Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 16 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. Where does Chapter 16 of Pride and Prejudice take place?

   • At Lucas Lodge during an evening party given by Sir William Lucas
   • At Netherfield Park during the ball Mr. Bingley has promised the neighbourhood
   • At Longbourn House, where Mr. Collins reads Fordyce's Sermons to the family
   • Correct answer: At the home of Mr. and Mrs. Phillips during an evening party in Meryton

   The chapter takes place at Mrs. Phillips' home in Meryton, where the Bennet sisters and Mr. Collins attend an evening party with officers and other guests.

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2. 2

   Question 2. What does Mr. Collins compare the Phillips' apartment to?

   • The dining hall at Pemberley, claiming its proportions are remarkably close
   • The grand ballroom at Netherfield Park, praising its equal elegance
   • Correct answer: The small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings, Lady Catherine's estate
   • The drawing room at Longbourn, noting its similar comfortable furnishings

   Collins is "so much struck with the size and furniture of the apartment" that he compares it to the small summer breakfast parlour at Rosings, intending it as a great compliment to Lady Catherine's grandeur.

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3. 3

   Question 3. What was Wickham's father's relationship to the Darcy family?

   • Correct answer: He was the steward of the Pemberley estate and the elder Darcy's confidential friend
   • He was a neighbouring gentleman of property who shared the hunting grounds of Pemberley
   • He was a relation of Lady Anne Darcy and lived at Pemberley as a member of the family
   • He was the clergyman of Pemberley parish and private tutor to the younger Mr. Darcy

   Wickham's father "gave up everything to be of use to the late Mr. Darcy and devoted all his time to the care of the Pemberley property." He was "most highly esteemed" and was a "most intimate, confidential friend."

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4. 4

   Question 4. What does Wickham claim the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed to him?

   • A generous annual income of five thousand pounds for life
   • Correct answer: The next presentation of the best church living in his gift
   • A residence within the same park at Pemberley where he was born
   • A commission in the ----shire regiment, bought on his behalf

   Wickham says "the late Mr. Darcy bequeathed me the next presentation of the best living in his gift. He was my godfather, and excessively attached to me."

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5. 5

   Question 5. What reason does Wickham give for why the younger Mr. Darcy denied him the living?

   • That Wickham had openly insulted Darcy's sister at a family gathering
   • Correct answer: That Darcy chose to doubt the bequest and accused Wickham of extravagance and imprudence
   • That Wickham had married without Darcy's approval, violating family tradition
   • That the living became vacant while Wickham was too young to hold it, and was given elsewhere

   Wickham says Darcy "chose to doubt" the intention of the bequest, "or to treat it as a merely conditional recommendation, and to assert that I had forfeited all claim to it by extravagance, imprudence--in short anything or nothing."

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6. 6

   Question 6. What deeper motive does Wickham attribute to Darcy's mistreatment of him?

   • Correct answer: Jealousy over the elder Mr. Darcy's uncommon attachment to Wickham
   • Fear that Wickham would inherit Pemberley and displace the Darcy family
   • Resentment over Wickham's superior academic achievements at university
   • A longstanding family feud between the Wickhams and the Darcys

   Wickham says Darcy's dislike "I cannot but attribute in some measure to jealousy. Had the late Mr. Darcy liked me less, his son might have borne with me better."

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7. 7

   Question 7. Why does Wickham say he will not publicly expose Darcy's behavior?

   • Because he fears Darcy's fortune and influence could destroy his military career
   • Because he has signed a legal agreement preventing him from speaking publicly
   • Correct answer: Because he cannot forget the elder Mr. Darcy's kindness and will not dishonor his memory
   • Because Darcy is already disliked in Hertfordshire and will be disgraced without his assistance

   Wickham says: "Till I can forget his father, I can never defy or expose him." He presents himself as too honorable to tarnish the memory of the man who was his godfather.

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8. 8

   Question 8. How does Elizabeth respond when Wickham tells her Darcy denied him the church living?

   • She sympathizes but cautions Wickham that there may be circumstances she cannot judge
   • She declares that she always suspected Mr. Darcy of such malicious injustice
   • She remains skeptical and suggests they consider Mr. Darcy's account of the matter first
   • Correct answer: She declares Darcy's behavior "quite shocking" and says he deserves to be "publicly disgraced"

   Elizabeth responds with full sympathy: "This is quite shocking! He deserves to be publicly disgraced." Her willingness to believe Wickham without question shows her strong prejudice against Darcy.

