Learning why "Pride and Prejudice" is renowned as a timeless classic in literature can be a beneficial project for students. Have them discuss with each other and brainstorm what elements in the novel make it timeless, such as the plot of a love story, the personalities of the different characters and the happy ending despite the barriers put between the two lovers. Students can then explore some scenes in depth which reveal evidence of these timeless elements.
Having students modernize a scene from "Pride and Prejudice" can help them to identify the central, universal themes and grasp the contrasts between modern context and the context in which Austen wrote. Ask students to get into small groups and each choose an important scene from the text to recreate in a script, so that the entire plot is covered. Tell students to consider dialogue, stage directions and what the characters are wearing. When the scripts are written, have students perform their modernized scenes in order of the events in the novel.
In "Pride and Prejudice" letters are vital to the structure of the plot, as they help to develop communication and understanding between the characters. Get students to choose three letters which they define as significant in the book and translate them into a more modern form of communication, such as a text message, Tweet or an email, where they are limited to a small screen or a certain number of characters. Ask students to share what they have written, and discuss the differences between the original letter form and the modern form of communication in terms of content, intent and tone.
Getting students to organize an appropriate wedding for Elizabeth and Darcy is a valuable way of teaching them about the context of "Pride and Prejudice." Students must research what clothes would be acceptable to wear to their wedding, what religious ceremony would have been carried out at that time, the food and drink most likely to be used and the music that might have been played, or what style of music was popular in that period.