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Luray He
Mr. Brown
AP Literature
7 November 2024
Pride and Prejudice Reading Notes
I. Pride and Prejudice
A. Author: Jane Austen
B. Published: January 28, 1813
C. Written during the Victorian Era
D. A romance novel and a satire.
II. Setting
A. Longbourne
1. The Bennet’s estate, worth 2k pounds a year, will be inherited by Mr.
Collins. Shows the precarious position of the Bennets. They will lose
everything without a marriage!
B. Pemberley
1. Mr. Darcy’s estate, worth 10k pounds a year. Symbolizes Mr. Darcy’s true
character. No flashy furniture, very comfortable-looking house. Elizabeth
fell in love with Mr. Darcy on her first visit to Pemberley (not for a desire
to own the house but an exposure to Mr. Darcy’s true character)
C. Netherfield
1. Mr. Bingley’s estate, uninhabited by Mr. Bingley when he was pressured
to move = represent the roadblocks from finding happiness/ love.
D. Rosings
1. Very flashy, very showy = represents the owner. Prideful, arrogant,
basically what Elizabeth used to think who Mr. Darcy was.
III. Plot
A. Main Plot (Just Elizabeth and Darcy)
1. Mr. Bingley goes to Longbourne
2. The daughters all go to a dance ball with Mr. Darcy and Mr. Bingley
(mainly for Bingley)
a) Mr. Darcy starts to like Elizabeth
3. Elizabeth stays with Jane at Netherfield
a) Impresses Mr. Darcy
4. The daughters meet Mr. Wickham and everyone is infatuated with him.
a) Elizabeth starts to like Mr. Wickham
b) Wickham says that Darcy refused to give Wickham a clergyman’s
salary = Elizabeth hates Mr. Darcy
5. Mr. Collins proposes to Elizabeth (gets rejected)
a) Ends up marrying Charlotte Lucas.
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6. Mr. Bingley moves away (because of Mr. Darcy)

7. Elizabeth visits Mr. Collins
a) Mr. Darcy proposes to Elizabeth (gets rejected)
b) Mr. Darcy gives a letter to Elizabeth
8. Elizabeth visits Pemberley
a) Elizabeth starts to fall in love with Mr. Darcy
9. Lydia runs off with Wickham
a) Mr. Darcy saves marriage = Elizabeth falls in love more : ).
10. Elizabeth marries Mr. Darcy!!!!
B. Significant Scenes/Conversations/Speeches
1. Mr. Darcy is unimpressed with Elizabeth at the ball.
2. Miss Bingley warns Elizabeth about Wickham
a) Shows Elizabeth’s prejudice towards Bingley, Miss Bingley
might’ve been trying to “cut down the competition”
b) Miss Bingley ends up being right!
3. Mr. Darcy’s first proposal to Elizabeth
a) Exhibited Mr. Darcys’s pride, doing Elizabeth a favor = expects
Elizabeth to say yes. Justification = marrying Elizabeth instead of
marrying into aristocracy (through Miss Catherine).
4. Mr. Darcy’s letter to Elizabeth
a) Reveals that Mr. Darcy isn’t a bad person. Wickham’s claims are
false, and Elizabeth starts to realize that she is prejudiced against
Mr. Darcy.
5. Mrs. Gardiner tells Elizabeth that Mr. Darcy pay Wickham to marry
Lydia
6. Lady Catherine tells Elizabeth to not marry Mr. Darcy (chp 56)
7. Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy reveals their feelings during a walk. (chp 58)
C. Special Plot features
1. Subplots
a) The main plot is Elizabeth’s marriage. Other marriages like
Lydia’s marriage and Jane’s marriage deviate from the main plot.
2. Foils
a) Mr. Darcy foil to Wickham
b) Colonel Fitzwilliam foil to Wickham
c) Relationship between Jane and Mr. Bingley is a foil to Lydia and
Wickham.
3. Foreshadowing
a) Mr. Darcy’s letter about Mr. Wickham. Foreshadows Lydia’s future
getaway with Me. Wickham.
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b) Elizabeth’s initial feelings of Pemberly foreshadow her affection

