Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 36 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. What does Elizabeth expect the letter from Darcy to contain?

   • A renewed offer of marriage and more romantic declarations
   • An angry denunciation of her character and judgment
   • Correct answer: She forms no expectation at all of its contents
   • An apology for his behavior at the Netherfield ball

   Austen writes that "if Elizabeth, when Mr. Darcy gave her the letter, did not expect it to contain a renewal of his offers, she had formed no expectation at all of its contents."

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2. 2

   Question 2. How does Elizabeth initially describe Darcy's tone in the letter?

   • Cold and legalistic, like a business correspondence
   • Warm and affectionate, revealing hidden vulnerability
   • Apologetic and self-deprecating, seeking her forgiveness
   • Correct answer: Not penitent but haughty, full of pride and insolence

   "He expressed no regret for what he had done which satisfied her; his style was not penitent, but haughty. It was all pride and insolence."

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3. 3

   Question 3. What is Elizabeth's first reaction to Darcy's account of Wickham?

   • She calmly weighs the evidence before forming a conclusion
   • Correct answer: She exclaims "This must be false!" and puts the letter away
   • She laughs at the absurdity of Darcy's claims about Wickham
   • She immediately believes every word and is angry at Wickham

   Elizabeth's feelings were "acutely painful" and she wished to discredit the account entirely, "repeatedly exclaiming, 'This must be false! This cannot be! This must be the grossest falsehood!'"

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4. 4

   Question 4. What sum did Wickham receive in lieu of the church living, according to Darcy?

   • Correct answer: Three thousand pounds, which he accepted voluntarily
   • Five thousand pounds, plus an annual allowance from the estate
   • No money at all, which is why Wickham is resentful toward Darcy
   • One thousand pounds, which he spent within a year on gambling

   Darcy's letter reveals that Wickham resigned "all pretensions to the living" and received "in lieu so considerable a sum as three thousand pounds."

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5. 5

   Question 5. What inconsistency in Wickham's conduct does Elizabeth recall regarding the Netherfield ball?

   • He claimed to admire Jane but flirted with other women at the ball
   • He promised to attend with Elizabeth but escorted Miss King instead
   • Correct answer: He boasted of not fearing Darcy, yet avoided the ball the next week
   • He said he never attended balls but was seen dancing at Netherfield

   Elizabeth remembers that Wickham "had boasted of having no fear of seeing Mr. Darcy" but then "had avoided the Netherfield ball the very next week."

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6. 6

   Question 6. Who does Darcy refer Elizabeth to for confirmation of Wickham's designs on Georgiana?

   • Miss Darcy herself, who confessed the whole Ramsgate plan to him
   • Mrs. Reynolds, the longtime housekeeper at Pemberley estate
   • Mr. Bingley, his closest friend and confidant in all matters
   • Correct answer: Colonel Fitzwilliam, his cousin who is involved in his affairs

   "At last she was referred for the truth of every particular to Colonel Fitzwilliam himself -- from whom she had previously received the information of his near concern in all his cousin's affairs."

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7. 7

   Question 7. What does Elizabeth realize about how she originally judged Wickham's character?

   • She judged him based on reliable testimony from trusted friends
   • Correct answer: She judged him on surface qualities like countenance, voice, and manner
   • She judged him after carefully investigating his claims about Darcy
   • She judged him on the trust and kindness the late Mr. Darcy had shown him

   "His countenance, voice, and manner had established him at once in the possession of every virtue." Elizabeth realizes she relied entirely on charm, not evidence.

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8. 8

   Question 8. What does Elizabeth cry out during her moment of self-recognition?

   • Correct answer: "How despicably I have acted! I, who have prided myself on my discernment!"
   • "I have wronged Mr. Darcy beyond all measure and can never make amends!"
   • "How could I have been so foolish as to trust a stranger over a gentleman!"
   • "I shall never trust my own judgment again after being so deceived!"

