In 1770, agriculturist Arthur Young published his diary of a six-month tour of the north of England,
which included a visit to the coalfields and ironworks of the Tyne.byArthur Young
An unidentified lady, painted by Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) in the 1790s. Lady Catherine argues her case from a position of authority and rights: she is Lizzie’s social superior, she is Darcy’s aunt, and her rules govern the discussion. Elizabeth does not allow her ladyship to dominate the high ground. She deftly manoeuvres her down onto a quicksand where social or family status gives no support, but Elizabeth can remain standing firmly on her own principles. Now it is Lady Catherine who must now justify herself before Elizabeth, and very quickly we realise that her case has no merit.
An unidentified lady, painted by Thomas Lawrence (1769-1830) in the 1790s. Lady Catherine argues her case from a position of authority and rights: she is Lizzie’s social superior, she is Darcy’s aunt, and her rules govern the discussion. Elizabeth does not allow her ladyship to dominate the high ground. She deftly manoeuvres her down onto a quicksand where social or family status gives no support, but Elizabeth can remain standing firmly on her own principles. Now it is Lady Catherine who must now justify herself before Elizabeth, and very quickly we realise that her case has no merit.
“It ought to be so; it must be so, while he retains the use of his reason. But your arts and allurements may, in a moment of infatuation, have made him forget what he owes to himself and to all his family. You may have drawn him in.”
“If I have, I shall be the last person to confess it.”
“Miss Bennet, do you know who I am? I have not been accustomed to such language as this. I am almost the nearest relation he has in the world, and am entitled to know all his dearest concerns.”
“But you are not entitled to know mine; nor will such behaviour as this, ever induce me to be explicit.”
“Let me be rightly understood. This match, to which you have the presumption to aspire, can never take place. No, never. Mr Darcy is engaged to my daughter. Now what have you to say?”
“Only this; that if he is so, you can have no reason to suppose he will make an offer to me.”
1. What is the author
aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that
strike you. How do they help the author communicate her
ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you?
How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939)
by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at
Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn,
Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University,
USA.
Précis
Lady Catherine now indicates Elizabeth may have bewitched Mr Darcy, and claims a right to intervene in her nephew’s affairs. But no kinship gives her ladyship a right over Elizabeth, comes the reply. Lady Catherine now declares that Darcy is engaged to her own daughter, but were that true, Elizabeth says, they would not be having the discussion.(58 / 60 words)
Lady Catherine now indicates Elizabeth may have bewitched Mr Darcy, and claims a right to intervene in her nephew’s affairs. But no kinship gives her ladyship a right over Elizabeth, comes the reply. Lady Catherine now declares that Darcy is engaged to her own daughter, but were that true, Elizabeth says, they would not be having the discussion.
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Variations:
1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words.2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words.3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, despite, if, must, since, until, whether, who.
Suggest answers to this question. See
if you can limit one answer to exactly
seven words.
In Lady Catherine’s opinion, why might Mr Darcy have made the foolish proposal?
Suggestion
Because Elizabeth had managed to bewitch him.
(7 words)
Variations:
1.expand your answer to exactly fourteen words.2.expand your answer further, to exactly twenty-one words.3.include one of the following words in your answer: if, but, despite, because, (al)though, unless.
JigsawsBased on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single
sentence, using different words as much as possible.
Do not be satisfied with the first answer you
think of; think of several, and choose the best.
He won’t propose to me. He is engaged to your daughter. So you say.
Variation:
Try rewriting your sentence so that it uses one or more of
these words:
1.Expect 2.If 3.True
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1Astonishment.Believe.Only.
2Marriage.Possess.Reason.
3Contradict.Forget.Ladyship.
Variations:1.include direct and indirect speech2.include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who3.use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
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