This GCSE English Literature quiz takes a look at dialogue in Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Direct speech in literature is referred to as “dialogue”, although the technical meaning of the term is a conversation between at least two people. A significant aspect of characterisation, dialogue provides much crucial information about the characters. By paying close attention to the style and content of a person’s speech, you will be able to create a mental portrait of the character. Characters in Pride and Prejudice are sharply distinguished from one another by the style and content of their dialogue.
One way to approach dialogue in a work of fiction is to ask yourself how a character’s speech differs from that of the other characters. Do you see evidence of a different vocabulary or the use of a different register?
[readmore]Do characters change their manner of speaking over time, or in different situations? Do any characters predictably vary their speech according to who is being addressed?
Much of the most important factual information in Pride and Prejudice is conveyed through the very significant letters. Dialogue, which comprises most of the novel, conveys the social relationships between characters, their attitudes to one another, and their attempts to negotiate these relationships.
When preparing for a literature exam, it is a very good idea to memorise dialogue. For each character, make a list of the most significant instances of dialogue, aiming to draw links between these examples and the themes important in the text.
The quiz below asks you to remember which character speaks the words. Think a bit about the significance of the dialogue before you answer each question. What type of character would speak those words? Can you conceive of another character possibly uttering similar lines? What does that information tell you about the novel and how those characters might be related thematically.
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Mrs Bennet's only wish is in reality an extravagant one. On the other hand, her desire is not focussed on her own gain, but on financial stability for her daughters
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Elizabeth's is the voice of reason; her friend Charlotte, by contrast, takes a more pragmatic approach to marriage, suggesting that a woman must play a role in encouraging a man's interest even in the absence of any romantic feelings for him
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Mr Bennet expresses his genuine opinions under the guise of humour
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Mr Bingley has an accommodating, cheerful nature which can lead him into being easily manipulated by others
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Miss Bingley aims to provoke Mr Darcy's contempt for Mrs Bennett's crass behaviour and lax approach to motherhood
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Mr Wickham gains Elizabeth's trust by feeding her dislike of Mr Darcy, presenting himself as a good man who has been treated unfairly
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Mr Collins is extraordinarily sure of himself and does not take the trouble to observe and learn from others. He is convinced that he knows everything he needs to know about Elizabeth and that her consent to his proposal of marriage is a mere formality
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Mr Darcy is utterly shocked by Elizabeth's cold and fulsome explanation for her refusal to marry him
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Lydia has no understanding of the shock and distress she has caused her family by running away with Mr Wickham. She has entirely absorbed her mother's philosophy and is proud to be the first sister to be married
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Lady Catherine is used to people such as Mr Collins who fawn over her, rather than people who have no interest in pleasing her
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