miss Caroline
Bingley) with him, along with Mr Hurst (Mrs Hurst’s husband)
and Mr Darcy (a family friend).
Initially the locals are very impressed with Mr Darcy. He is handsome and has
an even bigger fortune than Mr Bingley, owning substantial estates in
Derbyshire.
He soon proves to be rude and proud however.
While Mr Bingley seems to fall in love immediately with Miss Jane Bennet, Mr
Darcy slights Lizzy. He says that he is in no mood to ‘give consequence to
young ladies who are slighted by other men’ when Bingley suggests he dance
with Elizabeth Bennet.
Mrs Bennet is shocked by Mr Darcy’s attitude, but Lizzy shows her happy
nature by remaining unfazed by it.
Activity Chapter Three
Draw a line down the centre of Write out an imaginary marriage
your page. On the left write your advertisement created by Mrs
initial opinions of Mr Darcy and Bennet. What would she say she
what has happened at the ball. OR is looking for in a husband for
On the right, give quotes to her children? What skills and
support your answer. Do you attributes would she suggest her
agree with the townspeople daughters have?
about his pride?
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Chapter 4
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• Chapter 4 is divided into two separate
private conversations.
• First we see Jane and Elizabeth discussing the ball.
Jane has been very impressed by Mr Bingley, and we
see her happy and loving personality. She seems to
see the best in everyone. Elizabeth is more critical,
particularly of Mr Bingley’s sisters, who she found rude.
• The other conversation is between the Bingley party. They discuss
the ball and we see that Mr Bingley is very much like Jane in his
attitudes. Miss Bingley and Miss Hurst express their appreciation of
Jane. Mr Darcy is more cynical – much like Elizabeth.
Activity Chapter Four
Write down Darcy’s
thoughts after the ball.
You can do this as a diary
entry if you like. Why did he
really not want to dance?
Did he notice that he gave
offence to people?
Did he care?
What does he really think of
Elizabeth at this point?
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Chapter 5
• The reader is introduced to the Lucas family
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who will play an important part in the novel.
• The ball is discussed with the Lucases, and Mrs
Bennet shows her delight in the fact that Jane was
admired by Mr Bingley.
• Everyone but Jane and Charlotte Lucas feel that
Mr Darcy is very unpleasant, and that he is
particularly prideful.
• Charlotte Lucas says that his social rank should allow him to be
proud.
Activity Chapter Five
To what extent do you agree with
Charlotte Lucas’ assessment of
Darcy?
‘One cannot wonder that so very
fine a young man, with family,
fortune, everything in his favour
should think highly of himself. If I
may so express it, he has a right to
be proud.’
What do you think of Charlotte Lucas?
What are your initial impressions?
Chapter 6
It is clear from the beginning of the
chapter that the Bingley party and Plo
the Bennets have met each other
on a number of occasions. Bingley’s
regard for Jane is clear, and Miss Bingley
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and Mrs Hurst have found that the elder two
Bennet girls (Jane and Elizabeth) are good
company. They still find Mrs Bennet ‘intolerable’.
Elizabeth discusses with Charlotte the possibility of
Bingley and Jane falling in love. Charlotte thinks that Jane
should show more affection than she really feels to try and
attract Bingley. This idea shocks Elizabeth. Charlotte shows that
she has a rather cynical view of love, protesting that ‘happiness in
marriage is entirely a matter of chance.’
Elizabeth notices, at a party at the Lucases, that Darcy seems to be
watching her a great deal. The narrator explains that he has begun to find
her both beautiful and intelligent.
When Darcy asks Elizabeth to dance, she thinks he is only being polite
and refuses him out of pride (one of the themes of the novel). Miss
Bingley notices Darcy’s attentions towards Elizabeth and grows jealous.
Activity Chapter Six
Pretend that Charlotte Lucas
and Elizabeth Bennet are both
advice columnists.
What would their advice be to Jane
Bennet about how she should
approach her relationship with Mr
Bingley?
Try to get ‘in character’ for
each of your replies from
Confidential Charlotte and
Listening Lizzy!
Chapter 7
At the opening of Chapter 7,
Austen sets out the finances
of the family in some detail.
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She explains the need for the
girls to marry well. The estate
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of Longbourn is entailed, meaning it can only be inherited
by the male line, and so will pass to a distant cousin on Mr
Bennet’s death. The girls only have small inheritances which
means that their charms alone must be used to ‘catch husbands’.