for Mr. Darcy
4. Irony
a) Elizabeth tells Collins that she never says yes to someone after
saying no
(1) But, her love for Mr. Darcy later on suggests otherwise.
5. Situational irony
a) Mr. Darcy turns out to be a good person, opposite of reader’s
expectations from the beginning.
b) Mr. Wickham turns out to be a bad person, also opposite of the
reader’s expectations from the beginning.
6. Verbal Irony (Sarcasm)
a) Elizabeth says that Mr. Darcy has “no defects” even when she
clearly dislikes Mr. Darcy.
b) Mr. Bennet praises Mr. Collins’s flattery, but of course he is trying
to point out Mr. Collins’s pompousness and adoration of Lady
Catherine.
7. Allusions
a) Biblical Allusion: Mr. Wickham’s debt to the people in Meryton
(probably more allusions this is the only one I caught because I
saw the word “angel”)
D. Significance of the Title
1. Pride and Prejudice is the topic of the story. The main point of view is
through Elizabeth, whose prejudice towards Mr. Darcy is debunked. Pride
was shown through many characters, such as Mr. Collins, Mr. Darcy,
Elizabeth, Lady Catherine, etc. The title overcompasses and explains the
behavior of high-class characters, seeking to show that high-class people
are not necessarily higher quality people.
E. Significance of the opening
1. Establishes the goal of Mrs. Bennet and the precarious position of the
Bennet family: A poor family sliding into the working class must marry
off 5 daughters. This premise begins a challenge between marrying for
superficial reasons like wealth and genuine reasons like love and respect.
Furthermore, Austen begins to show that superficial reasons for marriage
is stupid by characterizing Mrs. Bennet as a stupid person.
F. Significance of the closing
1. The closing establishes a happy ever after pattern and a complete
resolution of grudges. However, the ending does warn about Lydia and
Wickham’s bad financial situation, which shows their marriage is very
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unfavorable! Austen gives the marriages that she approves happiness and
the marriages that she disapproves unhappiness.
IV. Characters
A. Mr. Bingley
1. Genuine loving marriage with Jane. A very chivalrous, pleasing young
man who has 4-5k pounds per year.
B. Fitzwiliam Darcy
1. At first appears to be cold and prideful, but is revealed to be a
warm-hearted character. Very wealthy, 10k per year. Married to Elizabeth,
but had the opportunity to marry into aristocracy (through Miss Catherine)
C. Elizabeth Bennet
1. Favorite of Mr. Bennet. Very sharp, very witty, but also extremely
prejudiced (Ex. fell for Wickham’s good manners).
D. Mrs. Bennet
1. Austen portrays Mrs. Bennet as a woman with superficial ambitions. She
is intelligent and idiotic, but may be deceitful (Jane got sick and stayed at
Netherfield)
E. Mr. Bennet
1. Married Mrs. Bennet through infatuation. Very sarcastic and reserved
person. Does not respect Mrs. Bennet = unhappy relationship. Low end of
the landed gentry, 2,000 a year, sliding into the working class.
F. Jane Bennet
1. The favorite of Mrs. Bennet. Not as intelligent as Elizabeth, but very
pretty. Genuine love with Mr. Bingley.
G. Lydia Bennet
1. Completely infatuated with Mr. Wickham. Superficial love, but also
freedom to do what she wants. Perceived as a stupid and immature girl.
H. Mr. Wickham
1. A deceitful man who uses his looks and good manners to woo others.
Heavily indebted, a manipulator!
I. Mr. Collins
1. A pompous man who rides his whole reputation on his position in the
clergy and is more proud of Lady Catherine than himself. Close to the end
of the book, revealed as a foil to Mr. Darcy.
J. Charlotte
1. Married to Mr. Collins. Advanced age/ ordinary looks = huge
disadvantage and low prospects of marriage. Though not genuine love, got
what she wanted.
K. Mr. Gardiner
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1. Working-class, no children, brother of Mrs. Bennet. However, highly

