Pride and Prejudice: book club questions by chapter

🦉 Pride and Prejudice · meeting 1 of 3

Read: Part One, “First Impressions”; Part Two, “Charming Strangers” (pages 1–6, about 8 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 6, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. Why was Mrs. Bennet so eager for her daughters to marry well?
   The story's answer: Their house would go to a male cousin when Mr. Bennet died
2. What did Mr. Darcy say about Elizabeth at the first ball?
   The story's answer: That she was tolerable, but not handsome enough to tempt him
3. Who have we met so far, and what does each of them want?
   Listen for: Make a list together on the board; keep it for next time and add to it.
4. The part we just read is called "Charming Strangers". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Pride and Prejudice · meeting 2 of 3

Read: Part Three, “The Letter” (pages 7–9, about 4 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 9, and don't read on: the next part is for next time.

1. What did Darcy's letter reveal about Mr. Wickham?
   The story's answer: That he had wasted his money and tried to elope with Darcy's young sister
2. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
3. The part we just read is called "The Letter". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
4. Stop here. What do you think will happen next? Write or draw one guess to check next time.
   Listen for: Keep the guesses in an envelope. Don't say whether a guess is right: the next part will.

🦉 Pride and Prejudice · meeting 3 of 3

Read: Part Four, “Pemberley” (pages 10–13, about 5 minutes aloud).
Stop at the end of page 13, the end of the story.

1. Why did Lady Catherine's visit give Darcy hope?
   The story's answer: Elizabeth refused to promise she would never marry him
2. What does the title suggest that both Elizabeth and Darcy had to learn?
   The story's answer: That they had each judged too quickly, out of pride and prejudice
3. Look back at last time's guesses. Which came true, and what surprised you?
   Listen for: Read the guesses out. Nobody was wrong: a guess that missed often shows what the author wanted us to expect.
4. The part we just read is called "Pemberley". Why do you think it has that name?
   Listen for: Any answer that points to a moment in the part is a good one; ask for the page.
5. Now that you know the ending, was it the ending you expected?
   Listen for: Ask what in the earlier parts pointed to it, or pointed the other way.

About the whole story

1. Which character changed the most from the beginning to the end?
   Listen for: Ask what changed them.
2. Which scene would you put on the poster if this were a film?
   Listen for: A way to find the scene that mattered most to each reader.
3. Is there a line or a moment you will remember? Why that one?
   Listen for: Let readers find it in the book and read it aloud.
4. Who would you give this story to, and why them?
   Listen for: A reader who can name the right person has understood what the story is like.
5. If you could ask the person who first told this story one question, what would it be?
   Listen for: Collect the questions; some have answers on the story's page in the library.