A militia regiment (the army) is coming to camp in Meryton, and Mrs
Bennet is as excited as the younger members of the Bennet family about
the chance to socialise with military officers. This is a regiment that will fight
in the Napoleonic wars in France and Spain, but there is no mention of war
here.
Jane is invited to dine at Netherfield, but Mr Bingley and Darcy will not be
there. Mrs Bennet arranges for Jane to go on horseback so that she
will have to stay there when it begins to rain. Her plan
goes amiss since Jane becomes ill and has to stay at
Netherfield to recover. Elizabeth goes to help look
after her, walking across the fields to Netherfield.
This episode brings the four main characters (Elizabeth,
Darcy, Jane and Bingley) into the same house again.
Activity Chapter Seven
Elizabeth walks three miles to
get to Netherfield to see her
sister.
What does Mr Darcy think about
this?
How does he feel about her?
Read what Jane Austen tells us
below and then discuss your
ideas with a partner.
[He was] ‘divided between
admiration of the brilliancy which
exercise had given to her complexion,
and doubt as to the occasion’s
justifying her coming so far alone.’
Chapter 8
• In Chapter 8 we get a closer
look at the personalities of Plo
Miss Bingley and Mrs Hurst, Mr
Bingley’s sisters. They are very t
critical of Elizabeth’s appearance
and her walking to Netherfield. They openly
scorn the Bennets’ social rank, mentioning
what Jane had told them about her relatives
in Cheapside (a less fashionable area of London).
It is shown that Elizabeth’s impressions of them are correct.
• Miss Bingley is increasingly aware of Mr Darcy’s attraction
to Elizabeth and tries hard to impress him with compliments.
Darcy finds Elizabeth’s independent nature and natural
intelligence
far more interesting.
• Miss Bingley and Darcy discuss the attributes of an accomplished
young woman. Elizabeth makes fun of this and Darcy says that
often these accomplishments are used to attract men, a trait he
finds unattractive.
• Jane is found to be worse and a doctor is called for. Mr Bingley is
clearly very worried about her.
Activity
Chapter Eight
Write down the list of things
that eighteenth century and
early nineteenth century
people called
‘accomplishments’.
Which of these are important and
useful today?
Why do you think the things on this
list were there?
Would having these
‘accomplishments’ have prepared a
young woman for adulthood do you
think?
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Chapter 9
• Mrs Bennet arrives to see Jane and brings
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the younger Bennets with her. This entire
chapter highlights further Mrs Bennet’s lack of
social graces. She is insulting (particularly to Darcy),
shallow, narrow-minded and overly inquisitive.
• Elizabeth shows that she is witty and intelligent, and
further impresses Darcy.
• Darcy is left liking Elizabeth but disliking her mother
and younger sisters. We see the problems that will become deeper
as his affections grow.
• Mr Bingley promises Lydia that he will hold a ball at Netherfield as
soon as Jane is better.
Activity Chapter Nine
Add to your diagram
about the Bennets.
You should be able to add
information about Mrs
Bennet and all the Miss
Bennets now.
Who do you think is the
most intelligent?
Which are friendly and alike?
Who is most serious?
What character traits do we
see in Mrs Bennet and Lydia?
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Chapter 10
This chapter continues with the
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recuperation of Jane at Netherfield Park.
Miss Bingley again tries to flatter and compliment
Mr Darcy but he finds the company of Elizabeth
Bennet more intriguing.
There is a discussion between Darcy, Lizzy and
Bingley, about Bingley’s readiness to agree with
his friends all the time. This highlights a feature of
his personality that will become important later.
Although Darcy shows his growing appreciation for her
intelligence, Elizabeth is blind to it – only seeing criticism and
censure from him. This expands on the theme of prejudice in the
novel.
Miss Bingley, growing ever more jealous of Lizzy, shows her true
colours by being rude and sarcastic about the visit from Lizzy’s
family.
Activity Chapter Ten
Imagine Miss Bingley’s
diary entry for the last few
days.
How does she feel about Jane
and Elizabeth being in the
house?
How does she really feel about
Darcy?
What types of things might she
say about the Bennet family’s
visit to the house?
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Chapter 11
• Jane is feeling much better by the
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opening of this chapter and joins the party
in the drawing room.
