An Excellent Father Summary

 

Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English An Excellent Father  Summary, Lesson Explanation with difficult word meanings from Tulip Book

 

An Excellent Father – Are you looking for Summary and Lesson Explanation for Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English Lesson 2 An Excellent Father from Tulip Book. Get notes, summary of the Lesson followed by line by line explanation of the lesson along with the meanings of difficult words.

 

An Excellent Father Jammu and Kashmir Board Class 10 English 

Jane Austen 

An Excellent Father Introduction

The lesson “An Excellent Father ” by Jane Austen is from the beginning of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice and introduces us to the Bennet family. Mrs. Bennet, the mother, is happy to hear that a rich young man named Mr. Bingley has moved into a nearby estate called Netherfield Park. She immediately hopes that he will marry one of her five daughters, as finding good husbands for them is her main concern. Mr. Bennet, the father, is more laid-back and enjoys teasing his wife. He doesn’t seem as worried about their daughters’ marriages and finds amusement in Mrs. Bennet’s excitement. Through their conversation, we get a glimpse of their different personalities and hints of the social expectations and family relationships that play a big role in the rest of the novel.

Theme of the Lesson An Excellent Father 

The theme of “An Excellent Father ” by Jane Austen revolves around marriage and social expectations. It shows the societal pressure on families, particularly women, to secure good marriages. Mrs. Bennet’s eagerness to marry off her daughters to wealthy men like Mr. Bingley reflects the limited opportunities available to women and the importance placed on marriage for financial and social stability. The lesson also touches on the differences in personality and outlook within a family. Mr. Bennet’s sarcastic and indifferent attitude contrasts sharply with Mrs. Bennet’s anxious and determined nature, showing the varying ways people respond to societal expectations. 

An Excellent Father Summary

The lesson “An Excellent Father ” by Jane Austen begins with Mrs. Bennet excitedly informing her husband, Mr. Bennet, that Netherfield Park, a nearby property, has been rented by a wealthy young man named Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennet is thrilled because she sees Mr. Bingley as a potential husband for one of her five daughters. She insists that Mr. Bennet visit Mr. Bingley to introduce their family, hoping this will lead to a marriage. Mr. Bennet, however, teases his wife, pretending to be uninterested and even suggesting that Mrs. Bennet should visit Mr. Bingley herself, joking that Mr. Bingley might prefer her to their daughters. Mrs. Bennet becomes frustrated with Mr. Bennet’s lack of seriousness, especially as she is worried about securing good marriages for her daughters. Despite his teasing, Mr. Bennet secretly visits Mr. Bingley, which surprises and pleases Mrs. Bennet. The lesson ends with Mrs. Bennet feeling relieved and happy that her husband has taken the first step in forming a relationship with Mr. Bingley, increasing the chances of the marriage for one of their daughters.

An Excellent Father Summary in Hindi

जेन ऑस्टेन का पाठ “एक उत्कृष्ट पिता” श्रीमती बेनेट द्वारा उत्साहपूर्वक अपने पति, श्री बेनेट को सूचित करने से शुरू होता है कि नेदरफील्ड पार्क, पास की संपत्ति, श्री बिंगले नामक एक अमीर युवक द्वारा किराए पर ली गई है। श्रीमती बेनेट रोमांचित हैं क्योंकि वह मिस्टर बिंगले को अपनी पांच बेटियों में से एक के लिए संभावित पति के रूप में देखती हैं। वह जोर देकर कहती है कि मिस्टर बेनेट अपने परिवार का परिचय कराने के लिए मिस्टर बिंगले से मिलें, उम्मीद है कि इससे शादी हो जाएगी। हालाँकि, मिस्टर बेनेट अपनी पत्नी को चिढ़ाते हैं, उदासीन होने का नाटक करते हैं और यहाँ तक कि सुझाव देते हैं कि श्रीमती बेनेट को खुद मिस्टर बिंगले से मिलना चाहिए, और मज़ाक करते हुए कहते हैं कि शायद मिस्टर बिंगले उन्हें अपनी बेटियों से अधिक पसंद करते हैं। श्रीमती बेनेट श्री बेनेट की गंभीरता की कमी से निराश हो जाती हैं, खासकर जब वह अपनी बेटियों के लिए अच्छी शादी सुनिश्चित करने के बारे में चिंतित होती हैं। चिढ़ाने के बावजूद, मिस्टर बेनेट गुप्त रूप से मिस्टर बिंगले से मिलने जाते हैं, जिससे श्रीमती बेनेट आश्चर्यचकित और प्रसन्न होती हैं। पाठ का अंत श्रीमती बेनेट को राहत और खुशी महसूस होने के साथ होता है कि उनके पति ने मिस्टर बिंगले के साथ संबंध बनाने की दिशा में पहला कदम उठाया है, जिससे उनकी बेटियों में से एक की शादी की संभावना बढ़ गई है।

