Chapter 26 Practice Quiz — Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter 26
What does Mrs. Gardiner warn Elizabeth about at the start of Chapter 26?
She cautions Elizabeth against falling in love with Wickham, arguing that his lack of fortune makes any attachment imprudent despite his being "a most interesting young man."
How does Elizabeth promise to handle her feelings for Wickham?
She promises "not to be in a hurry" to believe herself his first object and says she will do her best, but cannot guarantee wisdom if truly tempted by affection.
What does Mrs. Gardiner suggest Elizabeth do to limit Wickham's visits?
She suggests Elizabeth should not remind her mother to invite Wickham so frequently, subtly reducing the opportunities for the attachment to deepen.
Why is the conversation between Elizabeth and Mrs. Gardiner called "a wonderful instance"?
Austen calls it "a wonderful instance of advice being given on such a point, without being resented" -- remarkable because such warnings about love typically provoke defensiveness.
What favor does Charlotte ask of Elizabeth before her wedding?
Charlotte asks Elizabeth to promise to visit her at Hunsford in Kent, and Elizabeth agrees, though she "foresaw little pleasure in the visit."
How does Mrs. Bennet react to Charlotte and Mr. Collins's approaching marriage?
She is grudgingly resigned, repeatedly saying in "an ill-natured tone" that she "wished they might be happy," reflecting her lingering resentment about the entail on Longbourn.
How does Elizabeth feel about her correspondence with Charlotte after the marriage?
She feels "all the comfort of intimacy was over" and continues writing "for the sake of what had been, rather than what was," finding Charlotte's cheerful letters to be diplomatically guarded.
How does Elizabeth describe Charlotte's letters from Hunsford?
She recognizes them as "Mr. Collins's picture of Hunsford and Rosings rationally softened" -- Charlotte praises everything but reveals nothing that could not be praised, leaving the real truth for Elizabeth's own visit.
How long does Jane wait in London before hearing from Caroline Bingley?
Jane waits a full week without either seeing or hearing from Caroline. She initially excuses it by supposing her last letter from Longbourn had been lost.
What does Caroline Bingley say about her brother when Jane visits?
She says Bingley is "so much engaged with Mr. Darcy that they scarcely ever saw him," effectively signaling that Bingley is being kept away from Jane.
What does Elizabeth conclude after reading Jane's account of her first visit to Caroline?
She concludes that "accident only could discover to Mr. Bingley her sister's being in town" -- Caroline is deliberately preventing Bingley from learning Jane is in London.
How does Caroline behave when she finally returns Jane's visit after four weeks?
Her stay is short, her manner altered, she gives only "a slight, formal apology," and says nothing about seeing Jane again -- making it impossible for Jane to deceive herself any longer.
What does Jane admit about Caroline Bingley in her letter to Elizabeth?
She confesses being "entirely deceived in Miss Bingley's regard" and acknowledges "a strong appearance of duplicity," though she still pities Caroline rather than condemning her, attributing the coldness to anxiety for her brother.
What does Caroline hint about Bingley's romantic interests?
She hints that Bingley is "really partial to Miss Darcy" and mentions he may never return to Netherfield, suggesting the Bingley-Jane connection is permanently severed.
Why does Wickham shift his attentions from Elizabeth to Miss King?
Miss King has recently inherited ten thousand pounds, which Austen calls "the most remarkable charm of the young lady." Wickham's pursuit of financial security leads him to abandon his courtship of Elizabeth.
How does Elizabeth describe her feelings about Wickham's defection to Mrs. Gardiner?
She writes with self-aware humor that she was never truly in love because she does not "detest his very name" or hate Miss King, and calls his decision "a wise and desirable measure for both."
What does Elizabeth mean when she says "Importance may sometimes be purchased too dearly"?
She means that being "distractedly in love" would make her a more interesting figure to her acquaintances, but the emotional cost of heartbreak is too high a price for social significance.
How do Kitty and Lydia react to Wickham's pursuit of Miss King?
They "take his defection much more to heart" than Elizabeth does. Elizabeth explains they are "young in the ways of the world, and not yet open to the mortifying conviction that handsome young men must have something to live on."