Historical Context
The genre of literature is Jane Eyre most commonly associated with
What is Gothic Literature, Gothic Romance, or Coming-Of-Age?
The speaker of the following quote: “The three looked at me, but not distrustfully; I felt there was no suspicion in their glances: there was more of curiosity… the which combination of keenness and reserve was considerably more calculated to embarrass than to encourage” (397).
Who is Jane?
Definition of inexpedient
What is unwise, often used in describing decisions?
Provide a thoughtful critical question or analysis of the following passage: "Prejudices, it is well known, are most difficult to eradicate from the heart whose soil has never been loosened or fertilized by education: they grow there, firm as weeds among stones. Hannah had been cold and stiff, indeed, at the first: latterly she had begun to relent a little; and when she saw me come in tidy and well-dressed, she even smiled" (391).
Address at least on of the following themes: disparity in education/opportunity and its impact on one's and biased perceptions due to separation of class.
The type of literary device used below when human emotions attributed to inanimate objects or nature to mirror the characters' internal thoughts, and establish a clear mood: "It was full of the fragrance of new bread and the warmth of a generous fire" (391).
What is a pathetic fallacy?
Why: The warmth and generosity attributed to the mood within their kitchen and their fireplace reflect the warmth in which she was received by the Rivers family, effectively transitioning from her cold, impoverished state to comfort and hospitality.
The disease many people died of in the Victorian era, that is now referred to by a different name. Please provide the current name, as well as the one used most often within the text.
What is Tuberculosis and Consumption?
The SUBJECT of the following quote: “When he had done, instead of feeling better, calmer, more enlightened by his discourse, I experienced an inexpressible sadness: for it seemed to me… my broken idol and lost elysium– regret to which I have laterally avoided referring, but which possessed me and tyrannised over me ruthlessly” (405).
Who is St. John?
Definition of elysium
A place of tranquil happiness
Provide a thoughtful critical question or analysis of the following passage:
"'That, I must plainly tell you, is out of my power to do; being absolutely without home and friends.' The three looked at me, but not distrustfully; I felt there was no suspicion in their glances: there was more of curiosity. I speak particularly of the young ladies" (397).
Address at least one of the following themes: the lack of female independence in the Victorian era, must be apart of another to succeed, the juxtaposition of the word power with a declaration of her lack of power to underscore her faith in God, the significance of her serene tone related to her character development, the nuance of distrust/suspicion to curiosity as an intentional choice.
The reason behind choosing to manipulate spelling and grammar for Hannah's dialogue, in contrast to other characters'. Example passage: "'Well, it was hard, but what can a body do? I thought more o' th' childer nor of myself: poor things! They've like nobody to tak' care on 'em but me. I'm like to look sharpish'" (393).
What is illustrating the disparity between Hannah's level of education and Jane's, to further reinforce her position as a housekeeper more separate from the Rivers?
The significance of a chestnut tree in Gothic Literature, mention briefly in your classmates' presentation to foreshadow the possible negative outcome of Rochester and Jane's marriage.
What is doomed love, fractured relationships, and a sinister, uncontrollable omen of ruin?
The SPEAKER of the following quote: "'Do you mean to say'...'that you are completely isolated from every connection'"
St. John
Definition of haggard
What is a person appearing very exhausted, or thin, often due to worry, pain, hunger, or lack of sleep?
Provide a thoughtful critical question or analysis of the following passage: "'My sisters, you see, have a pleasure in keeping you'...'as they would have a pleasure in keeping and cherishing a half-frozen bird some wintry wind might have driven though their casement.'" (400).
Address at least one of the following themes: The use of birds as a symbol for innocence/truth/purity, the difference in the way St. John and Rochester characterize her (bird vs. fairy), or saying "when a door closes, a window opens" (casement is a type of window), or the temporary nature of the words used ("half," "wintry," "bird,").
The type of diction used to emphasize Jane's deserve to attain work in the following passage: "'I will be a dressmaker; I will be a plain-workwoman; I will be a servant, a nurse-girl, if I can be no better" (400).
What is repetitive diction?
The male pseudonym that the author of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brönte, often wrote under to avoid gender bias.
Who is Currer Bell?
The SPEAKER of the following quote: "'She has already said that she is willing to do anything honest she can do'...'and you know...she has no choice of helpers: she is forced to put up with such crusty people as you'"
Who is Diana?
What is a person's face, facial expression, or general demeanor?
Provide a thoughtful critical question or analysis of the following passage: "'I was going to say, impassioned: but perhaps you would have misunderstood the word, and been displeased. I mean, that human affections and sympathies have a most powerful hold on you. I am sure you cannot long be content to pass your leisure in solitude, and to devote your working hours to a monotonous labour wholly void of stimulus: any more than I can be content,'" (409).
Address at least one of the following themes: The discrepancy of Rochester and St. John's assessment of Jane (use of the words perhaps, connection to himself, calm tone, doubting intelligence vs. wishing to expand her perspective), the distinction made between labour and stimulus which challenges her narrative of living to serve, implying that Jane is more conventional than many characters, including Rochester, convey in saying that "human affections and sympathies have a most powerful hold on you" (409).
The type of language that uses soft consonants and long vowels often to reflect peace, calm, or lack of confrontation, specifically emphasizing St. John's serene, pleasant, and pensive appearance: "It was like a Greek face, very pure in outline: quite a straight, classic nose; quite an Athenian mouth and chin. It is seldom, indeed, and English face comes so near the antique models as did his" (396).
What is euphonious language?
The name of the school that Charlotte Brontë attended, sometimes referred to as the "real life Lowood".
What is the Cowan Bridge Clergy Daughters' School?
The two people related most closely to the "it" mentioned in the following quote: "'Only it forces rather strongly on the mind the picture of what might have been'...'and contrasts it some-what too vividly with what is.'"
Who is Jane, and the Rivers' Uncle?
Definition of vocation
What is a strong, often divine, inner calling towards a specific career, purpose, or way of life, going beyond a mere job to provide deep personal fulfillment?
Provide a thoughtful critical question or analysis of the following passage: "They clung to this scene, I say, with a perfect enthusiasm of attachment. I could comprehend the feeling, and share both its strength and truth. I saw the fascination of the locality. I felt the consecration of its loneliness: my eye feasted on the outline of swell and sweep - on the wild colouring communicated to hedge and dell by moss, by heath-bell, by flower-sprinkled turf, by brilliant bracken, and mellow granite crag" (402-403).
Address at least on of the following themes: Jane's lack of familiarity with attachment, juxtaposition of "comprehend the feeling", progression of understanding, to seeing, to feeling, which as well underscores her character development throughout the novel, how she returns to loneliness after discussing attachment as she is more familiar with it, or the ways in which she discusses the wonder of nature, in contrast to how Rochester often used it to accentuate the unforgiving and merciless aspects of life.
The type of literary device used when the same coordinating conjunctions are used in quick succession when not strictly necessary, used in the below passage to underscore Jane's deliberations in her decision to chose independence over servitude: "In truth it was humble - but then it was sheltered, and I wanted a safe asylum: it was plodding - but then, compared with that of a governess in a rich house, it was independent" (408).
What is polysyndeton?