An Excellent Father Lesson Explanation

 

Passage: 

‘My dear Mr Bennet,’ said Mrs Bennet one day, ‘have you heard that Netherfield Park is let at last?’

Mr Bennet replied that he had not.

‘But it is, ‘said she; ‘for Mrs Long has just been here, and she told me all about it.’

Mr Bennet made no answer.

‘Do you want to know who has taken it?’ cried his wife impatiently.

‘You want to tell me, and I have no objection to hearing it.’

This was invitation enough.

 

Word Meanings:

impatiently (adverb): in a way that shows you are annoyed by someone’s mistakes or because you have to wait

objection (n): the act of expressing or feeling opposition to or dislike of something or someone

 

Explanation: Mrs. Bennet is excited to share some news with her husband, Mr. Bennet. She tells him that Netherfield Park, a large house nearby, has finally been rented out. Mr. Bennet calmly responds that he hadn’t heard this news. Mrs. Bennet eagerly explains that their neighbor, Mrs. Long, told her all about it. Mr. Bennet doesn’t say anything in response, which makes Mrs. Bennet impatient. She asks if he wants to know who rented the house, knowing that he will let her tell him anyway. Mr. Bennet playfully agrees, saying he doesn’t mind hearing the news. Mrs. Bennet then takes this as her chance to share the details she’s been excited to reveal.

Passage: 

‘Why, my dear, you must know, Mrs Long says that Netherfield is taken by a young man of large fortune from the north of England. He came on Monday… to see the place, and was so much

delighted with it that he agreed to take it….”

‘What is his name?’

‘Bingley.’

‘Is he married or single?’

‘Oh single, my dear, to be sure! A single man of large fortune; four or five thousand a year.

What a fine thing for our girls!’

‘How?

 

Word Meanings:

fortune (n): a large amount of money, goods, property, etc. 

delighted (adj.): very pleased

 

Explanation:  Mrs. Bennet reveals more details about the new tenant of Netherfield Park to Mr. Bennet. She explains that the house has been rented by a wealthy young man from the north of England. This young man, who visited the property on Monday, liked it so much that he decided to take it on rent. When Mr. Bennet asks for the man’s name, Mrs. Bennet informs him that the man’s name was Bingley. Mr. Bennet then inquires whether Mr. Bingley is married or single. Mrs. Bennet confirms that he is single and adds that he is a rich bachelor with an income of four to five thousand pounds a year. She sees this as a great opportunity for her daughters, suggesting that having a wealthy, single man in the area could be very good for them.

Passage

‘My dear Mr Bennet’, replied his wife, ‘how can you be so tiresome? You must know that I am thinking of him marrying one of them.’

‘Is that his design in settling here?’

‘Design! Nonsense, how can you talk so! But it is very likely that he may fall in love with one of them, and, therefore, you must visit him as soon as he comes.’

‘I see no occasion for that. You and the girls may go, or you may send them by themselves, which perhaps will be still better, for, as you are as handsome as any of them, Mr Bingley might like you the best of the party.’

