Eduqas GCSE English Literature
Eduqas GCSE English Literature Pride and Prejudice Exam Questions
Free Eduqas GCSE English Literature practice questions for Pride and Prejudice. Covers Austen's novel, Elizabeth and Darcy, the Bennet family, marriage, money, class, reputation and Regency context.
Pride and Prejudice practice questions
1 pack of exam-style practice questions for Pride and Prejudice. Plan and write as many answers as you can under timed conditions, then compare them with the guidance on this page and your notes.
About Eduqas GCSE English Literature Pride and Prejudice
Pride and Prejudice is a set text in Component 2, Section B (19th-century prose) of the Eduqas GCSE in English Literature. Jane Austen's 1813 novel follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr Darcy as each overcomes pride and prejudice, set against the marriages of Elizabeth's sisters and friends. You answer one 40-mark question that begins with a printed extract and asks you to write about the whole novel. The section assesses AO1, AO2 and AO3, so context counts here alongside analysis of the writer's methods. Extracts are often dialogue scenes, so analyse speech, irony and narrative comment closely.
Key themes, characters and context
- Elizabeth Lively and quick to judge, Elizabeth misreads both Darcy and Wickham. Darcy's letter makes her realise 'Till this moment I never knew myself'.
- Darcy Proud and reserved at first, Darcy insults Elizabeth at the Meryton ball, proposes arrogantly, then shows his true character at Pemberley and by saving Lydia's reputation.
- Marriage and money The entail means the Bennet sisters must marry well. Charlotte Lucas marries Mr Collins for security, while Lydia's elopement threatens the whole family.
- Irony and narrative voice Austen's ironic narrator, starting with 'It is a truth universally acknowledged', mocks society's values. Free indirect discourse shows Elizabeth's thoughts.
- Context for AO3 Regency England's class system, women's dependence on marriage, the importance of reputation, and inheritance laws that favoured male heirs.
Common mistakes in Pride and Prejudice
- Retelling the love story. Use the extract closely, then select other moments that answer the question.
- Missing irony. Comment on how the narrator and characters say more than they mean.
- Adding context without linking it. Show how money and class shape a character's choice in the extract.
- Forgetting minor characters. Mr Collins, Lady Catherine and Charlotte often appear in questions about marriage and class.
Try three Pride and Prejudice practice questions
1. Using the extract as a starting point, write about how Austen presents Mr Darcy in the novel. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse Darcy's speech and manner in the extract; the Meryton ball; the first proposal; the letter; Pemberley; his help with Lydia; link to class and gentlemanly behaviour in the Regency period.
2. Using the extract as a starting point, write about how Austen presents attitudes to marriage. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse Mrs Bennet's ambitions; Charlotte and Mr Collins; Lydia and Wickham; Jane and Bingley; Elizabeth and Darcy; link to women's financial dependence.
3. Using the extract as a starting point, write about the importance of the Bennet family in Pride and Prejudice. (40 marks)
Show what a strong answer includes
A strong answer would analyse Mr Bennet's detachment and Mrs Bennet's anxiety; the sisters' contrasting characters; Lydia's scandal; how family behaviour affects Elizabeth's chances; link to reputation.
Pride and Prejudice FAQs
What does Eduqas GCSE English Literature Pride and Prejudice cover?
It covers Austen's novel as a 19th-century prose text: Elizabeth, Darcy and the Bennet family, themes of marriage, money, class and reputation, and Regency context.
Which component is Pride and Prejudice examined in?
It is in Component 2, Section B (19th-century prose). You answer one 40-mark question based on a printed extract and your knowledge of the whole novel.
How do I revise Pride and Prejudice for an extract question?
Practise analysing short dialogue passages, such as the proposals or Lady Catherine's visit, then link each to two other moments and one piece of context.
