Pride & Prejudice Volume One Objective: Students will use their knowledge of critically evaluate the novel, Pride and Prejudice, by using the Comedic Ladder in order to help them identify the correct type of aesthetic quality

High Comedy Before the weekend, you received a handout that highlighted literary comedy. The description included the following descriptions of high comedy: Comedy of Ideas: 1.  Characters argue about ideas like politics, religion, sex, & marriage. 2.  They use their wit & clever language to mock their opponent in an argument. 3.  This is a subtle way to satirize people and institutions like political   parties, governments, churches, war, marriage. Comedy of Manners: 4.  The plot focuses on amorous intrigues among the upper classes. 5.  The dialogue focuses on witty language.  Clever speech, insults and ‘put-downs’ are traded between characters. 6.  Society is often made up of cliques that are exclusive with certain groups as the in-crowd, other groups (the would-be-wits, desiring to be part of the witty crowd), and some( the witless) on the outside.

Your Task, but let me go first Take five minutes and think about Volume One. Pick one of the six categories of high comedy, and write either a summary from the scene you have in mind or a quote that fits with that category. Let me show you how I want it done. “What say you Mary? For you are a young lady of deep reflection I know, and read great books, and make extracts.” Mary wished to say something very sensible, but knew not how.” (9) Through these lines the reader can see that Jane Austin is using the Comedy of Ideas by satirizing upper class ladies who have knowledge and learning but do not know how to use them in situations they have not been trained in. Modern women have a voice of their own and are expected to use it; Mary here can not.

Working with Others Go around the room and get 3 more quotes or examples that demonstrate one of the qualities of high comedy and write them down in your notes.

Name that comedic effect For each of the following quotes, categorize the element of high comedy: 1. “It is truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.”

2. Mr. Bingley’s sisters, “were handsome, had been educated in one of the first private seminaries in town, had a fortune of twenty thousand pounds, were in the habit of spending more than they ought, and of associating with people of rank; and were therefore in every respect entitled to think well of themselves, and meanly of others.”

Name that comedic effect “It is your turn to say something now, Mr. Darcy, - I talked about the dance, and you ought to make some kind of remark on the size of the room, or the number of couples.” He smiled, and assured her that whatever she wished him to say should be said. “Very well. – that reply will do for the present…”

4. “I am no longer surprised at your knowing only six accomplished women. I rather wonder now at your knowing any.” “Are you so severe upon your own sex, as to doubt the possibility of all this?” “I never saw such a woman… Mrs. Hurst and Miss Bingley both cried out against the unjustice of her implied doubt.”

Answers (Note: There can be several defendable responses to each) 3. Satire about ideas like marriage 6. Satire about cliques 2. Clever speech with insults and put downs or They use their wit to mock their opponent 1. Characters argue about ideas like politics, religion, sex, marriage, (the nature of “accomplished” people) 5. The dialogue focuses on witty language.  Clever speech, insults and ‘put-downs’ are traded between characters.