Introduction
The Bennet family’s near-neighbours, Mr Bingley and Mr Darcy, make an appearance at their first dance in Meryton, and public opinion upon them and their London relatives swings bewilderingly to and fro.
MR. Bingley was good-looking and gentlemanlike; he had a pleasant countenance, and easy, unaffected manners. His sisters were fine women, with an air of decided fashion.
His brother-in-law, Mr. Hurst, merely looked the gentleman; but his friend Mr. Darcy soon drew the attention of the room by his fine, tall person, handsome features, noble mien, and the report which was in general circulation within five minutes after his entrance, of his having ten thousand a year.*
The gentlemen pronounced him to be a fine figure of a man, the ladies declared he was much handsomer than Mr. Bingley, and he was looked at with great admiration for about half the evening, till his manners gave a disgust which turned the tide of his popularity; for he was discovered to be proud; to be above his company, and above being pleased; and not all his large estate in Derbyshire could then save him from having a most forbidding, disagreeable countenance, and being unworthy to be compared with his friend.
By Jane Austen (1775-1817)
That is, investments yielding £10,000 profit each year, equivalent to more than half a million pounds today in terms of purchasing power, and giving him the social status enjoyed today by someone with an annual income in the region of £10m. See Measuring Worth.
Questions for Critics
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
After two handsome and rich gentleman took Netherfield Park, their neighbours were eager to meet them, and their curiosity was soon satisfied at a ball in Meryton. At first, Mr Darcy was voted the handsomer of the two, but his manner proved so haughty that before the evening was over his friend, Mr Bingley, was declared quite the better-looking. (59 / 60 words)
After two handsome and rich gentleman took Netherfield Park, their neighbours were eager to meet them, and their curiosity was soon satisfied at a ball in Meryton. At first, Mr Darcy was voted the handsomer of the two, but his manner proved so haughty that before the evening was over his friend, Mr Bingley, was declared quite the better-looking.
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, although, because, despite, may, ought, since, unless.
Archive
Word Games
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
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.
1 Admiration. Entrance. Minute.
2 All. Lady. Till.
3 Compare. Fashion. Not.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Opposites Find in Think and Speak
Suggest words or phrases that seem opposite in meaning to each of the words below. We have suggested some possible answers; see if you can find any others.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Variations: 1.instead of opposites, suggest words of similar meaning (synonyms). 2.use a word and its opposite in the same sentence. 3.suggest any 5 opposites formed by adding in-.
Homophones Find in Think and Speak
In each group below, you will find words that sound the same, but differ in spelling and also in meaning. Compose your own sentences to bring out the differences between them.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
Add Vowels Find in Think and Speak
Make words by adding vowels to each group of consonants below. You may add as many vowels as you like before, between or after the consonants, but you may not add any consonants or change the order of those you have been given. See if you can beat our target of common words.
brdd (5+2)
bearded. boarded. braided. breaded. brooded.
abraded. birdied.
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