Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 21 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. How does Mr. Collins behave toward Elizabeth after she refuses his proposal?

   • He avoids her entirely by leaving Longbourn ahead of his planned departure date
   • Correct answer: He displays stiffness of manner and resentful silence, scarcely speaking to her at all
   • He attempts to renew his proposal by writing her a formal letter of courtship
   • He becomes overly cheerful and pretends the proposal never happened in the first place

   Collins responds with "stiffness of manner and resentful silence" rather than embarrassment or dejection. He redirects his attentions to Charlotte Lucas instead of departing early.

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2. 2

   Question 2. To whom does Mr. Collins transfer his attentions after Elizabeth's refusal?

   • Jane Bennet, the eldest sister, whose lovely face first caught his eye on his arrival at Longbourn
   • Mary Bennet, who shares his interest in moral sermons and serious conversation
   • Correct answer: Charlotte Lucas, whose civility in listening provides relief to the whole household
   • Lydia Bennet, whose lively manner and youth attract his clerical attention

   Collins redirects his "assiduous attentions" to Charlotte Lucas, whose patient willingness to listen is described as "a seasonable relief to them all, and especially to her friend" Elizabeth.

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3. 3

   Question 3. What reason does Wickham give Elizabeth for missing the Netherfield ball?

   • Correct answer: He says his absence was self-imposed because being near Darcy for hours might be unbearable
   • He explains that Bingley specifically asked him not to attend to avoid a scene with Darcy
   • He tells her he was ill that evening and unable to travel the distance to Netherfield
   • He claims he was obliged to go to town on business the day before and could not get back in time

   Wickham "voluntarily acknowledged that the necessity of his absence had been self-imposed," explaining that being in the same room with Darcy "might be more than I could bear."

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4. 4

   Question 4. What does Elizabeth think of Wickham's decision to avoid the ball?

   • She is indifferent, having already lost interest in Wickham after dancing with Darcy
   • She is disappointed and questions whether his avoidance suggests cowardice rather than honor
   • She suspects it was an excuse and privately doubts the truth of his story about Darcy
   • Correct answer: She highly approves his forbearance, viewing it as noble restraint on his part

   Elizabeth "highly approved his forbearance," fully accepting his version of events. She does not yet question Wickham's narrative about Darcy, reinforcing her existing prejudice.

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5. 5

   Question 5. What shocking news does Caroline Bingley's letter to Jane contain?

   • That Bingley has fallen ill in London and requires immediate medical attention from his sisters
   • That Darcy has proposed to Caroline and the entire party has relocated for the wedding preparations
   • Correct answer: That the whole Bingley party has left Netherfield for London with no intention of returning
   • That Caroline has discovered Wickham's true character and warns Jane to inform Elizabeth

   Jane sums up the letter for Elizabeth: "This is from Caroline Bingley; what it contains has surprised me a good deal. The whole party have left Netherfield by this time, and are on their way to town-- and without any intention of coming back again.

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6. 6

   Question 6. What does Caroline's letter strongly hint about Bingley's romantic future?

   • That Bingley has decided to remain a bachelor and dedicate himself to his business interests
   • That Bingley has already proposed to a wealthy heiress in London society circles
   • That Bingley means to return to Netherfield after Christmas and make Jane a formal offer of marriage
   • Correct answer: That Bingley is expected to marry Georgiana Darcy, whose beauty and accomplishments are praised

   Caroline praises Georgiana Darcy's beauty, elegance, and accomplishments, and expresses hope of "her being hereafter our sister," strongly implying she expects Bingley to marry Georgiana.

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7. 7

   Question 7. How does Jane interpret Caroline Bingley's letter?

   • She believes Caroline is jealous and is trying to eliminate competition for Darcy's attention
   • Correct answer: She concludes that Caroline neither expects nor wishes her to be Bingley's wife, and warns sincerely
   • She dismisses the letter as gossip and insists that Bingley is his own master and will return whatever his sisters wish
   • She recognizes it as a strategic attempt to discourage her and resolves to fight for Bingley

   Jane reads the letter as a sincere warning, asking: "Does it not expressly declare that Caroline neither expects nor wishes me to be her sister; that she is perfectly convinced of her brother's indifference?"

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8. 8

   Question 8. What is Elizabeth's interpretation of Caroline's motive for writing the letter?

   • Correct answer: Caroline sees her brother is in love with Jane and is scheming to separate them and push him toward Miss Darcy
   • Caroline simply means what she says: she wants to spare her brother lonely hours in a comfortless hotel in London
   • Caroline is testing Jane's loyalty to see whether she will continue pursuing Bingley despite obstacles
   • Caroline genuinely believes Bingley is better suited to Georgiana and is trying to spare Jane's feelings

   Elizabeth states plainly: "Miss Bingley sees that her brother is in love with you, and wants him to marry Miss Darcy. She follows him to town in hope of keeping him there, and tries to persuade you that he does not care about you."

