Jane Eyre
Jane starts out in the novel as a child in Gateshead where she is abused by various people of the Reed household. As she matures due to the time jump later on in the novel she also comes to realize she is manipulated by multiple people before marrying Mr Rochester at the end of novel. Name one of the people Jane was either abused or manipulated by as a child or adult
There is multiple right answers but a few of the correct answers include John Reed for his cruelty , Mrs Reed for partially destroying her life and lying to her uncle before Adult Jane forgives her for her childhood, Eliza and Georgiana Reed both think of Jane as below them due to their selfishness. Ms Abbott unkindly treating Jane. Mr Brocklehurst , Miss Scatchard , Past Rochester, Bertha, Grace Pool , St John Rivers
Name one thing the watchman in Herot notices about the prince of Geats Beowulf and his comrades
This is an open ended response but armor, weapons, physical prowess, nobility to sail all the way to Denmark , Wealth, etc
What does Lear have a crashout about when talking with Gonerial in Act 1 Scene 4. Why does he feel this way and why is Goneril so angry at her father and his knights in the first place instead of treating them with respect?
Lear is is furious at Goneril's ingratitude, as he has bestowed his kingdom and power upon her.
Her demand to reduce his followers feels like a direct stripping of his power and authority, something he is unwilling to accept
He views her actions as a betrayal by an ungrateful child, a behavior that makes him curse her never to have a child of her own.
Goneril complains that Lear's hundred knights and squires are noisy, arrogant, and have turned her home into a "tavern or a brothel" instead of a palace.
She finds their behavior disorderly and a disgrace to her household thus her fury erupts
In Jane Eyre particularly the Thornfield orchard scene Jane and Rochester sit beneath a chestnut tree which soon after gets hit by lightning what is one thing the now split tree represents?
Foreshadowing- Rochester and Jane's relationship after the presence of Bertha is revealed later on
Tension , Rochester's Sin and Regretfulness- Jane's sadness when Rochester says he is getting married whom she assumes is to Ingram but in actuality it is to her. Rochester's deception causes him to lose sight later in the fire
Bonus points x2 for those who can think of another reason
How many years did the monster terrorise Herot and Hrothgar? What was his name? How did the Danes defeat him? What and where did the hero slay him with? What was the trophy for defeating the monster and what did the hero receive for slaying him?
For 12 years the monster terrorized Herot in Demark His name was Grendal. The Danes defeated him with help from the son of brave Edgetho (Beowulf) using only his bare hands with no protection or weapon in the main hall where Grendall preyed upon good willed mail-chained warriors. The trophy for defeating Grendall was his claw as he fled to the lake. Beowulf gained fame , glory, and honor, freindship and loyalty in addition to new weapons and armor , jewels and gold a emborided banner and ring directly from Hrothgar
Jane does not marry St John because
A they are related
B She is of lower social class than him even after her inherited fortune
C She does love him trick question
D She does not want to be permantly be doing missionary work and it would feel like torture whereas with Rochester she would at least feel valued
D
Think about Beowulf's battle with Grendel's mother and the struggles he endures to fight her. Now think back to how Beowulf defeated Grendel previously and how he said he would eliminate him.
What specific details without mentioning the faulty sword make the battle with Grendel's mother a more challenging, and in some ways more ironic confrontation than his previous fight?
This is open ended however here are some of my reasons
The specific details that make the battle with Grendal's mother a more challaging fight include
Home court adventage- for Grendal's mother the territory was familar due to 50 years of experience in contrast Beowulf had to fight in a territory unfamiliar to him underwater no less so it took him a day just to reach the bottom before he was ambushed
Backup- This was not just a 1 on 1 brawl however because the other sea monsters joined in the collective attacking of Beowulf briefly similar to another ambush (Julius Ceaser)
Intelligence- with the pure fury of her son's death ailing her Grendal's mother was very irate with what Beowulf had done however during the battle she is very cold and calculating leading to a near-death experience for the future king
Bare hands vs Giant Sword- Beowulf says before his battle with Grendel "I hereby renounce sword and the shelter of the broad shield, the heavy war-board: hand-to-hand is how it will be, a life-and-death fight with the fiend". In contrast to his second battle where he is forced to rely on a magical sword crafted by the giants proving this was a more ironic and high stakes battle
How does Charlotte Brontë use the settings of the novel (Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House, and Ferndean) to represent Jane's psychological and spiritual journey? Do the physical characteristics of these places evolve with Jane's emotional state, or do they offer static, symbolic backdrops for her development?
This is an open ended question however i did not type out the rest it was an google generated answer but Jane's character shifts drastically from place to place in the novel as seen by various emotional effects (I ran out of ideas so the 400 answer is extremely advanced for this category so don't expect all of them to be this difficult)
Gateshead -the most significant feature is the red room, a chamber where Jane is locked as punishment. With its "crimson cloth" and "heavy mahogany furniture," the room symbolizes the raw, fiery passion and anger Jane is forced to suppress. Her terrified outburst in the red room is a spiritual awakening, showing her that she will not tolerate unjust treatment and setting the stage for her lifelong pursuit of dignity. When Jane returns to Gateshead years later to attend her aunt's funeral, the house no longer holds its former power over her. She has grown emotionally and is able to offer forgiveness, effectively putting her childhood trauma behind her.