intelligent and very courteous.
L. Mrs. Gardiner
1. Working-class, no children, sister-in-law of Mrs. Bennet. Very intelligent
and very courteous too.
M. Lady Catherine
1. Aristocratic, but very stupid, as narrow as Mrs. Bennet. Very prideful and
believes her status in society awards her with intelligence and expertise.
N. Colonel Fitzwilliam
1. Similar to Wickham, also marrying for money, but he is virtuous unlike
Wickham.
V. Point of View
The story is mainly told through Elizabeth’s perspective, who is very judgy and
prejudiced towards everyone and may even elevate herself above others (pride). The
story is told through a 3rd person limited omniscient point of view where the
perspective is limited to Elizabeth.
VI. Voice, Atmosphere, and Style
Voice
The dialogue with oozing satire immediately suggests that Jane Austen is a witty and a
humorous writer. Austen’s personality may be closely matched with Elizabeth’s personality.
Satire requires criticism. Austen is highly critical towards upper society. However, the novel
isn’t all about satire, but is also very romantic, especially with its happy ever after ending.
Atmosphere
Characterizations of the character and the estates are very important. The description of the
estates reveal the inhabitants’ characteristics. Austen deliberately makes Mr. Collins stupid,
showing that Austen disapproves of pride. Austen makes Mr. Darcy annoyingly proud just to
show Elizabeth’s prejudice. The initial descriptions of the character is manipulated to back to the
reader’s own prejudices.
Style
Austen uses a lot of tongue-cheek humor, allusions, and half statements in her writing. The
humor builds the satire of the story, and the half statements build more subtle irony.
VII. Themes/Purpose
Theme
The first theme is that social class does not determine the quality of the person. Lady
Catherine is of aristocracy, but she has bad virtues. Mr. and Mrs. Gardiner are working-class, but
they are very intelligent.
The second theme: Pride and Prejudice! Pride and prejudice clouds your opinion, and obstructs
relationships (Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth).
Third: Marriage. Jane Austen clearly wants marriage to be based on genuine love, not
superficial reasons like wealth.
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Author’s Purpose
Austen criticizes the English society that she was raised in and the strategic nature of marriages
and the treatment of people in high and low social classes. Again, the title of the book also
suggests another purpose, to show that it is easy to judge people based on first impressions.
VIII. Quotations (8-10)
A. “I am perfectly convinced by it that Mr. Darcy has no defect!” (Pg 39)
1. Verbal irony from Elizabeth. Appears to be defending Mr. Darcy, but is
really insulting him.
B. “It is happy for you that you possess the talent of flattering with delicacy” (pg 46)
1. Verbal irony from Mr. Bennet! Reveals that no one likes Mr. Collins…
C. “Four or five thousand a year. What a fine thing for our girls!” (pg 1)
1. Establishes Mrs. Bennet’s superficial reasons for marriage, tied to the first
sentence of the last chapter.
D. “All Meryton seemed striving to blacken the man, who, but three months before,
had been almost an angel of light.
1. Mr. Wickham was indebted to nearly every tradesman in Meryton.
Biblical allusion. Shows Mr. Wickham’s bad rep!
E. “Any place would do, of about three of four hundred a year” (pg. 260)
1. Lydia begs Elizabeth for some money because she and Wickham cannot
sustain themselves.
F. “Do you not consider that a connection with you, must disgrace him in the eyes of
everybody?” (Pg. 240)
1. Lady Catherine tries to convince (guilt-trip) Elizabeth out of marrying Mr.
Dary
G. “Mr. Collins’s triumph in consequence of this invitation was complete” ( pg 109)
1. Shows Mr. Collins’s adoration of Lady Catherine. He loves her more than
he loves himself.
H. “He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real
security” (pg 129)
1. Clearly, Mr. Darcy thought he was doing Elizabeth a big favor when he
proposed to her for the first time.
IX. Vocabulary
A. Panogyrle: Formal/elaborate praise
B. Celerity: Swiftness of movement
C. Expostulation: act of expressing complaint
D. Alacrity: quickness from eagerness
E. Filial: pertaining to or becoming a son or daughter
F. Obsequious: obedient/submissive
G. Purport: constantly diligent
H. Pretension: an assumed right.
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I. Abatement: Act of lessening

