Pride and Prejudice, Chapter 56 quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. Who arrives unexpectedly at Longbourn at the beginning of Chapter 56?

   • Mr. and Mrs. Collins
   • Correct answer: Lady Catherine de Bourgh
   • Miss Caroline Bingley
   • Sir William and Lady Lucas

   A grand chaise and four arrives carrying Lady Catherine de Bourgh, to the astonishment of the Bennet household.

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2. 2

   Question 2. What do Bingley and Jane do when the unexpected visitor arrives?

   • Correct answer: They walk away into the shrubbery
   • They hide upstairs in the dressing room
   • They drive off in Bingley's carriage
   • They go out to meet her at the door

   Bingley "instantly prevailed on Miss Bennet to avoid the confinement of such an intrusion, and walk away with him into the shrubbery."

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3. 3

   Question 3. What alarming report has Lady Catherine received?

   • That Jane has broken off her engagement to Bingley
   • That Mr. Collins plans to leave his position
   • That Elizabeth has eloped with Wickham
   • Correct answer: That Elizabeth will soon be engaged to Mr. Darcy

   Lady Catherine says she heard that "Miss Elizabeth Bennet, would, in all likelihood, be soon afterwards united to my nephew, my own nephew, Mr. Darcy."

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4. 4

   Question 4. Who does Lady Catherine say Mr. Darcy is engaged to marry?

   • Miss Caroline Bingley
   • Miss Elizabeth Bennet
   • Correct answer: Her daughter, Miss de Bourgh
   • Her niece, Georgiana Darcy

   Lady Catherine claims "Mr. Darcy is engaged to my daughter" and that they have been intended for each other since infancy.

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5. 5

   Question 5. What does Elizabeth say when Lady Catherine asks if she is engaged to Darcy?

   • Correct answer: "I am not"
   • "That is none of your concern"
   • "I refuse to answer"
   • "Yes, I am"

   Elizabeth truthfully states "I am not" engaged to Darcy, but crucially refuses to promise she never will be.

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6. 6

   Question 6. Which of these events actually happened in this chapter?

   • Lady Catherine compliments the Bennet estate and its grounds during her visit.

     Didn't happen

     Lady Catherine is critical of the estate, remarking "You have a very small park here" and calling the garden only "a prettyish kind of a little wilderness."

   • Elizabeth promises Lady Catherine that she will never accept an offer of marriage from Mr. Darcy.

     Didn't happen

     Elizabeth firmly refuses to make any such promise, saying "I will make no promise of the kind" and "I am only resolved to act in that manner, which will, in my own opinion, constitute my happiness."

   • Lady Catherine mentions Lydia's elopement with Wickham during the confrontation.

     Happened

     Lady Catherine references "your youngest sister's infamous elopement" and asks "Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted?"

   • Elizabeth tells her mother the true reason for Lady Catherine's visit.

     Didn't happen

     Elizabeth "was forced to give into a little falsehood" because revealing the substance of the conversation about a possible engagement to Darcy was impossible.

   • Lady Catherine accepts refreshments from Mrs. Bennet before speaking with Elizabeth.

     Didn't happen

     Lady Catherine "very resolutely, and not very politely, declined eating any thing" before requesting the private walk with Elizabeth.

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7. 7

   Question 7. What does the word "brooking" mean in the sentence: "I have not been in the habit of brooking disappointment"?

   • Causing
   • Correct answer: Tolerating
   • Celebrating
   • Discussing

   To brook means to tolerate or endure something, especially something unpleasant. Lady Catherine is saying she is not accustomed to putting up with disappointment.

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8. 8

   Question 8. In the phrase "The upstart pretensions of a young woman without family," what does "upstart" mean?

   • Startled and suddenly alarmed
   • Of an old family, long known and respected
   • Energetic, lively, and eager to begin
   • Correct answer: Newly risen in status and presumptuous

   An upstart is someone who has risen to a higher position and is considered to not deserve it. Lady Catherine uses the word to demean Elizabeth's social aspirations.

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9. 9

   Question 9. How does Elizabeth assert her social equality with Darcy?

   • She reminds Lady Catherine that Darcy has already proposed to her once
   • She claims her family's fortune is equal to his own
   • Correct answer: She says they are both of the gentry: "He is a gentleman; I am a gentleman's daughter"
   • She points to her uncle Gardiner's wealth and good name in town

   Elizabeth's famous line appeals to their shared status as members of the gentry, arguing that fundamental social standing matters more than differences in wealth or titled connections.

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10. 10

    Question 10. What is the dramatic irony of Lady Catherine's confrontation with Elizabeth?

    • Mrs. Bennet secretly knows the real reason for her ladyship's visit
    • Elizabeth has already secretly accepted Darcy's second proposal
    • Correct answer: Lady Catherine's visit will actually encourage Darcy to propose again
    • Lady Catherine's visit will finally persuade Elizabeth to give Darcy up

    The irony is that Lady Catherine's attempt to prevent the match actually hastens it—when she reports Elizabeth's refusal to deny a possible engagement, it gives Darcy hope and courage to propose again.

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