There are many games mentioned in Jane Austen'd novels and we know that they Austen family was fond of amusements. They played cards (Pride and Prejudice), and charades (Emma), as well as a variety of "outdoor" games, as listed in Northanger Abbey (Catherine. . . should prefer cricket, baseball, riding on horseback, and running about the country ). Here are a few games, both from Jane Austen's time and ours.

Bullet Pudding * Charades * I.Q. Test * Word Search

Bullet Pudding

"I was surprised that you did not know what a Bullet Pudding is but as you don’t I will endeavor to describe it as follows: You must have a large pewter dish filled with flour which you must pile up into a sort of pudding with a peak at the top, you must then lay a Bullet at the top & everybody cuts a slice of it & the person that is cutting it when the Bullet falls must poke about with their nose & chins till they find it & then take it out with their mouths which makes them strange figures a covered with flour but the worst is that you must not laugh for fear of the flour getting up your nose & mouth & choking you. You must not use your hands in taking the bullet out."
~Fanny Austen Knight to Miss Chapman 1808

Charades

Answers follow at the bottom of this page.

1. In confinement I'm chained everyday
   Yet my enemies need not be crowing.
   To my chain I have always the key
   And no prison can keep me from going.
   
   Small and weak are my hands, I'll allow
   Yet for striking my character's great.
   Though ruined by one fatal blow
   My strokes, if hard pressed, I'll repeat.
   
   
2. Divided, I'm a gentleman
   In public deeds and powers.
   United, I'm a monster who
   That gentleman devours.
   
   
3. When my first is a task to a young girl of spirit,
   And my second confines her to finish the piece
   How hard is her fate! But how great is her merit,
   If by taking my all, she effects her release!
   
   
4. My first has the making of honey to charm,
   My second brings breakfast to bed on your arm,
   My third bores a hole in leather so fine,
   While united the whole breaks the heart most kind.
   
   
5. You may lie on my first by the side of a stream,
   And my second compose to the nymph you adore,
   But if, when you've none of my whole her esteem
   And affection dimminish - think of her no more!

Jane Austen I.Q. Quiz

How many words can you make from the letters in:

The Novels of Jane Austen
Over 30-Good; Over 50-Very Good; Over 80-Excellent; Over 100-Genius
No Plurals allowed for Over Ten Year Olds

Click here to see my list

Jane Austen Word Search

There are 36 words from Jane Austen's novels in the list. Also hidden in the puzzle are others, which are unlisted. How many of these can you find? Words may be up and down, sideways, diagonal backwards or forwards. Have fun!

Click here for printable version

Answers to Charades: 1-A Repeating Watch; 2-Agent; 3-Hemlock; 4-Betrayal; 5-Bank Notes

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