Minor Characters in Austen's" Pride and Prejudice" Quiz

Answer: reading books

Mary, a bit of an intellectual snob, says she would rather read books than be involved in Lydia's excited gossip. In turn, Lydia ignores her.

Answer: Colonel Fitzwilliam

This is a cute scene- Elizabeth is playing the piano while she and Colonel Fitzwilliam playfully tease Mr. Darcy about his behavior at the ball. Humor often masks real feelings, and Elizabeth is chiding Darcy for his haughtiness at the ball.

Answer: Mr. Phillips

Mr. Phillips is married to Mrs. Bennet's sister. He hosts a party filled with officers, his nieces (including Elizabeth) and Mr. Collins. This is the party where Mr. Collins tries his hand at games of chance, including "lottery".

Answer: a mother who can't keep quiet

Mrs. Bennet is certainly a source of embarrassment for her daughters and her husband. Members of the aristocracy, like Miss Bingley, view her lack of restraint as a huge character flaw.

Answer: degree of education

Only the unlikable Lady Catherine puts any emphasis on education, and she feels that all proper young ladies should have a governess. In fact, she is appalled to hear that the Bennet girls do not have one. But most of the characters put the other three qualities far ahead of education in judging one another.

Answer: amiable

The word amiable is used quite often to describe characters in the book. It appears that the characters in the novel consider amiability to be the most important character trait. Wealth, of course, is very important to Mrs. Bennet, but she talks in more concrete terms of how many pounds her daughters' suitors have rather than them being wealthy.

Answer: Mr. Denny

Austen says very little about Mr. Denny, except that he is Wickham's friend. Soon, Elizabeth is incensed to hear Wickham's tale of his "abominable" treatment by Mr. Darcy.

Answer: Sir William Lucas' son

Young Lucas is not given a first name, but he is very enthusiastic about the amount of money that Darcy has.

Answer: he was illiterate

Apparently, Mr. Collins had a "miserable" childhood at the hands of his illiterate father. No wonder Mr. Collins latched onto the security and wealth of Lady Catherine.

Answer: Elizabeth's aunt and uncle, the Gardiners

The novel concludes with warm comments about the Gardiners, who helped to bring Elizabeth and Darcy together, and who have qualities that she greatly esteems. In fact, the Gardiners, along with Mr. Bennet and Jane Bennet, are Elizabeth's favorite relatives.