Persuasion Study Questions
Volume One
Chapter One
1. What can you infer about Sir Elliot by the additions he makes to the book containing the family's history?
2. Compare Sir Elliot's expectations for each of his three daughters.
3. In Chapter One the reader briefly meets Sir Elliot and his oldest daughter Elizabeth. What do you learn about
each of them? What about them is appealing or repulsive?
4. The narrator seems to have strong opinions about some characters. Where and how do you notice the narrator
coloring your view of a character?
5. Sir Elliot is disturbed because he doesn't like the way his "heir presumptive" has acted in the past. Why can't he
just leave his money, title, and estate to his daughters?
Chapter Two
1. To what extent do you agree with Sir Elliot on the value of rank and consequence? Explain.
2. How does Lady Russell view social class and the respect it is due?
3. How does Anne feel about paying off debt versus maintaining a higher style of living? What does this reveal
about her character?
4. What do you learn about Sir Elliot by his reaction to Mrs. Russell's first proposal?
5. What decision is made to deal with the family’s financial difficulties?
6. How does Anne’s location preference contrast Sir Walter’s? What does this say about their characters?
7. How does Lady Russell relate to Elizabeth?
8. What do readers learn Lady Russell wants to discourage when it comes to Elizabeth’s recent behavior? What is
meant by “very unequal” and “very dangerous”?
Chapter Three
1. What type of person does Mr. Shepherd suggest as a possible tenant?
2. How does Mrs. Clay attempt to flatter Sir Walter?
3. What does Sir Elliot reveal about himself and his attitudes about soldiers and sailors in this chapter? How does
Anne’s attitude contrast his?
4. Who is the first tenant to inquire about renting Kellynch-hall?
5. What connection are Shepherd and Anne able to point out about the new tenant?
6. At the end of the chapter, Anne leaves the room “to seek the comfort of cool air for her flushed cheeks” and says
with a sigh, “A few months more, and he, perhaps, may be walking here.” What is implied by these words and
actions?
Chapter Four
1. Who is the he referred to in the previous chapter revealed to be?
2. What qualities are attributed to him “at that time”? What qualities are attributed to Anne?
3. How does Sir Walter react to Anne’s application regarding her relationship? Why? How is this ironic considering
his financial state later in life?
4. Lady Russell reacts with “more tempered and pardonable pride.” What is her advice to Anne, and why does
Anne listen?
5. What does the following quote reveal about Anne: “Had she not imagined herself consulting his good, even more
than her own, she could hardly have given him up.—The belief of being prudent, and self-denying principally for
his advantage was her chief consolation, under the misery of a parting—a final parting…”?
6. Who proposed to Anne seven years later? Whom did this person marry instead of Anne? What were Lady
Russell’s feelings about this match for Anne?
7. How does Anne’s refusal of Lady Russell’s advice reflect a change in Anne? How does Anne later feel about
breaking off her first engagement?
8. What becomes of Captain Wentworth? How does Anne know this?
9. Anne is relieved so few people know of her previous relationship and its end. The “perfect indifference and
apparent unconsciousness” of Sir Walter, Elizabeth, and even Lady Russell is noted as Anne faces a renewed
connection through Mrs. Croft, the sister of her former love. Who keeps Anne’s former relationship secret out of
“pride,” and who keeps it out of “delicacy”? What does this suggest about the personalities of Sir Walter, Elizabeth,
and Lady Russell?
Chapter Five
1. What details in the opening of this chapter present Sir Walter as pompous and silly?
2. Once the Crofts agree to rent Kellynch-hall, the Elliots prepare to move to Bath. Notice how Anne is treated in
the process and how she feels about the move. How does Anne’s feeling about the “sweet” and “sad…autumnal
months in the country” reflect Anne herself?
3. Instead of going to Bath right away, where will Anne go?
4. What continued treatment toward Anne is reflected by Elizabeth’s comment that “nobody will want her in
Bath”?
4. Whose inclusion in the party going to Bath upsets Lady Russell?
5. What warning does Anne attempt to give Elizabeth, and how does Elizabeth react?
6. What comments about Mrs. Clay’s appearance are made in this chapter? What does this emphasize about
Elizabeth and Sir Walter’s priorities?
7. How does Mary serve as a foil for Anne?
8. How does the author suggest that Mary’s ailments are not legitimate?
9. What information is given to imply Mary’s relationship with her husband and her parenting skills?
10. What personality traits in Anne are shown as she listens to and talks with Mary? (Notice Mary’s comment,
“Dear me! What can you possibly have to do?” that mirrors Elizabeth and Sir Walter’s attitude toward Anne.)
11. What kind of people are the Musgroves?
12. What positive things does Anne feel for Louisa and Henrietta? What traits would Anne not exchange with
them? What is the only thing she envies about the girls?
Chapter Six
1. Now at Uppercross, what does Anne wish her other family members could experience in order to change their
own self-importance?
2. What kind of a man is Charles Musgrove, and what does Anne feel he could have been with a different wife?
3. Many of the characters at Uppercross confide in Anne. What are some of their complaints, and how, in general,
does Anne deal with the grievances?
4. What particular talent does Anne have that is often overlooked by the Musgroves in favor of their own
daughters?
5. How is Mrs. Croft described?
6. What evidence is there of Anne’s continued feelings for Captain Wentworth and the tension she feels when he is
brought up in conversation (or when she thinks he’s being brought up)?
7. Other than their being neighbors, what connection is discovered between the Musgroves and Captain
Wentworth?
8. What kind of a person was Dick Musgrove?
9. Notice Anne’s reaction to the news that Captain Wentworth will soon be visiting: “To hear them talking so much
of Captain Wentworth. . . was a new sort of trial to Anne’s nerves . . . she must teach herself to be insensible on
such points.” Explain what is happening inwardly for Anne and how this conflicts with how she feels she must
behave outwardly.