• Miss Bingley tries again to get the attention
of Mr Darcy, but it is only when she convinces
Elizabeth to walk around the room with her,
that he looks up.
• Elizabeth shows that she likes to make fun of the absurdities
of human behaviour (the funny things that individual people do or
say). Darcy admits that he doesn’t like to be teased, and says that
this is why he acts the way he does (aloof and proud).
• Darcy finds himself further attracted to Elizabeth as she teases
him. This is something perhaps no one else has dared to do. He
brings their conversation to a halt, fearing his own feeling
perhaps. Darcy does admit that he is serious and self-conscious
however.
Activity Chapter Eleven
Darcy admits:
‘My temper would perhaps be
called resentful. My good opinion,
once lost, is lost for ever.’
What problems can you see with
having a personality trait like this?
What do you think of someone who
never forgives?
Discuss your ideas as a class.
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Chapter 12
• Chapter 12 acts as a closing point to
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the events at Netherfield. The four main
characters have been given time to become
better acquainted, and we see the attraction growing
between the two couples at the centre of the story.
• Mr Darcy is aware that his attraction to Elizabeth is risky
and that people could notice if he isn’t careful. He resolves
to talk to her as little as possible before she leaves.
• Mrs Bennet will not send the coach to pick the girls up from
Netherfield because she wants them to stay an entire week.
However the girls borrow a coach from the Bingleys, and go home.
They are not welcomed by their mother.
Activity
Chapter Twelve
Write down Darcy’s thoughts
when he learns that Elizabeth
and Jane are leaving
Netherfield.
Why does he feel that ‘Elizabeth
had been at Netherfield long
enough’?
Chapter 13
Chapter 13 introduces an entirely
new subplot to the story. Mr Bennet Plo
announces that a visitor will be coming
to Longbourn, his cousin Mr Collins. t
Mr Collins is the man who will inherit
Longbourn when Mr Bennet dies.
William Collins is a clergyman and has recently earned
a living at the estate of Lady Catherine de Bourgh.
Mr Collins wishes to heal the rift between his father
and Mr Bennet, and indicates that he might wish to
marry one of the Bennet girls. His letter shows him to
be quite pompous and obsequious in nature.
When Mr Collins arrives we see that this is the case, he is pompous.
He takes no offence at Mrs Bennet when she indelicately mentions
that her daughters will be destitute when he inherits the estate. This
indicates that he is indelicate and coarse himself.
Dinner is served and Mr Collins mistakenly presumes that the girls
have cooked it, but is told by Mrs Bennet that they have a cook. This
little incident shows that he is capable of causing offence because of
his lack of manners.
Activity Chapter Thirteen
Imagine each of the
Bennet family’s
responses
to the arrival of Mr
Collins.
What does Mr Bennet think
of him?
What does Elizabeth think
about him wanting to marry
one of them?
What do Lydia and Kitty
think
of him?
How might Mary’s response
be different?
Indicate on your sheet
which character will say
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Chapter 14
Dinner with Mr Collins continues in this
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chapter. Mr Bennet is very amused by
Mr Collins’ gratitude at being in the employ
of Lady Catherine.
While Mr Bennet and Elizabeth find Mr Collins absurd,
Mrs Bennet takes him seriously and actually approves of
him. She only seems concerned with the fact that he wants to
marry one of her daughters. Their potential happiness with him
does not seem to concern her.
Mr Collins tells the family about Lady Catherine and her daughter,
who is quite sickly.
Mr Collins proceeds to bore the family with a long reading from
Fordyce’s Sermons; Lydia interrupts with a story about one of the
servants, and Mr Collins is upset and refuses to read anymore.
Activity Chapter Fourteen
Imagine Mr Collins’ first
impressions of Longbourn
and the Bennet family.
He is keen to marry one of the
girls – who might he
concentrate his attentions on?
What does he think about
Lydia and the other younger
sisters?
Write your ideas down as a
diary entry, or as a short
letter to Lady Catherine.
Chapter 15
Mr Collins first directs his amorous
attentions towards Jane, but is soon told by Plo
Mrs Bennet that Jane is awaiting a proposal
from Mr Bingley. Mrs Bennet should not be t
speaking about this at all, since there is no real
‘understanding’ between Mr Bingley and Jane. This lack
of discretion will have more dire consequences later.
Mr Collins shows that he has no real feelings for any of
the girls since he changes his affections so quickly from
Jane to Elizabeth. Elizabeth does not welcome his
advances and has no intention of marrying him, but Mr
Collins is not intelligent enough to see this.
