Pride and Prejudice question?

Question

I've been reading Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and I've come across a few words that end or start with ---. (But just one line).

Examples would be 'King ---" or "---shire".

What does this mean?

Thank you! :]

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Voters

I think maybe she didn't want to mention specifics, but I also think that as a reader in that time period, one might possibly have already known what she was talking about and therefore didn't need the entire word spelled out. We in modern times aren't as lucky, but I also don't think it really matters that much when you read it. Everything still pretty much makes sense without knowing exactly which shire, etc.

Answer 2

idk but u should get the spark notes for the book it helps soo much(:

Answer 3

This question was asked recently (don't know if by you or not), but one of the answers was that during the era when the book was written it wasn't uncommon for authors to use the dashes to omit names of things/people/places/businesses or whatever. I think this is true, because I know there's one part in the novel where Elizabeth visits Lady Catherine and Darcy's there. Elizabeth plays the piano and Lady Catherine comments about how the piano is better than another brand, but the brand name was dashed out.

So, from the looks of it Austin didn't want to mention to which King she was referring or which Shire.