Comparing Early and Modern Games
1. Name the modern-day counterpart for each of the following
games:
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spillikins
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vingt-un
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draughts
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whist
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Battledore and Shuttlecock
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Fish
2. List as many contemporary games as you can think of in each of the following
categories:
card games, word games, party games, board games, games of manual dexterity,
yard games.
3. Look at this list and add the skills necessary to be successful at
each game. For example: poker requires risk-taking and bluffing skills;
scrabble requires a good vocabulary and spelling skills.
4. List three games (not video games) you enjoyed playing as a young
child, and three games you enjoy playing now. Are they the same? Why or
why not?
5. Do the adults in your family enjoy card games, word games such as
crossword puzzles or Scrabble, or active games like pool or ping pong?
What games do they play?
Thinking About Game Playing in the Novel
6. Do video games compare with any of the games in Pride and
Prejudice? Name three or four different types of video games? What kind
of game might appeal to Lydia Bennet? To Mr. Hurst? Why?
7. What skills are necessary to be successful at Vingt-un? Which characters
in Pride and Prejudice possess these skills?
8. Why is Quadrille an appropriate choice of game for Lady Catherine
de Bourgh?
9. What games would George Wickham be likely to choose to play? Why?
10. Which, if any, of the games played in Pride and Prejudice
do you think you might like to play? Why?
A Close Reading of Pride and Prejudice
(Page numbers refer to the Penguin Classics paperback edition,
1985 of Pride and Prejudice). Reread the following selections,
paying particular attention to the sections which detail game-playing.
Try to discover what the games reveal about the characters. Ask yourself,
why does the author have these characters playing this particular game?
Chapter 6 - Charlotte and Elizabeth discuss the growing affection
between Jane and Charles Bingley and their knowledge that "they both like
Vingt-un better than Commerce" (68-69).
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What are the modern names of these two games, and what characterizes each?
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Find descriptions of Jane and Charles and list their outstanding personality
traits.
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Give two reasons why Jane and Charles might prefer Vingt-un to Commerce?
Chapter 7 - Draughts are proposed as a distraction for Jane when
she is sick in bed with a bad cold. Draughts, or checkers, is a popular
game for all ages because it can be played at many levels.
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What other games might have been suitable to play with someone ill like
Jane?
Chapter 8 - Elizabeth declines the invitation to join Darcy, the
Hursts, and the Bingleys at loo "suspecting them to be playing high" (80-85).
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What is meant by "playing high"?
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What is the reaction to her refusal to join the card game?
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What does this reveal about Mr. Hurst?
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What does Mr. Hurst think about Elizabeth?
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What judgement does Caroline Bingley pass on Elizabeth because of her refusal?
Is this a fair remark? Does she use sarcasm to belittle Elizabeth?
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How does Charles Bingley react? Is his comment courteous or sarcastic?
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What is the main subject of conversation follows, and what does this conversation
reveal about Elizabeth's interests?
Chapter 10 - Another evening at Netherfield. Mr. Darcy is writing
a letter; Miss Bingley follows his progress closely. Mr. Hurst and Mr.
Bingley are playing Piquet; Mrs. Hurst is observing their game. Elizabeth
is doing needlework. (92-93).
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Why are only two people playing Piquet?
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Would you expect Mr. Hurst to be playing cards?
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If several people wanted to play cards, could they join in the game?
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Name two reasons for Mr. playing with Mr. Hurst? What does this tell the
reader about Bingley?
Chapter 14 - Mr. Collins is asked to read aloud to the family after
dinner, but after his reading is interrupted by Lydia's chatter, Mr. Collins
offers Mr. Bennet a game of backgammon.
-
Why would Mr. Collins suggest a game that only calls for two players, instead
of a card game that might involve more people?
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What does this say about Mr. Collins's opinion of Lydia?
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What else do we know about Mr. Collins's game skills from this conversation?
Chapter 15 - Elizabeth, Jane, Mary, Kitty, and Lydia walk to Meryton
to visit their aunt Philips, and meet Wickham in the street. Mrs. Philips
notices her nieces interest in the new officer and promises to invite the
officers and the Bennets for "a nice comfortable noisy game of lottery
tickets, and a little bit of hot supper afterwards" (117).
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Compare the entertainment chosen by three different families - Bingley/Hurst,
Phillips, and the deBourghs. Try to picture the atmosphere and noise level
of each scene.
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Can you make any associations between the kinds of games and the occupations
or social status of the players?
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Would you expect Lady Catherine to shout and cry out at Lottery Tickets?
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Would a thoughtful, methodical game like Whist suit Lydia's temperment?
Why or why not?
Chapter 16 - Mr. and Mrs. Phillips entertain the Meryton officers
and the Bennet girls for the evening. The card tables are brought out (119-127).
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Who plays Whist?
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Who plays Lottery Tickets?
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Which game does Wickham choose to play? Whose table does he join?
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Which game does Lydia choose?
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Does this game require the players' full attention?
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How does Collins fare at his game? Is his reaction surprising?
Chapter 19 - Collins proposes to Elizabeth. He makes a reference
to playing "pools at quadrille" with Lady Catherine (146-147).
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Quadrille is certainly Lady Catherine's game of choice. Why might she enjoy
this game?
Chapter 29 - The Collins and Elizabeth are invited to dinner with
Lady Catherine at Rosings. After dinner, the card tables were placed for
Quadrille and Cassino (195-201).
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Who selects the games that will be played?
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Who plays Quadrille?
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Who plays Cassino?
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Which table is more lively?
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Is this due to the nature of the game or the conversation?
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