Elizabeth and her sisters are walking to Meryton and meet George
Wickham,
a member of the militia. Elizabeth realises that Wickham knows Darcy, but
that there is some ill feeling between them.
The Bennets walk with the militia to the home of Mrs Philips, Mrs Bennet’s
sister. They are impressed with Wickham’s ‘gentlemanlike appearance’.
Mrs Philips is equally impressed and wants Wickham invited to a party she
is holding the following evening.
Activity Chapter Fifteen
Examine the first impressions
made by Darcy (Chapter 3)
and Wickham (Chapter 15).
Who seems to be the nicer
person?
Who is more attractive to the
Bennets and their friends?
Create a chart with
impressions of Darcy on one
side and Wickham on the
other.
Remember to use quotations
directly from the text to show
your ideas.
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Chapter 16
Elizabeth meets Wickham again at
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the home of her aunt, Mrs Philips. She finds him
amiable and interesting. They talk about Darcy.
Being already prejudiced towards Darcy, Elizabeth
believes the story that Wickham tells her about their
upbringing together, and the reason they do not speak:
Wickham’s father worked on Darcy’s father’s estate. Wickham
says that when his own father died, Darcy’s father looked after him;
he treated him well, which made Darcy jealous. Apparently, Darcy’s
father left Wickham a legacy which included a “living” (a job in the
church on the estate). However, after his father’s death, Darcy
refused to fulfil this legacy, and left Wickham with nothing. Wickham
says that Darcy was envious of his father’s love for him, and accuses
Darcy of revenge.
Activity Chapter Sixteen
Create a storyboard of
Wickham’s version of
events involving Darcy.
You can create another
version when you reach
Darcy’s side of the story.
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Chapter 17
Elizabeth tells Jane the story she has heard from
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Wickham, but Jane will not believe that Darcy is such
a horrible man. She suggests that, until all the story is
known from both sides, a judgement cannot be made.
Elizabeth is convinced of Wickham’s story however,
and she seems to be attracted to him.
The Bingleys invite the Bennets and Mr Collins to the
ball at Netherfield.
Elizabeth is looking forward to the ball as she expects to dance with
Wickham there. Mr Collins however, informs her of his intention to
dance with her, and she realises that Mr Collins has picked her out as
his future wife.
Activity Chapter Seventeen
Inside a giant thought bubble,
write the thoughts and
feelings of Elizabeth when she
realises that Mr Collins has
chosen her to be his wife.
Remember to use the last
page of the text for this
chapter as inspiration.
Chapter 18
The Netherfield Ball is a very important plot
point in the story. It sees some relationships Plo
alter drastically and others develop.
Elizabeth is at first disappointed that Wickham is not at t
the ball. There is some indication that the reason for his
absence is Darcy, which makes her more prejudiced against him.
Elizabeth must dance with Mr Collins and finds this a source of
‘shame and misery’. She is surprised however by an invitation to dance
by Mr Darcy. The dances with Mr Collins and Darcy are in sharp contrast to
each other.
She tries to find out more about Mr Wickham from him but, since he says very
little, she continues to believe Wickham’s story, even though Jane and Miss
Bingley have both told her that Darcy was the injured party.
One of the most important things about the ball is
the fact that it highlights the uncouth behaviour of
members of the Bennet family; both Jane and
Elizabeth are embarrassed by this, particularly by
the behaviour of their mother towards Mr Collins.
The Bennets and Mr Collins are the last to leave
the ball.
Activity Chapter Eighteen
List the many things that
Consider the dances Elizabeth
Elizabeth’s family do to
has with Mr Collins and Darcy.
embarrass her at the ball. Which
Highlight how they are different
do you think are the most
OR (use quotations from the text).
serious? Which do you think
What does this show about the
Elizabeth is most embarrassed
future relationships she could
about? What effect do you think
have with each of her ‘love
the family’s behaviour will have
interests’?
on events that follow?
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Chapter 19
After the ball things move on. Mr
t
Collins explains to Mrs Bennet about his
intention to propose to Elizabeth. She is thrilled
by the idea, gives her consent, and contrives to
have them speak in private.
Mr Collins’ proposal includes a list of the reasons for his
needing to marry. It is not the most romantic of propositions;
the avowal of undying love is reserved for the end.
