Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 34 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What is Elizabeth doing alone at the Parsonage when the chapter begins?

   • Packing her belongings and preparing for her departure from Hunsford the following morning
   • Walking in the grove along the edge of Rosings Park to clear her mind before dinner
   • Writing a long letter to Jane describing Colonel Fitzwilliam's recent revelations about Darcy
   • Correct answer: Rereading Jane's letters to her in Kent, noticing the lack of cheerfulness in every line

   "Elizabeth, as if intending to exasperate herself as much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for her employment the examination of all the letters which Jane had written to her since her being in Kent."

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2. 2

   Question 2. Why does Elizabeth reread Jane's letters at the start of Chapter 34?

   • She is looking for specific details about Bingley that she can share with Colonel Fitzwilliam at dinner
   • Correct answer: She wants to exasperate herself against Darcy by dwelling on Jane's loss of cheerfulness and suffering
   • She is homesick and rereads them for comfort, having been away from Longbourn for several weeks
   • She hopes to find evidence that Jane has recovered her spirits and moved on from Mr. Bingley

   "As if intending to exasperate herself as much as possible against Mr. Darcy, chose for her employment the examination of all the letters." Darcy's "shameful boast" gave her "a keener sense of her sister's sufferings."

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3. 3

   Question 3. Who does Elizabeth expect when the doorbell rings at the Parsonage?

   • Correct answer: Colonel Fitzwilliam, who had once before called late in the evening and might inquire after her
   • A servant sent by Lady Catherine, who would be displeased that Elizabeth had stayed away from tea
   • Mr. Darcy, whom she has been dreading seeing alone after Colonel Fitzwilliam's revelations
   • Charlotte Collins, returning early from her visit to Lady Catherine at Rosings Park

   "Her spirits were a little fluttered by the idea of its being Colonel Fitzwilliam himself, who had once before called late in the evening, and might now come to inquire particularly after her."

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4. 4

   Question 4. How does Darcy behave when he first enters the room to see Elizabeth?

   • He kneels formally and takes her hand, following the traditional courtship gesture of the Regency period
   • He sits calmly by the fire and makes polite small talk about the weather and Rosings before speaking
   • Correct answer: He inquires hurriedly after her health, sits briefly, then gets up and walks about the room in agitation
   • He stands at the door and delivers his proposal immediately without sitting down or pacing at all

   "In an hurried manner he immediately began an inquiry after her health... He sat down for a few moments, and then getting up, walked about the room."

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5. 5

   Question 5. What are Darcy's exact opening words in his proposal to Elizabeth?

   • "I can bear it no longer. You have captivated me entirely, and I wish to ask for your hand in marriage"
   • Correct answer: "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you"
   • "Miss Bennet, I have fought against this attachment for many months, but I find I must confess my deepest regard for you"
   • "You must know that I have come to declare my feelings, which have grown beyond my control despite everything"

   Darcy's famous declaration begins: "In vain I have struggled. It will not do. My feelings will not be repressed. You must allow me to tell you how ardently I admire and love you."

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6. 6

   Question 6. What is the main flaw in Darcy's proposal besides his feelings of love?

   • He speaks of Wickham with contempt and demands that she give up all acquaintance with him before they marry
   • He insists the match must wait for Lady Catherine's approval, since she has long destined him for her daughter, Miss de Bourgh
   • Correct answer: He dwells on her inferiority, the degradation of the match, and family obstacles, being as eloquent about pride as tenderness
   • He boasts of separating Bingley from Jane and expects Elizabeth to admire the care he has taken of his friend

   "There were feelings besides those of the heart to be detailed; and he was not more eloquent on the subject of tenderness than of pride. His sense of her inferiority -- of its being a degradation -- of the family obstacles which had always opposed to inclination, were dwelt on."

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7. 7

   Question 7. How does Darcy appear while awaiting Elizabeth's answer to his proposal?

   • He stands rigidly by the door as if prepared to leave immediately should her answer prove unfavorable to him
   • He looks anxious and uncertain, plainly expecting a refusal and already ashamed of having spoken so openly of his feelings
   • He kneels before her with trembling hands, showing genuine vulnerability and emotional uncertainty about her reply
   • Correct answer: He speaks of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expresses real security -- he has no doubt of acceptance

   "He spoke of apprehension and anxiety, but his countenance expressed real security. Such a circumstance could only exasperate farther."

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8. 8

   Question 8. Which accusation does Elizabeth make first in refusing Darcy's proposal?

   • Correct answer: That his insulting manner of proposing -- loving her against his will and reason -- excuses any incivility on her part
   • That he has been the means of ruining, perhaps for ever, the happiness of her most beloved sister by dividing Jane from Bingley
   • That his general arrogance at the Meryton assembly made an unfavorable impression from their very first meeting
   • That his treatment of Mr. Wickham has been cruel and unjust, depriving Wickham of his rightful inheritance

   Elizabeth first addresses his insulting manner: "Was not this some excuse for incivility, if I was uncivil?" before moving to Jane and Bingley, and then to Wickham.

