Pride and Prejudice is a classic piece of literature written by Jane Austen. The novel explores love, English society, social class, and attitudes toward marriage. There are numerous activities that engage and pique students’ interest in the novel. The activities below analyze literary devices, key quotes, and character development. The lessons and classroom activities bring Pride and Prejudice to life and help students understand how Austen became a feminist icon. Here are 19 Pride and Prejudice Lessons that you’re sure to love!
1. Love and Marriage
This lesson focuses on how Jane Austen’s characterization of love and marriage is developed in Pride and Prejudice. Students will review literary criticism on the topic and apply the discussion to 19th-century ideals, as well as ideals of today.
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2. Explore Jane Austen’s Home
Explore Jane Austen’s home using online resources and virtual tours. Students can take virtual tours of Jane Austen’s home, see what visitors would look like in the 19th century, and view artwork of the time.
Learn More: Jane Austen’s House
3. Romantic Hero
This lesson plan focuses on the role of the romantic hero in Pride and Prejudice. Students will discuss why Elizabeth Bennet chooses Wickham at this point in the novel over Darcy. Students will discuss the role of love, courtship, and marriage throughout the novel.
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4. Thought Tracking
This is a fun activity for students that reveals the character’s thoughts and opinions during important scenes from the novel. Students will track Elizabeth’s and Darcy’s inner thoughts by making inferences from the novel’s subtext.
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5. House Names
All of the houses in Pride and Prejudice have names. For this activity, students will bring in a picture of their own home, and then they can come up with an appropriate name for the house. They have to explain why they chose the name and how the name fits their home.
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6. Hold a Ball
In this fun class activity, the students will participate in a 19th-century-style ball. Students will get dressed up and learn some of the dances of the time. It’s even more fun if students bring food and drinks to have during the ball.
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7. Anticipation Guide
Anticipation guides are a great resource to help students begin forming opinions regarding major themes in literature. Students will read several statements related to themes and concepts in Pride and Prejudice and will then decide if they agree or disagree with each statement.
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8. Marrying Mr. Darcy
This is a fun card game that pairs well with the novel. The goal of the game is, of course, to marry Mr. Darcy. The players assume the position of women from the novel and try to gain the attention of suitors. By the end of the game, players will know who wins Mr. Darcy’s hand.
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9. Date, Mate, Relate, or Hate
This is a characterization resource for Pride and Prejudice. Students decide if suitors from the novel are worthy of dating, mating, relating to, or hate. Students then have to support their reasoning with textual evidence.
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10. Read an Adaptation
There are many contemporary young adult novels that are actually adaptations of Pride and Prejudice. Students can read an adaptation on their own, or in small groups, before or after reading Austen’s novel. Then, students can compare the historical context of the two pieces of literature.
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11. Movie Study
Kids love watching movie renditions of novels. Students can watch the movie with Colin Firth and then complete the movie study. There are compare/contrast organizers, discussion questions, and theme studies for them to indulge in.
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12. Dialectical Journal
Journaling while reading difficult novels is a strategy that helps students engage with the text and think critically about the themes and author’s intent of novels. In this dialectical journal assignment, students will pick quotes, words, and passages to analyze.
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13. Podcasts
There are many podcasts that students can listen to and teachers can implement alongside reading Pride and Prejudice. In these podcasts, speakers explore the Regency Era, the role of women in the novel, social class, social standing, and 19th-century English society.
Learn More: Jane Austen’s World
14. Coloring Page
For younger readers or viewers, this coloring page is a perfect activity. Students will color an image of Jane Austen; decorating her dress in an appropriate style for the time. This is a quick and easy activity that kids will love.
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15. I Drew It Then I Knew It
These lessons are specifically designed to pair with Jane Austen’s texts, including Pride and Prejudice. Students will learn how to draw images from the novel while also practicing art skills to bring the literature to life.
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16. Host a Regency Tea
This is a fun activity to pair with your novel study. Students can prepare and engage in a Regency-style tea while they discuss the novel with their peers. Kids will learn from their peers and use the text to answer questions while drinking tea.
Learn More: Chicago Review Press
17. Make a Top Hat
This is a fun art project that students can complete before reading Pride and Prejudice. Students will make their own top hats that they can wear while they read and study the text. Students can also wear their top hats to a ball!
Learn More: Chicago Review Press
18. Trivia Game
This trivia game is perfect to review Jane Austen’s themes, historical context, and social motifs present in Pride and Prejudice. Students answer questions about Austen’s life and novels. Students can play this game as a class or in small groups to prepare for a test or to begin a novel study unit.
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19. Good Society
This is a role-playing game where students can assume the roles of the characters from Pride and Prejudice. Students will get a first-hand look at life during the Regency Era. There are expansions to the game, as well as great story-telling cards.
Learn More: Storybrewers Roleplaying
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