When Elizabeth refuses him, Mr Collins does not accept that she
means what she says. He thinks she is simply being coy. He reminds
her that this is a very good offer for her economically, and that she
may never get another offer again.
Activity
Chapter Nineteen
Write an advice letter to Mr
Collins indicating how he might
make a better proposal in the
future.
What did he do wrong?
What did he talk about that was
inappropriate?
Share your letter with a partner.
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Chapter 20
Mrs Bennet is shocked by Elizabeth’s
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refusal of Mr Collins’ marriage proposal.
She tries to get her husband to tell Elizabeth
that she must marry Mr Collins.
Mr Bennet is clearly against the marriage, and will
not insist on Elizabeth marrying Mr Collins.
Mr Collins gives up on the idea of marriage to Elizabeth,
insisting that he wants an ‘amiable companion’.
Activity Chapter Twenty
The way Mrs Bennet wants
to marry Lizzy off to Mr
Collins may seem
reprehensible to us today,
since they are clearly not
well matched.
What real and troubling
reasons does Mrs Bennet have
for wanting Lizzy to marry Mr
Collins?
Think about the times they
lived in. Discuss your ideas
with a partner.
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Chapter 21
Mr Collins treats Elizabeth with ‘resentful
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silence’ now that she has refused him.
He spends time talking instead to Miss Lucas.
Elizabeth meets Wickham again; he confirms her
suspicions that he stayed away from the Netherfield
Ball because of Darcy. Elizabeth is flattered by his
attentions towards her.
A letter from Caroline Bingley arrives. It indicates that the
Netherfield group have left for London for the winter, and
suggests that this is because Mr Bingley is in love with Darcy’s sister,
Georgiana. Jane is disappointed. She does, however, believe Caroline,
unlike Elizabeth, who suspects that the relationship between Mr
Bingley
and Georgiana Darcy is something that Miss Bingley hopes for, rather
than knows to exist.
Activity Chapter Twenty-One
Jane is devastated by the
news that Mr Bingley and
his friends are returning to
London.
What might she write in a
letter response to Miss
Bingley’s note?
Remember she is unlikely
to give away her deepest
feelings.
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Chapter 22
Charlotte Lucas is so good at entertaining
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Mr Collins and taking his mind away from his
unsuccessful proposal, that he arrives at Lucas
Lodge and proposes marriage to her instead!
Charlotte accepts Mr Collins, showing that she has a
very different attitude to marriage than Elizabeth Bennet.
Mr Collins leaves the Bennet household with a further
invitation to return. He indicates that he may wish to return
very soon but does not tell the family that he has proposed to, and
been accepted by, Miss Charlotte Lucas.
Miss Lucas arrives at Longbourn the following morning and tells
Elizabeth that she is engaged to Mr Collins. Elizabeth is astounded,
but Charlotte clearly sets out the reasons for marrying him: she is
older (27); he will be quite wealthy one day; and she will have her
own home.
Activity Chapter Twenty-Two
Imagine that you
are Charlotte Lucas.
Write down a list of pros and
cons of marrying Mr Collins.
What are her reasons for doing
it?
Remember to consider her
position as a woman in the
early nineteenth century.
She would not have had the
same freedoms as women
have now.
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Chapter 23
t
Sir William Lucas breaks the news of
his daughter’s engagement to the Bennet
family; relationships between the two families
become strained. Mrs Bennet finds the proposal
particularly offensive. She also doesn’t like the idea
that Mr Collins will be organising the wedding when he
returns to stay with them.
Elizabeth becomes concerned that Mr Bingley has still not been
in touch with Jane. She had hoped that he would continue to contact
Jane and show his affection for her, even though he was staying in
London.
This marks the end of the first volume of the original publication of
Pride and Prejudice. It leaves the reader at a point of interest:
wondering what will happen between Charlotte and Mr Collins;
Elizabeth and Darcy; and Jane and Mr Bingley.
Activity Chapter
Twenty-Three
Recap the action of Volume One
by creating a storyboard of
eight to twelve sections in your
books.
What are the major points of
interest from the chapters read so
far?
Activity – End of Volume One
Imagine you are one of the key characters
from the story. Choose an event in which you
have played a particularly important role.
Explain your actions in a letter to another
friend.
What made you behave as you did? How did you
feel about this event? Do you think that you’re to
blame for any events that have occurred by the end
of the volume?