Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

Record your viewpoints on love and marriage. Is it immoral for people to marry for financial security rather than for love? Do you believe there are many people today who marry for monetary gain?

Teacher Suggestion: After discussing the above questions, you can delve into the historical context of the novel, referencing “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World” to show how the Role of Women and the Importance of Marriage were different during the Regency era. You may wish to discuss the financial hardships of women who did not inherit or marry, the marriage of first cousins, the expected conduct of ladies and gentlemen, and elopement. Then, ask students to explore the rules that governed American society during the Regency era and to consider whether they would be willing to compromise on their original responses if they lived in Regency England.

• “The Marriage Law of Jane Austen’s World” (teacher appropriate; not student-facing) is an introduction to laws during the Regency era concerning inheritance, behavior, and marriage.
• This article on the rules that governed American society during the Regency era details the appropriate conduct for ladies and gives students a brief overview of the strict guidelines to which women were expected to adhere.