   Elizabeth's exact words are: "How despicably I have acted! I, who have prided myself on my discernment! I, who have valued myself on my abilities!"

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9. 9

   Question 9. According to Elizabeth, what has been her "folly" -- love or vanity?

   • Correct answer: Vanity, because she was pleased by flattery and offended by neglect
   • Ambition, because she wanted to marry above her social station
   • Jealousy, because she envied Jane's beauty and romantic prospects
   • Love, because she fell too quickly for Wickham's romantic attentions

   "But vanity, not love, has been my folly. Pleased with the preference of one, and offended by the neglect of the other, on the very beginning of our acquaintance, I have courted prepossession and ignorance."

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10. 10

    Question 10. What does Elizabeth acknowledge about Jane's demeanor after rereading Darcy's explanation?

    • Jane openly displayed her affection for Bingley to everyone present
    • Correct answer: Jane's feelings, though fervent, were little displayed due to her composure
    • Jane had taken Charlotte's advice and shown more affection than she really felt
    • Jane's attachment to Bingley was obvious and Darcy was wrong to doubt it

    Elizabeth "felt that Jane's feelings, though fervent, were little displayed, and that there was a constant complacency in her air and manner not often united with great sensibility."

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11. 11

    Question 11. How does Elizabeth feel about Darcy's criticism of her family's behavior?

    • Amused, because she has always found her family's behavior entertaining
    • Indifferent, since she has never cared about social propriety
    • Furious and defensive, insisting her family behaved perfectly
    • Correct answer: Deeply ashamed, feeling the justice of his charge too forcibly for denial

    "Her sense of shame was severe. The justice of the charge struck her too forcibly for denial, and the circumstances to which he particularly alluded as having passed at the Netherfield ball... could not have made a stronger impression on his mind than on hers."

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12. 12

    Question 12. How long does Elizabeth walk before returning home?

    • About thirty minutes, just long enough to read the letter once
    • Exactly one hour, pacing back and forth in the garden at Rosings
    • Correct answer: Two hours, giving way to every variety of thought and reconsidering events
    • The entire day, missing dinner and causing alarm among her companions

    "After wandering along the lane for two hours, giving way to every variety of thought -- re-considering events, determining probabilities, and reconciling herself... to a change so sudden and so important."

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13. 13

    Question 13. Who called on Elizabeth during her absence and how long did each stay?

    • Mr. Collins and Lady Catherine, who wished to discuss the morning's events
    • Only Darcy called, staying an hour to speak with Charlotte Collins
    • Correct answer: Both Darcy (briefly, to take leave) and Colonel Fitzwilliam (at least an hour)
    • Only Colonel Fitzwilliam, who left a note and departed immediately

    "Mr. Darcy, only for a few minutes, to take leave -- but that Colonel Fitzwilliam had been sitting with them at least an hour, hoping for her return."

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14. 14

    Question 14. How does Elizabeth feel about missing Colonel Fitzwilliam?

    • Disappointed, because she had grown fond of his company at Rosings
    • Embarrassed, because she had promised to be home for his visit
    • Deeply regretful, because she wanted to verify Darcy's claims with him
    • Correct answer: She merely affects concern but really rejoices at missing him

    "Elizabeth could but just affect concern in missing him; she really rejoiced at it. Colonel Fitzwilliam was no longer an object; she could think only of her letter."

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15. 15

    Question 15. Which of the following best describes the central theme of Chapter 36?

    • Correct answer: The painful process of self-knowledge and overcoming personal prejudice
    • The power of money to corrupt a young man who has no fortune of his own
    • The conflict between duty to family and personal romantic desires
    • The importance of wealth and social status in Regency-era marriages

    Chapter 36 is the novel's turning point, showing Elizabeth confronting her own prejudices and gaining painful self-awareness. Her declaration "Till this moment I never knew myself" encapsulates the chapter's theme of self-knowledge.

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