Inquiring readers, I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was fourteen years old. The novel was a Christmas gift from my parents. One of the first Christmas songs this Dutch girl learned in English was “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” a song that was popularized in an arrangement by Frederic Austin in 1909. We all know the tune, but do we know the words as Jane Austen wrote them? After singing the song, please stay to answer a few questions.–Enjoy & Merry Christmas! Vic
[Verse 1]
On the first day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
A HERO named Mister Darcy
[Verse 2]
On the second day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy
[Verse 3]
On the third day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy
[Verse 4]
On the fourth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy
[Verse 5]
On the fifth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 6]
On the sixth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 7]
On the seventh day of Christ
mas, Jane Austen sent to me
Seven days at Hunsford
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 8]
On the eighth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Eight charms of Wickham
Seven days at Hunsford
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 9]
On the ninth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Nine ladies dancing
Eight charms of Wickham
Seven days at Hunsford
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 10]
On the tenth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Lydia eloping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight charms of Wickham
Seven days at Hunsford
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 11]
On the eleventh day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
Lizzy’s eyes a’ opening
Lydia eloping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight charms of Wickham
Seven days at Hunsford
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
[Verse 12]
On the twelfth day of Christmas, Jane Austen sent to me
L C’s condescensions
Lizzy’s eyes a’ opening
Lydia eloping
Nine ladies dancing
Eight charms of Wickham
Seven days at Hunsford
Six accomplished women
FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!
Four Bingley dances,
Three various suitors,
Two wise Bennet girls, and
A HERO named Mister Darcy!
________________
Now, Gentle Readers, I shall pose a few questions. How do you respond to Pride and Prejudice? How are you disposed towards a few characters? (Your opinions are most welcome.) As you can see, I favor the 1995 Firth/Ehle film version of P&P! So, don’t be shy in sharing your thoughts.
- L C’s condescension: In your estimation, what is the most memorable Lady Catherine de Bourgh’s condescending statement?
- Lizzy’s eyes a’ opening: What events changed Elizabeth’s attitude towards Mr. Darcy? Which one stands out in your mind?
- Lydia eloping: How old was Lydia when she ran off with Mr. Wickham? What, in her naivete, did she hope her life would have been like with him, away from her family?
- Nine ladies dancing: Think of the ladies Austen mentioned in Pride and Prejudice. Which women would have most likely danced at the Netherfield Ball?
- Eight charms of Wickham: Can you name Mr. Wickham’s charms, be they true or false, as Austen described them?
- Seven days at Hunsford: How did Lizzy spend her days at Hunsford? What memorable scenes occurred during this time?
- Six accomplished women: Who first mentioned six accomplished women? How did the conversation come up and where?
- Please name all the five single girls and their primary characteristic (in your opinion).
- Four Bingley dances: This phrase refers to an event at the beginning of the novel.
- Three various suitors: Name all the suitors you can think of in the novel. Who had three? Who are they?
- Two wise Bennet girls: Who are they? How would you personally describe them?
- A HERO named Mister Darcy! Why are we so mesmerized by Austen’s most memorable hero? What are the characteristics that make him stand out to you?
After this C.E. Brock composite image of Pride and Prejudice, I’ve added my own observations to a few of the questions. Thank you for participating. May you have a lovely holiday season. Please love and take care of each other in your family, your neighbors, and your community.
Some answers and thoughts:
1.Lydia eloping: She was 15 years old when the story opened.
2.Nine ladies dancing: Which ladies would have most likely participated at the Netherfield Ball?
- Five Bennet sisters
- Charlotte Lucas & Maria Lucas
- Two Bingley sisters
- Any other married women?
3. Eight charms of Wickham: Can you name the charms that Mr. Wickham exhibited, be they true or false, as Austen presented them?
- He’s handsome
- He wears a uniform
- His manners are impeccable and make a great first impression
- He’s persuasive and knows how to please the ladies and their mothers
- His lies are sympathetic
- He’s a bad boy, which many of the opposite sex seem to like
- He reads people well and uses his charm to manipulate them
- He’s agreeable and seems to have ambitions, which he claims have been blocked
4. Seven days at Hunsford: How did Lizzy spend her days at Hunsford with Mr. and Mrs. Collins? What memorable scenes occurred during this time?
5. Six accomplished women: Who mentioned six accomplished women? How did the conversation come up and where? (Netherfield Park, Darcy after a conversation with Miss Bingley, and Elizabeth listening in.)
