Skills learned: Understanding stories written in 19th century English.
Application of grammar rules in actual stories.
STORY
Summary of “Pride and Prejudice” by Jane Austen.
Pride and Prejudice is a famous novel by Jane Austen, first published in 1813. It tells the story of Elizabeth Bennet, an intelligent and independent young woman, and her complicated relationship with the wealthy Mr. Darcy.
The story takes place in rural England. Elizabeth is one of five daughters in the Bennet family. Because women could not easily inherit property at that time, Mrs. Bennet is eager to find good husbands for her daughters.
When a rich young man named Mr. Bingley moves into the neighborhood, he quickly becomes interested in Elizabeth’s older sister, Jane. Mr. Bingley is friendly and kind, and Jane returns his feelings. However, Mr. Bingley’s friend, Mr. Darcy, appears proud and unfriendly. At a local dance, he refuses to dance with Elizabeth and makes a rude comment about her. As a result, Elizabeth develops a strong dislike for him.
As the story continues, Elizabeth hears negative stories about Mr. Darcy from a charming army officer named George Wickham. She believes Wickham and becomes even more convinced that Darcy is arrogant and selfish. Meanwhile, Darcy secretly falls in love with Elizabeth because of her intelligence and strong character.
Eventually, Darcy asks Elizabeth to marry him. Although he admits that he loves her, he also speaks disrespectfully about her family’s lower social status. Elizabeth is offended and rejects his proposal. She accuses him of separating Jane and Bingley and of treating Wickham unfairly.
Afterward, Darcy writes Elizabeth a letter explaining his actions. He reveals that Wickham is dishonest and that he tried to protect Bingley from what he believed was an uncertain relationship with Jane. Elizabeth gradually realizes that her judgments may have been wrong.
Later, Darcy proves his kindness by helping solve a family scandal when Elizabeth’s younger sister Lydia runs away with Wickham. He does this without expecting any reward or recognition.
Through these events, both Elizabeth and Darcy change. Elizabeth learns not to judge people too quickly, while Darcy becomes more humble and considerate. In the end, Bingley marries Jane, and Elizabeth accepts Darcy’s second proposal. The novel ends with both couples happily married.
Main Themes
The danger of judging people too quickly
Pride and humility
Love and marriage
Social class and wealth
Personal growth and self-awareness
Pride and Prejudice – Chapter 1
Pride and Prejudice — Chapter 1 (Original text)
IT is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune must be in want of a wife.
However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered as the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters.
“My dear Mr. Bennet,” said his lady to him one day, “have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
“But it is,” returned she; “for Mrs. Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.”
Mr. Bennet made no answer.
“Do not you want to know who has taken it?” cried his wife, impatiently.
“You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.”
This was invitation enough.
“Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England; that he came down on Monday in a chaise and four to see the place, and was so much delighted with it that he agreed with Mr. Morris immediately; that he is to take possession before Michaelmas, and some of his servants are to be in the house by the end of next week.”
“What is his name?”
“Bingley.”
“Is he married or single?”
“Oh, single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!”
“How so? how can it affect them?”
“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.”
“Is that his design in settling here?”
“Design? Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and therefore you must visit him as soon as he comes.”
“I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go—or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better; for as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr. Bingley might like you the best of the party.”
“My dear, you flatter me. I certainly have had my share of beauty, but I do not pretend to be anything extraordinary now. When a woman has five grown-up daughters, she ought to give over thinking of her own beauty.”
“In such cases, a woman has not often much beauty to think of.”
“But, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr. Bingley when he comes into the neighbourhood.”
“It is more than I engage for, I assure you.”
“But consider your daughters. Only think what an establishment it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are determined to go, merely on that account; for in general, you know, they visit no new{4} comers. Indeed you must go, for it will be impossible for us to visit him, if you do not.”
“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.”
“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.”
“They have none of them much to recommend them,” replied he: “they are all silly and ignorant like other girls; but Lizzy has something more of quickness than her sisters.”
“Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way? You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.”
“You mistake me, my dear. I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends. I have heard you mention them with consideration these twenty years at least.”
