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Sadie asked this question about Pride and Prejudice:
How do I understand the language in Pride and Prejudice? I'm 13 and we haven't studied it in school but I would like to read it for fun but I can't understand even the first page! Can someone please help me out!
Allan Gray My daughter struggled on her first go (aged 11). Reluctantly, aged 13, she gave it another go. We read it together, and I stopped regularly after pass…moreMy daughter struggled on her first go (aged 11). Reluctantly, aged 13, she gave it another go. We read it together, and I stopped regularly after passages of a page or so to recap what had happened. I occasionally would read back the dialogue in more "modern" form, using current vernacular!
I also suggested that she treat the commas in long sentences as full stops (within reason) to break up the sentences. She is now completely hooked on it.
Part way through, we watched the movie - Keira Knightly version - the excellent acting helped her understand the characters foibles better (especially the sisters). My Dad used to think the old BBC mini series was a closer depictin, but having never seen it, I cannot comment.
These all seemed to help - I agree with Nada's comment below about summarizing chapters too.(less)
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Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
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