6. FIVE S.I.N.G.L.E GIRLS!: Please name them all in order and their primary characteristics (your opinion).
7. Four Bingley dances: This phrase refers to an event close at the beginning of the novel. (Answer: Jane danced two sets with Mr. Bingley at the Meryton Assembly Ball that consisted of four dances.)
8. Three varied suitors: Name all the suitors you can think of in the novel. Who had three? Who are they?
9. Two wise Bennet girls, Can you think of other ways to describe these sisters?
10. A HERO named Mister Darcy! Why are we so mesmerized by Austen’s most memorable hero? What are the characteristics that make him stand out to you?
Image attributions:
Photographs of Pride and Prejudice: 1995 A&E movie, a six-episode 1995 British television drama, adapted by Andrew Davies from Jane Austen’s novel, starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth.
Photograph of Jane and Lizzy Bennet via Jennifer Ehle blogspot.com, 2008.
C.E. Brock Public Domain images via Wikimedia Commons
Hugh Thomson Public Domain images via Wikimedia Commons
Jane Austen's World 
Obstinate headstrong girl
Trusting her with the letter, Pemberley, and finding out he paid to “fix” Lydia’s situation…
Being 15, she only had illusions of grandeur of what married life would be
All the single ladies
Wickham was a false charmer, his intentions were never true
The time at L.C.’s was the most memorable
Darcy was the one who couldn’t name six accomplished women
Mrs. Bennet has five single daughters to marry off since there’s no heir
Darcy danced only four dances while gentlemen were scarce and there were ladies in need of a partner
Mr. Collins, Mr. Wickham, and Mr. Darcy for Lizzy…
Jane and Lizzy, the most aware of their circumstances and need to marry well
Darcy is aloof, broody, mysterious, a man of honor, reserved, and all of that makes us want to unsettle him, loosen that cravat, and get him to open up… he has much upon his shoulders, the weight of inheriting an estate young while seeing to his sister’s upbringing, etc…
I could have added more, but others must have their say…
Merry Christmas!
Denise
What an impressive set of replies, Denise! The four Bingley dances caused much excitement in Mrs. Bennet, for, while Mr. Bingley danced the night away, he granted Jane with two sets, or four dances, thus favoring her from the start. Have a Merry Christmas!
A terrible thing to say, Vic, but its a long time since I read Pride and Prejudice i its entirety. I tend to dip into it for quotes.. I have vague thoughts about all the answers apart from number 10. “A HERO named Mr Darcy…”
He is such a pompous class ridden individual. He demeans others and is condescending.. During the novel his character is reformed in the hot heat of the furnace of a growing love. He is admirable in that he grows and devlops into a decent human being with some humility and empathy for others. He becomes worthy of Elizabeth’s love and she becomes worthy of his.
I always like to observe Emma and Mr Knighlty’s love developing in Emma too. Jane Austen is good at how love works.
Agree with all. Who in Jane’s environment showed her this transformation? Can’t think of anyone.
I agree with you and Patty, Tony. This transformation in a hero, who could have remained insufferable, is what makes Austen’s novels stand out. I don’t think Darcy lost his pomposity, but for the sake of his love, he tolerated her family and gravitated towards the more sensible Gardiners and Jane and her kind-hearted Bingley.
what a lovely song! So that is how it was originally wrote?
I just love Pride and Prejudice! It is such a great book. I would totally sing a song like this. I love the 1995 version. I am so excited that a new Pride and Prejudice spin-off novel came out this year – “Wickham’s Second Attempt” is such a great read and gives you some more time with your favorite characters.
I must give the new spin off a go! I’ve tried singing the song, but I must have put too many vowels in some phrases. Thank you for the compliment, and have a Happy Christmas!
You are so kind, Mindy. No, one night I channeled Jane Austen and my favorite Austen novel. She is such an inspiration!
Are the shades of Pemberley to be thus polluted!!!
Lady CdB is the gift that keep on giving, isn’t she? Her insults are so well crafted that at times I am tempted to rework them and throw them at today’s politicians. Such as, “Are the halls of Congress to be thus polluted!” “Obstinate headstrong _________” (fill in the worst senator, congressman, or cabinet member of the moment.) Or “Obstinate lying ________.)
The variations are endless!
“If I ever learned law, I would have been a proficient!”