 

Word Meanings:

tiresome (adj.): irritating or boring

design (v): to make or draw plans for something

occasion (n): a particular time, especially when something happens or has happened

 

Explanation: Mrs. Bennet complained to Mr. Bennet about him being difficult and mentioned that she was thinking about Mr. Bingley marrying one of their daughters. Mr. Bennet asked if that was Mr. Bingley’s reason for moving there. Mrs. Bennet thought this was silly and said it was likely Mr. Bingley might fall in love with one of their daughters. So, she wanted Mr. Bennet to visit Mr. Bingley when he arrived. Mr. Bennet said he didn’t see the need for him to go and suggested that Mrs. Bennet and the girls could visit Mr. Bingley, or even better, just the girls could go. He jokingly added that since Mrs. Bennet was as attractive as their daughters, Mr. Bingley might prefer her company.

Passage

‘My dear, you flatter me, I certainly have had my share of beauty; but, my dear, you must indeed go and see Mr Bingley when he comes into the neighborhood.’

‘I daresay Mr Bingley will be very glad to see you, and I will send a few lines by you to assure him of my hearty consent to marrying whichever he chooses of the girls.’

‘You take delight in vexing me. You have no compassion on my poor nerves.’

‘You mistake me, my dear, I have a high respect for your nerves. They are my old friends.’

 

Word Meanings:

flatter (v): to compliment unduly, esp. for gain or advantage

vex (v): to irritate/annoy someone and make him angry

hearty (adj.): enthusiastic, energetic, and often loudly expressed

consent (n): permission or agreement

compassion (n): a strong feeling of sympathy and sadness for the suffering of others

nerves (n): worry or anxiety about something that is going to happen

 

Explanation: Mrs. Bennet said that Mr. Bennet was flattering her and agreed that she had been beautiful in her youth. However, she insisted that he should go to meet Mr. Bingley when he arrived in the neighborhood. She also mentioned that she believed Mr. Bingley would be very happy to see Mr. Bennet, and she would send a note with him to show her support for whichever of their daughters he chose to marry. She added that her husband felt happy in irritating her. He was not compassionate towards the fact that things made her nervous. Mr. Bennet replied by teasing Mrs. Bennet, saying that she was overreacting about her being worried. He playfully told her that he respected the fact that she got worried, he had known this since before because earlier also, she had gooten nervous.

Passage

‘Ah! You do not know what I suffer.

‘But I hope you will get over it, and live to see many young men of four thousand a year come into the neighborhood.’

‘It will be no use to us if twenty such should come, since you will not visit them.’

 

Word Meanings:

suffer (v): to experience or show the effects of something bad 

 

Explanation: Mrs. Bennet said that Mr. Bennet did not understand how much she was suffering because of the situation. Mr. Bennet tried to comfort her by saying that he hoped she would get better and see many wealthy men who come to their neighborhood. Mrs. Bennet then argued that it would not matter if lots of rich men came since Mr. Bennet would not visit them to introduce the family and form a relationship with them to secure marriages for their daughters. 

Passage

Mr Bennet was among the earliest of those who waited on Mr Bingley. He had always intended to visit him, though to the last always assuring his wife that he should not go. Till the evening after the visit was paid she had no knowledge of it. It was then disclosed in the following manner.

 

Word Meanings:

intended (v): to plan or mean to do something

disclosed (v): to make something known publicly, or to show something that was hidden

 

Explanation: Mr. Bennet was one of the first people to visit Mr. Bingley, even though he had told his wife he would not go. Mrs. Bennet only found out about the visit the evening after it happened, and Mr. Bennet revealed it in a particular manner.

Passage

Observing his second daughter employed in trimming a hat, he suddenly addressed her with:

‘I hope Mr Bingley will like it, Lizzy.’

“We are not… to know what Mr Bingley likes,’ said her mother, ‘since we are not to visit.’

