Tips for reading Pride and Prejudice (W/out using Sparknotes or cliffnotes etc.)?

Question

I have to read Pride and Prejudice for summer reading; and frankly it is boring and hard to pay attention to. I am an avid reader; but haven't had these problems ever. Many girls I know say they love it, (not to be sexist, but I think it appeals to them more) but I simply am having a hard time with it. Please help!

Answer 1

well, i'm an english teacher and would not normally recommend this ... pride and prejudice is actually one of my absolute favorite novels, but i do understand that it can get a bit cumbersome. anyway, there is an A&E (originally produced by BBC?) version of that book, and the film is superb. It is very long--maybe 6 hours? But it is very faithful to the book. Here's the thing, though: If you do watch it, you should take careful notes of names and places and relationships ... otherwise, it'll be very difficult to retain what you've watched. Maybe after you've watched it, you can also read it. But the elements from the book are adapted very, very well in this film. It stars Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle, and I believe it was produced in 1995. By the way, do not get cliffs notes or anything like that for a novel like this. It has too much going on to be summarized in such a concise way--you'll fail any exam for sure if you rely on a summary.

Answer 2

Pride And Prejudice Sparknotes

Answer 3

Try to think about it this way - Elizabeth is being tremendously brave - even revolutionary. When her father dies, she will get a few hundred pound AND THAT'S IT. She could easily end up on the streets as a prostitute because she will have no home (Mr Collins will inherit the house and property) and there's no way she can earn a living in that era because ladies could become governesses and that was all. And since she says somewhere she can't draw or play the piano very well, she couldn't even do that.

So, by refusing to marry except for love and to a man she can respect she is literally risking everything unto and including her life.

Answer 4

One thing you have to remember is that Jane Austen wrote literature that was a critique of the literature that was popular at the time. Everything is sentimental and greatly overdramatized. There's a lot of fainting and frivolity, but she was actually mocking these things. Women like it, because the central character generally challenges these perceptions. She is strong, likes to read or pursue some art form, she is clever, and she doesn't have an interest in rolling over and taking crap that the world says is her only lot in life. See Austen's writing as a challenge to the norm. It might be difficult to get through, but try to see a little humor in the drudgery!

Answer 5

The hardest part about reading a boring book is getting through the first few chapters when the plot and the action of the book hasn't started. My best advice for a book like that is to watch the movie first. It helps you get through the boring part, given the knowledge that more interesting things will happen later.

Answer 6

I had trouble reading this in high school as well, though later in college I learned to love it. The trick I use to read something like that is to read it outloud. It makes it easier to understand and you don't feel as sleepy. I also used to do this with Shakespeare plays.

Answer 7

I have this problem with Stephen King books, which is why I don't read them. All you can do is sit down and read. Try turning off the TV and the music so you can concentrate.

Answer 8

Its a good book but i understand, it does get monotonous. u find as if these ppl hav no better things to do other than hook up a rich man!! If you can then find dvds or something of the BBC made serial of the book. It is beautifully made and u will understand it better.

Answer 9

Try going to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pride_and_Prejudice or maybe watching the movie can help, but I wouldn't recommend it. The books always have more details than the movies.

Answer 10

endeavor to perserver