Persuasion Study Questions, Vol. 2, Ch. 7-12
Chapter Seven
1. When Anne is out for the day in Bath, she unexpectedly sees Wentworth (notice her reaction and
attempt to suppress her feelings). As it begins to rain, her party seeks transportation. Who is set on riding
with Lady Dalrymple? Who offers to walk with Mr. Elliot? Note the particular eagerness of one person.
What is decided about who will ride and why?
2. Describe Wentworth’s reaction upon seeing Anne. How is this different from his past behavior in her
presence?
3. List the types of mixed emotions Anne has upon seeing Wentworth react the way he does.
4. How do Elizabeth and Wentworth act upon seeing each other? How does this make Anne feel?
5. What does Wentworth offer Anne when the carriage arrives? Who interrupts their conversation?
6. Describe the comments and speculation from Wentworth’s party when it comes to the Elliot family.
7. How does Anne feel as she walks with Mr. Elliot after her encounter with Wentworth?
8. Anne is still concerned about Lady Russell’s prejudice. Describe their walk. What do you think Lady
Russell sees or doesn’t see? Why might this be ambiguous?
9. Why does Anne not see Wentworth when she attends social events? What kind of events do her father
and sister prefer?
10. What event makes Anne hopeful she will see Wentworth? What does she do in order to attend this
event—is this hypocritical? (Read carefully.)
11. What does Mrs. Smith feel about Anne’s visits? Why might this be?
Chapter Eight
1. Notice Anne’s active encouragement of Wentworth. When and how do Sir Walter and Elizabeth
acknowledge him? Still, how does Anne feel?
2. Wentworth is “in no hurry to leave her” and brings up the subject of Benwick and Louisa. What does
he wish for their relationship? When contrasting Benwick and Louisa’s situation with others, he stops
short. What do you think he was about to say?
3. What does Wentworth see as a problem between Benwick and Louisa? What does this suggest about
the depth of his feelings when it comes to Louisa and his former involvement her?
4. Wentworth says, “A man does not recover from such a devotion of the heart to such a woman!—He
ought not—he does not.” Consider the implications of these words (and the syntax used to express them).
Specify how Anne reacts.
5. When the conversation shifts to the incident at Lyme, what does Wentworth say about the cause of the
accident? How does this continue his pattern of thinking about being strongminded?
6. What does Anne say about pain and pleasure? What might she really be thinking about as she says
this?
7. Lady Dalrymple arrives, and Anne is parted from Wentworth. How do her family members choose to
enter the concert hall? What does this say about their characters?
8. To what conclusion has Anne come based on Wentworth’s words? How does this make her feel?
9. Mr. Elliot maneuvers himself to sit beside Anne. Note the various forms of flattery he spouts.
10. What does Anne overhear Lady Dalrymple and her father saying?
11. How does Anne now feel about Mr. Elliot and being near him? How does she feel about Lady
Russell’s feelings about Wentworth?
12. How is Wentworth’s behavior different after she moves to the end of the row? Again, who interrupts
their conversation? Consider Anne’s feeling that “never had she sacrificed to politeness with a more
suffering spirit.” How is she beginning to change?
13. Describe Wentworth’s parting words as he says goodnight and Anne is “anxious to be encouraging.”
His borderline rudeness stands in contrast to whom?
14. What does Anne realize about Wentworth’s feelings? Why does she feel gratified and then distressed?
How does she now feel about Mr. Elliot’s attentions? (Social custom note: It was not acceptable for an
unmarried woman to write to, visit, or invite over an unmarried male who is not her relative. This means
Anne cannot explain unless she sees Wentworth at a social gathering. How likely is that given what she
has previously said about her family’s choices?)
Chapter Nine
1. As Anne departs to visit Mrs. Smith, she is happy to be able to avoid Mr. Elliot, but how does she still
feel towards him at this point? How would Anne feel “had there been no Captain Wentworth”? To what
depth do her feelings for Wentworth go?
2. What does Mrs. Smith assume based on what she has heard about the night of the concert and other
recent events? How convicted is Mrs. Smith in this belief? How does she attempt to persuade Anne in this
choice?
3. What does Mrs. Smith want Mr. Elliot to know?
4. Why does Anne still resist the match? What does she almost reveal to Mrs. Smith (“—not Mr. Elliot; it
is not Mr. Elliot that—“)?
5. Describe Mrs. Smith’s words about Mr. Elliot’s “real character.” What are the “facts” regarding their
history?
6. Why did Mr. Elliot, apparently, slight Sir Walter? Why did he marry?
7. Describe the letter from Mr. Elliot to Mr. Smith. What does it reveal about his attitude and character?
8. Why is Mr. Elliot, according to Mrs. Smith, different now? What does Mrs. Smith say about Mr.
Elliot’s intentions for Anne? What is his concern with Mrs. Clay?
9. How does Anne now feel about Mr. Elliot? How will she attempt to behave in his company?
10. How has Mr. Elliot wronged Mrs. Smith? Explain about the will and property. What does Mrs. Smith
reveal as her reason to hope Anne’s connection to Mr. Elliot could be of use to her? (Keep in mind the
persuasion that’s desired in this situation.)
11. What idea makes Anne shudder at the end of the chapter? What does Mrs. Smith give Anne
permission to do?
Chapter Ten
1. Anne is relieved to know the truth about Mr. Elliot and sees him as the opposite of Wentworth.
However, she still worries about Sir Walter’s and Elizabeth’s feelings. What is ironic about what
Elizabeth says about Mr. Elliot doesn’t see Sir Walter that morning and her stated feelings toward him?