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9. 9

   Question 9. According to Elizabeth, why does Caroline want an "intermarriage" between the Bingley and Darcy families?

   • So that both families can combine their estates and become the wealthiest family in the county
   • Because Lady Catherine has offered a dowry for any woman who brings Darcy and Georgiana together
   • Correct answer: Because if Bingley marries Georgiana, Caroline may have less trouble achieving her own match with Mr. Darcy
   • So that Caroline can befriend Georgiana and gain an introduction to other eligible gentlemen in their circle

   Elizabeth observes that Caroline is "the more anxious to get Miss Darcy for her brother, from the notion that when there has been one intermarriage, she may have less trouble in achieving a second" -- meaning her own marriage to Darcy.

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10. 10

    Question 10. How does Jane respond when Elizabeth suggests Caroline is deliberately deceiving her?

    • She becomes angry with Elizabeth for always thinking the worst of people in social situations
    • She admits the possibility but insists it does not change her own feelings toward Bingley at all
    • She agrees reluctantly but says she cannot bring herself to confront Caroline about it
    • Correct answer: She refuses to believe Caroline capable of willful deception, hoping instead that Caroline is deceiving herself

    Jane insists "Caroline is incapable of wilfully deceiving anyone; and all that I can hope in this case is that she is deceiving herself." Elizabeth accepts this as the best comfort Jane will allow.

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11. 11

    Question 11. What worry does Jane express about marrying Bingley even if he does return?

    • That Wickham's presence in Meryton might cause ongoing conflict between Bingley and Darcy
    • Correct answer: That she could not be happy accepting a man whose sisters and friends all wish him to marry someone else
    • That her mother's loud talk at the Netherfield ball must have given Mr. Bingley a poor opinion of the whole family
    • That she would be unable to manage a large estate like Netherfield without proper training

    Jane asks: "Can I be happy, even supposing the best, in accepting a man whose sisters and friends are all wishing him to marry elsewhere?" This reveals her sensitivity to family harmony.

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12. 12

    Question 12. How does Elizabeth respond to Jane's concern about Bingley's sisters' disapproval?

    • Correct answer: She advises that if the misery of disobliging his sisters outweighs the happiness of being his wife, Jane should refuse
    • She suggests Jane write to Caroline to clarify her feelings and settle the matter through honest correspondence
    • She promises to speak with Bingley directly and make him aware of his sisters' scheming behavior
    • She tells Jane to wait six months and see whether Bingley proves his independence from his sisters

    Elizabeth replies with characteristic wit: "if, upon mature deliberation, you find that the misery of disobliging his two sisters is more than equivalent to the happiness of being his wife, I advise you by all means to refuse him."

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13. 13

    Question 13. What is the effect of Elizabeth's reassurances on Jane by the end of their conversation?

    • Jane resolves to forget Bingley entirely and focus on other prospects for the coming social season
    • Jane becomes fully confident and dismisses Caroline's letter as meaningless social gossip
    • Correct answer: Jane is gradually led to hope that Bingley will return, though diffidence of affection sometimes overcomes her hope
    • Jane decides to write Bingley a letter confessing her feelings and asking him to return to Netherfield

    Jane's "temper was not desponding, and she was gradually led to hope, though the diffidence of affection sometimes overcame the hope, that Bingley would return to Netherfield."

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14. 14

    Question 14. How does Mrs. Bennet react when told the Bingley party has left Netherfield?

    • Correct answer: She laments the timing but consoles herself that Bingley will return soon, and plans two full courses for dinner
    • She blames Elizabeth entirely, insisting that her refusal of Collins drove the Bingleys away from the neighborhood
    • She writes an angry letter to Caroline demanding an explanation for the sudden and rude departure
    • She collapses in shock and takes to her bed for the remainder of the day in dramatic despair

    Mrs. Bennet "bewailed it as exceedingly unlucky" but consoled herself that Bingley would return, and "though he had been invited only to a family dinner, she would take care to have two full courses."

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15. 15

    Question 15. What does Elizabeth's reaction to Caroline's "highflown expressions" of friendship reveal about her character?

    • Her jealousy of Caroline's refined manners and elegant writing style on hot-pressed paper
    • Her impatience with letter-writing conventions that she considers outdated and unnecessarily formal
    • Her tendency to be overly suspicious of anyone from a higher social class than her own family
    • Correct answer: Her perceptive ability to see through insincere flattery, listening with "all the insensibility of distrust"

    Elizabeth listens to Caroline's effusive declarations of friendship "with all the insensibility of distrust," demonstrating her ability to detect insincerity -- a key aspect of her sharp, analytical character.

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