An Excellent Father

(Jane Austen)

Thinking about the Text

1. What does Mrs Bennet tell her husband?

Answer: Mrs Bennet told her husband that the Netherfield Park was let at last.

2. Who takes over Netherfield Park? Why is Mrs Bennet happy about it?

Answer: The Netherfield Park was taken over by a young man from the north of England. Mrs Bennet is happy about it as she sees the young man as  future Son-In-Law.

3. Why does Mrs Bennet insist her husband to meet Mr Bingley?

Answer: Mrs Bennet insisted her husband to meet Mr Bingley in order to know his the purpose of his visit.

4. ' You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves'. Explain.

Answer: Mrs Bennet means to say that Mr Bennet takes delight in irritating her by any means and does not care about her feelings and her potential to bear. Mrs Bennet says this out of anger when Mr Bennet makes fun of her and does not pay any attention to what she says.

5. Why does Mrs Bennet think that Mrs Long is selfish?

Answer: Mrs Long had promised that she would introduce Mr Bingley to Mrs Bennet and her daughters at the assemblies. But Mrs Bennet doesn’t believe that she will do any such thing to happen as she has two nieces of her own. Mrs Bennet calls her a selfish woman that she might use the opportunity to one of her nieces instead of any other girl.

6.How does Mr Bennet react to the plan designed by his wife?
Answer: Mr Bennet reacted to the plan designed by his wife in a positive but an awkward manner. Mr Bennet went to meet Mr Bingley as designed by his wife but he did not let his wife and daughters know about it. He kept the visit paid to Mr Bingley a secret from his family and pretended that he did not want to do so. But the secret visit paid to Mr Bingley remained no longer a secret as Mr Bennet happened to tell about it to his family later on.
7.Why does Mrs Bennet says her daughters that they have an excellent father?
Ans. Mr Bennet berated Mrs Bennet because he refused to visit Mr Bingley when he arrived in the neighbourhood thus thwarting Mrs Bennet’s hopes of an advantageous marriage. Mr Bingley had already visited him that morning. Hearing this, she changes her tune, praising her husband with his virtues and telling her girls that they have “an excellent father.”

Language Work

1. Find words/s from the passage having the following meaning:
a) rent out.
b) unmarried.
c) make some one angry.
d) in great haste; unwilling to wait
e) to live somewhere permanently.
f) intention or plan.
Answers:
a) rent out; let
b) unmarried; single
c) make some one angry; vax
d) in great haste; unwilling to wait; impatient
e) to live somewhere permanently; settle
f) intention or plan; design
2. Use a verb in agreement with its subject in the following sentences:
1. The page of the book _______ torn and the pages of the book _______ torn.
2. Two and two _________ four.
3. A black and white dog ________ barking.
4. The horse and the carriage _________ ready.
5. The madam as well as the students ______ in the library.
6. Either she or her brother __________ absent.
7. Neither I nor he ___________ resigned.
8. Physics __________ said to be an interesting subject.
9. Not only she but also her sisters __________ involved in this crime.
10. The team __________ divided over who should be the captain.
Answers: 
1. The page of the book is torn and the pages of the book are torn. 
Note; Singular subject takes singular verb, and plural subject takes plural verb.
2. Two and two makes four.
3. A black and white dog is barking.
Note; If the nominatives of two subjects joined by 'and' denote one single idea, the verb must be singular.
4. The horse and the carriage is ready.
5. The madam as well as the students is in the library.
Note; If two subjects are connected by 'as well as' , the verb must agree agree in number and person with the first one.
6. Either she or her brother is absent.
Note; If two subjects connected by 'and' are preceded by 'each, every, many a, somebody, no, either, no one, little, more, much, nobody, etc. These must take a singular verb.
7. Neither I nor he have resigned.
Note; When neither and nor link singular terms, the verb is singular
8. Physics is said to be an interesting subject.
9. Not only she but also her sisters are involved in this crime.
10. The team is divided over who should be the captain.

Writing Work

Draw a character sketch of Mrs. Bennet.
Answer; The character of Mrs Bennet is very humorous. She is very particular to develop friendship with the young man. She is very sure that the friendship will come to fruition, as far as, the marriage of one of her daughters is  concerned. She compels her husband Mr Bennet    not to miss such an acquaintance for the sake of  their daughters. She gets vexed when there is no response from her husband. Mr Bennet rather points out that she should  accompany the girls and Mr Bingley might like her the best of the party. He even remarks that Mr Bingley might like Lizzy’s trimming her hat. Mrs Bennet gets very sad on perceiving how her husband makes light of her worries. She is a mother but lacks the foresight. She gets irritated quickly and thereby proves to be very short-tempered. She is very firm that her design will bear fruit. 
Draw the character sketch of Mr. Bennet.
Answer: Mr. Bennet is the husband of Mrs. Bennet and the father of Jane, Elizabeth, Lydia, Kitty, and Mary, all of marriageable age. He is closest to Elizabeth because they are the two most intelligent Bennets. Mr. Bennet is very loving husband and father. He is the most humorous character in the story. He likes to irritate his wife and daughters, but also loves them very much.