Note Mrs. Clay’s acting skills when it comes to Mr. Elliot (why does she turn her eyes toward Anne?).
2. Once Mr. Elliot arrives, what does Anne notice in everything he says and does? What is meant by the
“charm” being “broken”? How does Anne feel about Mrs. Clay’s behavior compared to Mr. Elliot’s?
3. Anne plans to go visit Lady Russell and explain Mr. Elliot’s character (notice the satire in Elizabeth
and Sir Walter’s comments regarding Lady Russell’s appearance), but her visit is postposted when
Charles and Mary arrive. Why are the Musgroves in town? How does Anne feel about the Musgroves’
parenting?
4. Describe Elizabeth’s “struggle between propriety and vanity” when it comes to inviting the Musgroves
to dinner.
5. When Wentworth arrives, she remembers their recent encounter and the “most important opening in his
feelings.” Explain what she fears about the “same unfortunate persuasion” that made him rush from the
concert. How does she attempt to rationalize these fears away?
6. Whom does Mary report seeing out the window, and why is this a shock to Anne? What does she fear
may be misinterpreted in her reaction to this person? (What rumor will spread about Anne?)
7. Describe the short conversation between Anne and Wentworth after she says she would rather go to the
theater than the party. How does this show major developments in their interaction?
8. What is the feeling in the room with the entrance of Sir Walter and Elizabeth? What is the context of
the statement that the “past was nothing”?
9. How does Mrs. Clay react when Anne tells her what she saw? What might have been occurring in the
conversation on the street?
Chapter Eleven
1. Explain Anne’s feelings upon seeing Wentworth again at the Musgroves’ house: “deep in the
happiness of such misery, or the misery of such happiness.”
2. Consider the conversation between Mrs. Musgrove and Mrs. Croft which is overheard by Anne and
Wentworth. (Notice the reference to persuasion in allowing young people’s wishes.) What do they say
that Anne applies to herself and that causes Wentworth to stop writing his letter and look at Anne?
3. What does Captain Harville show Anne, and how is he feeling when considering this item and what he
must do with it?
4. Explain the differences in Anne’s and Harville’s opinions when it comes to men, women, feelings, and
constancy. How does Wentworth react while overhearing these statements? Why might he react this way?
5. Captain Wentworth must discreetly direct Anne to pick up the letter he has written because it was
considered inappropriate in this time period for unmarried men and women to correspond unless they
were engaged. What does Wentworth say to Anne in the letter?
6. Anne struggles to contain her emotion after reading the letter. Why does her heart still fear mischance?
Shortly thereafter her “smiles [are] reigned in and spirits dancing in private rapture”—why?
7. What do Anne and Wentworth reveal as they share feelings and return to the past? How is their
happiness now compared to their happiness years ago?
8. What does Wentworth say he had tried to do when it came to Anne? How was he constant
“unconsciously”? What was his indifference in reality? Why was he unjust to Anne?
9. Explain Wentworth’s realizations about “obstinacy of self-will” versus “steadiness of principle” and
“darings of heedlessness” versus “resolution of collected mind.” How do these show the different
characters of Louisa and Anne? What is Austen’s message about being strong minded?
10. What does Wentworth say about his relationship with Louisa and what he was prepared to do?
11. Wentworth makes a “pleasing blunder” in a comment about Anne’s appearance. Explain what the
blunder is and how it shows sincere affection.
12. List events or conversations that spurred Wentworth to continue his pursuit of Anne.
13. What did Wentworth fear when attending the concert? What does Anne say about the type of
persuasion by which she was influenced? Why should this encourage Wentworth that she would not make
a foolish choice?
14. As Anne reflects on her past refusal due to Lady Russell’s advice, how does she now feel about her
past decisions? How does Wentworth feel about Lady Russell’s guilt and his own?
Chapter 12
1. “Who can be in doubt of what followed? When any two young people take it into their heads to marry,
they are pretty sure by perseverance to carry their point, be they ever so poor, or ever so imprudent, or
ever so little likely to be necessary to each other’s ultimate comfort This may be bad morality to conclude
with, but I believe it to be truth…” Comment on the narrator’s words as this chapter opens.
2. What three advantages do Anne and Wentworth have over the young people described in the previous
quote?
3. How do Sir Walter and Elizabeth react to the news of Anne and Wentworth’s engagement? Though
apparently he has no affection for Anne and no vanity flattered by the match, how does Sir Walter view
the couple? What will he do that corresponds with his activity at the beginning of the novel?
4. Who is the only opposition to the marriage? What must this person realize? What does this person have
as his/her only priority over being sensible and well judging?
5. Which family member is happiest about the match? How does this character “suffer” due to Anne’s
marriage, and how is this person able to accept it?
6. What is implied about Elizabeth’s marriage prospects?
7. What is Mr. Elliot’s reaction to Anne’s engagement? What is his “double game”?
8. Mrs. Clay’s affections overpower her own interest, but she has “abilities,” too. What is meant by the
question of whose “cunning” will win—Mr. Elliot’s or Mrs. Clay’s? What title may Mrs. Clay, in fact,
have one day? How does this illustrate Austen’s pattern of giving the “bad guy” his “comeuppance”?
9. What is Anne sad that she does not have to offer Wentworth like he can offer her? Who are her two
worthy friends?
10. What does Wentworth do for Mrs. Smith?
11. How does Anne feel about being a sailor’s wife?