Question

From your reading of the first 12 chapters of Pride and Prejudice, what do you notice about Austen’s diction, or word choice? How does Austen’s use of language affect your comprehension of the text?

Answer 1

I notice that the diction in the first 12 chapters of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is archaic. It shows the significance of the period of time in which it is written. Austen's use of language made it easier to comprehend the contrast between the characters and situations through the patterns of sentence structures as well as the use of vocabulary. 

Answer 2

For a modern reader, Jane Austen’s diction can feel strange. Although it may well represent the conversational, everyday language of the gentry of her time, it doesn't feel like natural speech to modern-day readers. However, the choice of language can be helpful because it reminds the reader of the time and place of the novel. The quaintness of the narration and of the characters gives a stronger sense of a different type of people and worldview than our own.

For Plato/Edmentum