“Ah, you do not know what I suffer.”
“But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighbourhood.”
“It will be no use to us, if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them.”
“Depend upon it, my dear, that when there are twenty, I will visit them all.”
Mr. Bennet was so odd a mixture of quick parts, sarcastic humour, reserve, and caprice, that the experience of three-and-twenty years had been insufficient to make his wife understand his character. Her mind was less difficult to develope.
She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper. When she was discontented, she fancied herself nervous.
The business of her life was to get her daughters married: its solace was visiting and news.
Pride and Prejudice — Chapter 1 (Contemporary English)
Everyone seems to believe one thing: if a rich, unmarried man moves into a neighborhood, people immediately start thinking he should find a wife.
Even if nobody knows much about him, the local families quickly decide that he would make a perfect husband for one of their daughters.
One day Mrs. Bennet said to her husband,
“My dear Mr. Bennet, have you heard that Netherfield Park has finally been rented?”
Mr. Bennet replied that he had not.
“It has,” she said. “Mrs. Long was just here and told me all about it.”
Mr. Bennet said nothing.
“Don’t you want to know who rented it?” asked his wife impatiently.
“You seem eager to tell me,” he replied, “and I don’t mind listening.”
That was all the encouragement Mrs. Bennet needed.
“Well, Mrs. Long says that Netherfield has been rented by a wealthy young man from northern England. He came on Monday to look at the property and liked it so much that he agreed to rent it immediately. He will move in before the end of September, and some of his servants will arrive next week.”
“What is his name?” asked Mr. Bennet.
“Bingley.”
“Is he married or single?”
“Single, of course! A rich, single man with an income of four or five thousand pounds a year. What wonderful news for our daughters!”
“Why?” asked Mr. Bennet. “How does it concern them?”
“My dear Mr. Bennet, don’t be so annoying! Obviously, I am hoping he will marry one of them.”
“Is that why he moved here?” asked Mr. Bennet.
“Of course not! What a ridiculous question. But he might fall in love with one of the girls, so you must visit him as soon as he arrives.”
“I don’t see why. You and the girls can visit him. In fact, perhaps the girls should go alone. Since you’re as attractive as any of them, Mr. Bingley might end up liking you best.”
“My dear, you flatter me. I may have been pretty once, but I don’t think I’m anything special now. A woman with five grown daughters should stop worrying about her own beauty.”
“In that situation,” said Mr. Bennet, “there usually isn’t much beauty left to worry about.”
“But you really must visit Mr. Bingley when he arrives.”
“I can’t promise that.”
“Think about your daughters! Just imagine what a good marriage it would be for one of them. Sir William and Lady Lucas are planning to visit him for exactly that reason. They usually never visit newcomers. You must go, because we cannot visit him unless you do.”
“I think you’re worrying too much. I’m sure Mr. Bingley would be happy to meet you. I’ll even send a note with you telling him that I fully approve of him marrying whichever daughter he likes—although I should mention that my favorite is little Lizzy.”
“Please don’t do that! Lizzy is no better than the others. She’s not nearly as beautiful as Jane or as cheerful as Lydia. But you always favor her.”
“They don’t have many special qualities,” said Mr. Bennet. “They’re all as silly and inexperienced as most girls. However, Lizzy is a little quicker and smarter than her sisters.”
“Mr. Bennet! How can you speak about your own children that way? You enjoy upsetting me. You never think about my poor nerves.”
“You misunderstand me, my dear. I have great respect for your nerves. They are old friends of mine. I’ve heard you talk about them for at least twenty years.”
“Oh, you don’t know how much I suffer.”
“I hope you’ll recover and live long enough to see many more rich young men move into the neighborhood.”
“It won’t help us if twenty of them come, because you won’t visit any of them.”
“Trust me,” said Mr. Bennet, “if twenty rich young men arrive, I will visit every one of them.”
Mr. Bennet was an unusual combination of intelligence, sarcasm, reserve, and unpredictability. After twenty-three years of marriage, his wife still did not fully understand him.