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9. 9

   Question 9. How does Darcy respond to Elizabeth's accusation about separating Jane and Bingley?

   • He apologizes profusely and promises to write to Bingley immediately to correct his interference in the relationship
   • He blames Caroline Bingley entirely for the separation and claims he merely went along with her existing schemes
   • He denies any involvement and insists that Bingley chose to leave Netherfield of his own free will entirely
   • Correct answer: He admits doing everything in his power to separate them, says he rejoices in his success, and was kinder to Bingley than himself

   "I have no wish of denying that I did everything in my power to separate my friend from your sister, or that I rejoice in my success. Towards him I have been kinder than towards myself."

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10. 10

    Question 10. What does Darcy say about disguise and concealment during the argument?

    • He accuses Elizabeth of professing opinions that are not her own, and disguising her true feelings behind her wit
    • Correct answer: He declares that "disguise of every sort is my abhorrence" and that he was not ashamed of his honest feelings
    • He confesses that he has been disguising his love for months and begs her to forgive his prolonged deception
    • He admits that he should have been more honest about his feelings from the beginning of their acquaintance

    "Disguise of every sort is my abhorrence. Nor am I ashamed of the feelings I related. They were natural and just. Could you expect me to rejoice in the inferiority of your connections?"

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11. 11

    Question 11. What does Elizabeth say that visibly startles Darcy during the argument?

    • Correct answer: That he could not have made the offer of his hand in any possible way that would have tempted her to accept
    • That she intends to tell Lady Catherine about his ungentlemanly behavior and his insulting proposal that evening
    • That Mr. Wickham has already proposed to her and she is seriously considering accepting his offer of marriage
    • That she has evidence from Colonel Fitzwilliam proving Darcy conspired to ruin Wickham's military career deliberately

    "You could not have made the offer of your hand in any possible way that would have tempted me to accept it." Austen notes: "Again his astonishment was obvious."

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12. 12

    Question 12. What is Elizabeth's most devastating line in the rejection scene?

    • That she could never love a man who takes pleasure in the misery of others and shows no remorse for his actions
    • That she pities him for being so blinded by his own wealth and station that he cannot see his glaring personal faults
    • Correct answer: That from the first moment of their acquaintance, his arrogance formed the groundwork of a dislike, and he was the last man she could marry
    • That she would rather live in poverty her whole life than accept the hand of a man who despises her entire family

    "From the very beginning... your manners, impressing me with the fullest belief of your arrogance, your conceit, and your selfish disdain of the feelings of others, were such as to form the groundwork of disapprobation... you were the last man in the world whom I could ever be prevailed on to marry."

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13. 13

    Question 13. What are Darcy's final words before leaving the Parsonage?

    • Correct answer: "You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been"
    • "I see now that I was mistaken in you entirely, and I wish you joy of whatever future happiness you may find"
    • "Very well, Miss Bennet. I shall trouble you no further with my unwanted attentions and unwelcome declarations of regard"
    • "Forgive me, Elizabeth. I see that my pride has blinded me, and I shall endeavor to become worthy of your esteem"

    "You have said quite enough, madam. I perfectly comprehend your feelings, and have now only to be ashamed of what my own have been. Forgive me for having taken up so much of your time, and accept my best wishes for your health and happiness."

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14. 14

    Question 14. What does Elizabeth do immediately after Darcy leaves the house?

    • She calls for Charlotte and relates the entire proposal, seeking her friend's advice and comfort immediately
    • Correct answer: From actual weakness she sits down and cries for half an hour, overwhelmed by the tumult of her mind
    • She paces the room in fury, rehearsing all the arguments she wishes she had made during the confrontation
    • She runs to the window to watch him walk away and then writes a full account of the scene to Jane

    "The tumult of her mind, was now painfully great. She knew not how to support herself, and from actual weakness sat down and cried for half-an-hour."

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15. 15

    Question 15. What does Elizabeth find "gratifying" despite her anger after the proposal?

    • That Colonel Fitzwilliam's story that day had prepared her, so that Darcy's declaration did not catch her off guard at all
    • That Charlotte would finally understand why Elizabeth had always refused to see any good qualities in Mr. Darcy
    • That she was able to articulate her grievances so clearly and leave Darcy with no possible response to her charges
    • Correct answer: That she had inspired unconsciously so strong an affection that he proposed despite all his objections to the match

    "It was gratifying to have inspired unconsciously so strong an affection. But his pride, his abominable pride -- his shameless avowal of what he had done with respect to Jane... soon overcame the pity which the consideration of his attachment had for a moment excited."

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