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9. 9

   Question 9. What does Elizabeth recall about Darcy that seems to confirm Wickham's story?

   • That Darcy spoke with contempt at Netherfield of her family's low connections in trade
   • That Darcy argued with Mr. Bingley about yielding too readily to the persuasion of a friend
   • That Darcy refused to dance with her at the Meryton assembly and called her only tolerable
   • Correct answer: That Darcy boasted at Netherfield of the implacability of his resentments and unforgiving temper

   Elizabeth recalls: "I do remember his boasting one day, at Netherfield, of the implacability of his resentments, of his having an unforgiving temper." She takes this as confirmation of Darcy's cruel disposition.

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10. 10

    Question 10. How does Wickham describe Miss Darcy?

    • As a disagreeable child who disliked him and never cared for his company
    • As a sweet-tempered, amiable girl, entirely different in disposition from her proud brother
    • Correct answer: As "too much like her brother--very, very proud," though once affectionate as a child
    • As an exceedingly shy and timid girl who rarely speaks in company

    Wickham says: "I wish I could call her amiable. But she is too much like her brother--very, very proud. As a child, she was affectionate and pleasing, and extremely fond of me; but she is nothing to me now."

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11. 11

    Question 11. What family relationship does Wickham reveal between Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Mr. Darcy?

    • That Lady Catherine's late husband was Darcy's uncle on his father's side
    • Correct answer: That Lady Catherine and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters, making her Darcy's aunt
    • That Lady Catherine is Darcy's great-aunt through a distant branch of the family
    • That Lady Catherine is Darcy's godmother and spiritual guardian

    Wickham reveals: "Lady Catherine de Bourgh and Lady Anne Darcy were sisters; consequently she is aunt to the present Mr. Darcy."

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12. 12

    Question 12. What rumored match does Wickham mention regarding Darcy?

    • Correct answer: That Miss de Bourgh and Darcy are expected to marry, uniting the two estates
    • That Darcy has been pursuing a young heiress from the north of England
    • That Darcy is expected to marry Miss Bingley, uniting their two large fortunes
    • That Darcy is engaged to a woman of title from a prominent London family

    Wickham says of Lady Catherine's daughter: "Miss de Bourgh will have a very large fortune, and it is believed that she and her cousin will unite the two estates."

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13. 13

    Question 13. Why does Elizabeth smile when she hears about the expected match between Darcy and Miss de Bourgh?

    • Correct answer: She thinks of poor Miss Bingley, whose pursuit of Darcy would be vain and useless
    • She finds the idea of two such proud families uniting to be comically predictable
    • She is amused that Mr. Collins does not know about his patroness's plans
    • She is delighted because it means Darcy will never pursue her or her sisters

    Elizabeth smiles "as she thought of poor Miss Bingley. Vain indeed must be all her attentions, vain and useless her affection for his sister and her praise of himself, if he were already self-destined for another."

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14. 14

    Question 14. What does Wickham say about the role of pride in Darcy's character?

    • That Darcy's pride is merely a disguise concealing an awkward, uncertain temper among strangers
    • That Darcy's pride has made him universally despised and has never produced a generous action
    • Correct answer: That pride has often been Darcy's "best friend," leading him to be generous and liberal out of family honor
    • That Darcy's pride comes entirely from his mother, Lady Anne, and from his aunt, Lady Catherine

    Wickham acknowledges that pride "has often led him to be liberal and generous, to give his money freely, to display hospitality, to assist his tenants, and relieve the poor." He attributes this to "family pride, and filial pride."

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15. 15

    Question 15. What prevents Elizabeth from discussing Wickham on the carriage ride home?

    • Her own shyness about revealing her growing feelings for Wickham to her sisters
    • Lydia and Kitty's quarrel over which of them Mr. Wickham particularly admired that evening
    • Jane's illness, which occupies everyone's worried conversation on the way back
    • Correct answer: Lydia's incessant chatter about lottery tickets and Mr. Collins's descriptions of supper

    Elizabeth "could think of nothing but of Mr. Wickham" but "there was not time for her even to mention his name as they went, for neither Lydia nor Mr. Collins were once silent." Lydia talked of lottery tickets, and Collins of supper dishes.

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