Lowood- Lowood is characterized by its harsh, ascetic conditions, with burnt porridge and meagre fare reflecting the severe evangelical discipline of its headmaster, Mr. Brocklehurst. The school's "low" status parallels a "low" point in Jane's life, a period of suffering and privation. Lowood represents both brutal oppression and providential development. It is here that Jane learns to control her rebellious passions through the model of her pious and patient friend, Helen Burns. Her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Temple, becomes a supportive guide, representing a refuge from the cruelty of the wider world. Lowood transforms for Jane as she matures. The institution begins as a place of misery but becomes a site of intellectual and moral growth. Jane eventually rises to become a teacher herself, indicating her transition from a somewhat powerless child into an educated and capable young woman, ready to seek her own place in the world.
Thornfield- Thornfield Hall is initially presented as a grand, picturesque, and mysterious Gothic mansion. However, the physical environment is full of secrets. The "mysterious third floor" and the attic where Bertha is confined house the mansion's dark and unsettling past. The name "Thornfield" itself could suggest that a rose-like beauty contains a painful reality. Thornfield is the setting for Jane's romantic entanglement with Mr. Rochester, symbolizing her desire for love and passion. But it also represents patriarchal oppression and confinement, trapping the repressed emotions and dangerous secrets that lurk beneath its romantic surface. The eventual burning of Thornfield is a pivotal moment, symbolizing the necessary destruction of Rochester's deceptive past and the societal structures that trapped him. The fire clears the way for a more honest and equal union for Jane and Rochester.
Moor house- Found after Jane flees Thornfield in despair, Moor House is a "bleak and bland" place, reflecting her desolate emotional state. It is a stark contrast to the passionate setting of Thornfield, offering a quiet, simple, and isolated environment where she can heal. Moor House symbolizes a place of "mooring," or docking, where Jane can find stability and resurrect herself after her suffering. Here, she discovers her long-lost family (the Rivers siblings) and receives a surprise inheritance, granting her financial and personal independence. When St. John Rivers proposes a loveless marriage based on duty, Moor House becomes the final testing ground for Jane to realize that she cannot sacrifice her passionate nature. Moor House initially offers a safe haven but ultimately allows Jane to realize what she truly desires. She leaves it not as an outcast, but as an independent, financially secure woman who can return to Rochester on her own terms.
Ferndean- Ferndean is a secluded, almost primitive manor hidden in a wood, described as simpler and less grand than Thornfield. It is a place of new, fresh growth, symbolized by its name, which features "fern," a plant that often grows first after a fire.Ferndean represents renewal and genuine connection. It is here that Jane and Rochester reunite as equals, freed from the burdens of wealth, deceit, and social status. Rochester's physical blindness and maiming have humbled him, allowing him to appreciate Jane for her inner self alone.At Ferndean, the physical characteristics of the setting directly reflect the inner state of the reunited lovers. Stripped of former grandeur, the setting provides a quiet, intimate space for Jane and Rochester to build a relationship based on true, unadorned love and respect, marking the final stage of Jane's journey toward spiritual and psychological fulfillment.
What shift do we see in King Beowulf's character before battling the dragon in contrast to his younger self? What about the battle with the dragon is different then that of his previous feats?
King Beowulf's character before battling the dragon is much more humble in accepting his morality and lack of strength knowing all too well he is likely to fall in the battle but refuses to leave his people. He also sees the dragon as a punishment from God (due to the stolen jeweled cup.) The dragon breaks his sword and incinerates his shield to the point of melting. He wounds the dragon with a knife and it dies however Beowulf dies as well to posionous bite. In his last few moments he asks Wiglaf to bring him the treaure thanking God for his people's wealth and appoints Wiglaf as new leader and Beowulf tells him to bury the body by the sea in a new tower so that all may rember him. He also gifts him a gold collar before his passing. In contrast young Beowulf is too confident in his own strength and personal glory mainly seen as boastfulness which across the 3 battles diminishes. At first he defeats Grendel with ease then struggles against Grendal's mother and ultimately accepts his fate of death to the dragon due to old Beowulf balancing pride with wisdom and responsibility of a king instead of boasting.
Is Jane truly a decitful person in your opinion either as a child or adult and give multiple (3 to 5) reasons why?
This question is open ended but in my opinion Jane is not deceitful (possibly as a child but I view kid Jane's view as stating her opinion despite making some questionable word choice) but as she matures she relizes to respect moral values and not dislike anyone who hates her without proper reasoning such as in the end with Rochester who regrets the burden on Jane his prior deception caused her
What is the name of the sword Unferth bestows upon Beowulf? What did it do against Grendel's mother when Beowulf tussled with her and ultimately does Beowulf thank him despite the weapons reputation?
The name of the sword bestowed to Beowulf by Unferth is called Hrunting , It did absolutely nothing in the face of danger in Grendal's mother's underwater labyrinth due to it not being able to pierce her skin , Beowulf does thank him for the weapon however demonstrating his honor , virtue, nobility and good-heartedness. This eventually leads to a change of heart for Unferth as well honoring Beowulf's respect and values instead of envying him