Mrs. Bennet, on the other hand, was much easier to understand. She was not especially intelligent or well educated, and her moods often changed quickly. Whenever she was unhappy, she believed she was suffering from nervous problems.
Her main goal in life was to get her daughters married. Her favorite activities were visiting people and collecting the latest gossip.
CONTEMPORARY MEANING
| Original Expression | Contemporary Meaning |
| a single man in possession of a good fortune | a rich unmarried man |
| let at last | finally rented |
| chaise and four | a carriage pulled by four horses |
| four or five thousand a year | a very large annual income |
| establishment for one of them | a secure marriage and future |
| vexing me | annoying/upsetting me |
| my poor nerves | my anxiety/stress |
| quickness | intelligence and wit |
| newcomers | people who have recently moved to the area |
What you should notice:
- Irony: Austen does not really mean that every rich man wants a wife. She is making fun of society’s obsession with marriage.
- Mr. Bennet’s humor: He often says the opposite of what people expect and enjoys teasing his wife.
- Mrs. Bennet’s goal: She is focused almost entirely on finding husbands for her daughters.
GRAMMAR FEATURES
| Grammar Point | Example | Function |
| Reported Speech | Mrs. Long says that Netherfield has been rented. | Reporting information |
| Modal Verbs | He might fall in love with one of the girls. | Possibility, advice, obligation |
| Relative Clauses | The man who rented the house is single. | Adding descriptive information |
| Present Simple (bonus) | Mr. Bennet enjoys teasing his wife. | Habits and character descriptions |
FILL IN THE BLANKS USING ONE OF THE WORDS OR GROUPS OF WORDS ON THE RIGHT, IN THE CORRECT TENSE
The Lost Painting
The story takes place in a small town near the sea. It follows Emma, a young artist who dreams of becoming famous one day.
One morning, Emma learns that a valuable painting has disappeared from the local museum. The painting, which was created more than two hundred years ago, is loved by many people in the town.
When the museum director speaks to the police, he explains that nobody knows what happened. Emma becomes interested in the mystery because she hopes to help solve it. Although she has no experience as a detective, she believes she can find an important clue.
After visiting the museum, Emma notices a small notebook that was left near an open window. Inside, she finds sketches of boats and a map of the harbor. She immediately realizes that the thief may have escaped by sea.
Later, Emma meets an old fisherman who works near the docks. He reveals that he saw a stranger carrying a large package the night before. Because of this information, the police search a nearby warehouse.
The painting is discovered the next day. The thief is arrested, and the artwork is returned to the museum. In the end, Emma receives a special award because of her courage and determination. The director says that the town will always remember her contribution.
GRAMMAR CLUES
The Lost Painting
The story [Simple Present] in a small town near the sea. It [Simple Present] Emma, a young artist [Relative Pronoun] dreams of becoming famous one day.
One morning, Emma learns that a valuable painting [Present Perfect] from the local museum. The painting, [Relative Pronoun] was created more than two hundred years ago, [Passive Voice] by many people in the town.
When the museum director speaks to the police, he [Reporting Verb] that nobody knows what happened. Emma becomes interested in the mystery because she hopes [Infinitive Marker] solve it. Although she has no experience as a detective, she believes she [Modal Verb] find an important clue.
After visiting the museum, Emma notices a small notebook [Relative Pronoun] was left near an open window. Inside, she finds sketches of boats and a map of the harbor. She immediately realizes that the thief [Modal Perfect] escaped by sea.
Later, Emma meets an old fisherman [Relative Pronoun] works near the docks. He [Reporting Verb] that he saw a stranger carrying a large package the night before. Because of this information, the police search a nearby warehouse.
The painting [Passive Voice] the next day. The thief is arrested, and the artwork [Passive Voice] to the museum. In the end, Emma receives a special award because of her courage and determination. The director says that the town [Future with Will] remember her contribution.
WORD BANK
discover
who
may have
take place
return
reveal
which
follow
can
explain
that
to help
love
always remember
who
disappear
EXTERNAL VIDEO
END OF LESSON