J. Whist: A game of cards played by 4 people.
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Luray He

William Brown

AP Literature and Composition

7 November 2024

Class Hierarchy in Victorian society

Unlike the social mobility present in modern society, wealth and rank in Victorian society

is determined by pure chance during birth. According to britannica.com, The two determining

factors of an individual’s place in society are gender and class. Women in Victorian society live

for the pleasure of their husbands while men are the bread-winners of the family. Contrary to

most people’s beliefs, class matters more than gender. This means that a poor aristocrat is

technically ranked higher than a rich tradesman.

There are classes within the elite society. According to the University of Delaware’s

British Literature Wiki, the elite class is split into this top-down order: the royalty, the officers

and lords, and the wealthy men and business owners. From this hierarchy, clearly class matters

more than wealth. Unlike in America, wealth in Victorian society does not equate to power.

Those not born into the high-class are called the middle class and lower class. The

middle-class are made up of skilled workers and merchants. They are able to make a living from

their own specialties, much better than the dehumanized lower class who are merely sacks of

meat who labor for the upper class.

So, class hierarchy in Victorian society is heavily dedicated by birth. Gender and family

are the most important factors of making it high on the social order.
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Works Cited

“Social Life in Victorian England.” British Literature Wiki, The University of Delaware.

https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/social-life-in-victorian-england/. Accessed 6 November

2024.

Steinbach, Susie. “Victorian era.” Britannica, edited by The Editors of Encyclopedia

Britannica, Britannica, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/event/Victorian-era. Accessed 6

November 2024.
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Luray He

William Brown

AP Literature and Composition

7 November 2024

Literature in Victorian society

Literature in Victorian society was heavily influenced by the historical context of Queen

Victoria’s reign over Great Britain. The booming economy but the decrypt lower class lead to a

wave of realism and mass appeal. Reading used to be an exclusive right to upper class children,

but now with the new “ragged schools” (British Literature Wiki) that taught poor children to

read, authors recognized the need to appeal to a big, lower class audience.

According to Eastern Connecticut State University, the most commonly seen narrative

mode was realism. Novels such as Hard Times by Dickens portrays the struggles of industrial

workers. Many new novels were focused on portraying the middle and lower class, a shift from

the exclusive portrayal of the upper-class. Especially with the decreasing price of books credited

to mass production, education became widespread, and so did the ideas of authors from every

walk of life.

Charles Dickens is a perfect example of literature in Victorian society. His meteoric rise

to prominence represented a shift to what we know literature to be today. The all famous Oliver

Twist criticizes orphanages while entertaining its audience.

The educated writers started to have a new purpose, not just to be the servants of the

upper class, but to document the struggles of the people. Just like in Pride and Prejudice, authors

start to reveal what is wrong with society, hoping to educate and spur a chance in a rigid social

order.
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Works Cited

Butler, M.H., Beer, Bernard John. “Late Victorian Literature.” Britannica, edited by The Editors

of Encyclopaedia Britannica, Britannica, 2024.

https://www.britannica.com/art/English-literature/additional-info#history. Accessed 6

November 2021.

“The Victorian Period.” Teacher’s Toolbox, Eastern Connecticut State University.

https://www.easternct.edu/speichera/understanding-literary-history-all/the-victorian-perio

d.html. Accessed 6 November 2021.

“Education, Literacy and Publishing in Victorian England.

https://sites.udel.edu/britlitwiki/education-literacy-and-publishing-in-victorian-england/.

Accessed 6 November 2021.

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Works Cited

Steinbach, Susie. “Victorian era.” Britannica, edited by The Editors of Encyclopedia

Britannica, Britannica, 2024.

“Social Life in Victorian England” British Literature Wiki, The University of Delaware.