‘But you forget, mamma,’ said Elizabeth, ‘that we shall meet him at the assemblies, and that Mrs Long has promised to introduce him.’

 

Word Meanings:

employed (v): to work towards a particular activity

addressed (v): to speak or write to someone

trimming (n): decorative material added around the edge of something

assemblies (n): here, a group of people coming together for social gatherings

 

Explanation: Mr. Bennet, noticing his daughter Elizabeth working on a hat, made a joke about Mr. Bingley liking it. Mrs. Bennet then reminds him that they wouldn’t know whether Mr. Bingley would like it or not since they had not yet visited him. Elizabeth then responded by reminding that they will have the chance to meet Mr. Bingley at the social gatherings (assemblies) because Mrs. Long had promised to introduce him.

Passage

‘I do not believe Mrs Long will do any such thing. She has two nieces of her own. She is a

selfish woman.’

Mrs Bennet began scolding one of her daughters.

‘Don’t keep coughing so, Kitty, for heaven’s sake! Have a little compassion on my nerves.’

‘Kitty has no discretion in her coughs,’ said her father; ‘she times them ill.’

 

Word Meanings:

nieces (n): a daughter of your brother or sister

discretion (n): the ability to behave without causing embarrassment or attracting too much attention

 

Explanation: Mrs. Bennet thinks Mrs. Long will not introduce them to Mr. Bingley because she has her own nieces and calls her selfish. Mrs. Bennet then scolded her daughter, Kitty for coughing too much, saying it was bothering her. To this, Mr. Bennet made a joke about Kitty’s coughing, saying she does not cough at the right times, which adds to the humor of the conversation.

Passage

‘I do not cough for my own amusement, said Kitty fretfully.

‘Let us return to Mr Bingley,’ continued Mr Bennet.

‘I am sick of Mr Bingley,’ cried his wife.

‘I am sorry to hear that. Why did not you tell me so before? If I had known as much this morning, I certainly would not have called on him. . . . But I have actually paid the visit; we cannot escape the acquaintance now.’

Word Meanings:

amusement (n): something which causes to laugh or smile

acquaintance (n): familiarity

fretfully (adverb): in a way that shows you are unhappy, worried, or uncomfortable

Explanation:  Kitty complained that she doesn’t cough just for fun. Mr. Bennet tried to change the subject back to Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennet, tired of talking about Mr. Bingley, says she’s had enough. Mr. Bennet pretended to be surprised and said if he had known she was tired of Mr. Bingley, he would not have visited him. But since he already did, they could not avoid meeting Mr. Bingley now.

Passage

The astonishment of the ladies was just what he wished; that of Mrs Bennet surpassing the rest. How good it was of you, my dear Mr Bennet! she said. ‘But I knew I should persuade you at last.

I was sure you loved your girls too well to neglect such an acquaintance. Well, how pleased I am and it is such a good joke, too, that you should have gone this morning and never said a word about it till now.’

 

Word Meanings:

astonishment (n): complete surprise; wonder

surpass (v): greater or better than

persuade (v): to motivate; to convince somebody to do some thing, especially by repeatedly asking him for that

neglect (v): to not give enough care or attention to people or things 

pleased (adj.): happy or satisfied 

 

Explanation: The ladies were very surprised when Mr. Bennet revealed that he had already visited Mr. Bingley. Mrs. Bennet is the most surprised of all. She shows her happiness and thanks Mr. Bennet, saying she always knew she would convince him to make the visit. She also finds it interesting that he went to see Mr. Bingley without telling anyone until now.

Passage

‘Now, Kitty, you may cough as much as you choose,’ said Mr Bennet; and as he spoke, he left the room.

‘What an excellent father you have, girls! said Mrs Bennet, when the door was shut.

 

Word Meanings:

excellent (adj.): extremely good

Explanation: Mr. Bennet told Kitty she could cough as much as she wanted because he had met Bingley. After he had gone, Mrs. Bennet told the girls how great their father was, saying they were very lucky to have him.