Characters
An orphan who has been abused by her aunt and cousins, the Reeds. She currently attends school at the Lowood Institution.
Who is Jane Eyre?
This event is described by this quote: "Ere the half-hour ended, five o’clock struck; school was dismissed, and all were gone into the refectory to tea. I now ventured to descend" (68).
What is "Jane is finally released from her punishment and collapses onto the floor. She begins to cry on the floor"?
Mr. Brocklehurst's punishment and accusation of Jane as a liar challenges this part of Jane. Bonus 50 points if you can find a quote to support.
What is Jane's self-worth? Bonus points if you found "I had meant to be so good..." (68) or something close.
This theme is developed in this chapter, as shown by these two quotes: "I had meant to be so good, and to do so much at Lowood: to make so many friends, to earn respect, and win affection" (68) and "I would not now have changed Lowood with all its privations, for Gateshead and all its daily luxuries" (75). Bonus 50 points if you can explain how these quotes relate to the theme.
What is the need for a home and a place to belong? Explanation: Jane in the first quote talks about how Brocklehurst destroyed her belief that she could finally belong somewhere; and Jane in the second quote talks about how she has found her home at Lowood.
"...it was Helen her eye followed to the door; it was for her she a second time breathed a sad sigh; for her she wiped a tear from her cheek" (74) foreshadows this future event in chapter 9.
What is Helen's death? Explanation: This quote shows that Miss Temple is aware of Helen's terminal condition.
A Lowood student who comes from Northern England, near Scotland. She is Jane's first friend at Lowood, and she is extremely Christian.
Who is Helen Burns?
"Jane, you are mistaken: probably not one in the school either despises or dislikes you: many, I am sure, pity you much" (69) describes this event from chapter 8.
What is "Jane feels ashamed and believes that her future at Lowood has been ruined by Mr. Brocklehurst. Helen comforts Jane and informs her that most of the girls would empathize with her due to a mutual dislike for Mr. Brocklehurst"?
Due to Mr. Lloyd's help in proving Mr. Brocklehurst's claims wrong, Jane decides to finally do this at Lowood. Bonus 50 points if you can find a quote to support.
What is to take advantage of her education and the opportunities she has been given? Bonus points if you found "I toiled hard, and my success was proportionate to my efforts..." (75) or something close.
"God waits only the separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward. Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress, when life is soon over, and death is so certain an entrance to happiness---to glory?" (70) is an example of this theme. Bonus 50 points if you can explain how this quote relates to the theme.
What is the way religion and belief in an afterlife are a form of comfort? Explanation: Helen's speech to Jane displays this theme by explaining how Jane's suffering will mean nothing in Heaven.
"Miss Temple...announced that inquiry had been made into the charges alleged against Jane Eyre...pronounce her completely cleared from every imputation" (75) is the end of this conflict between characters that began in chapter 4, has existed in the back of Jane's mind throughout chapters 5-6, and came to a head in chapter 7. Bonus 50 points if you can find the start of this conflict in chapter 4.
What is Mrs. Reed's continuous negative influence on Jane's life, even from afar? Bonus: Mrs. Reed first instigates this conflict when she says, "I should be glad if the superintendent and teachers were requested to keep a strict eye on her, and above all, to guard against her worst fault, a tendency to deceit" (33).
The owner of Gateshead Hall. Jane Eyre's aunt and the mother of Eliza, Georgiana, and John.
Who is Mrs. Reed?
The final event of the chapter is described by this quote: "Thus relieved of a grievous load, I from that hour set to work afresh, resolved to pioneer my way through every difficulty…I would not now have changed Lowood with all its privations, for Gateshead and its daily luxuries" (75).
What is "A week later, Miss Temple receives confirmation of Jane’s story from Mr. Lloyd, so she exonerates Jane in front of the entire school. Finally feeling safe, Jane works hard to make a name for herself and becomes a good student"?
By asking Jane to tell her about her life at Gateshead, Miss Temple contributes to Jane's development in this way. Bonus 50 points if you can find a quote to support.
What is forcing Jane to face the trauma of her past and how it affected her? Bonus points if you found "I resolved, in the depth of my heart..." (71) or something close.
"No; I know I should think well of myself; but that is not enough: if others don't love me, I would rather die than live---I cannot bear to be solitary and hated, Helen" (69) displays this developing theme. Bonus 50 points if you can explain how this quote relates to the theme.
What is the human desire for affirmation and validation from others? Explanation: Jane states that she can not live without the love of others, which is an extreme example of the desire for validation.
"In the course of the tale I had mentioned...as having come to see me after the fit: for I never forgot the, to me, frightful episode of the red-room" (71) relates to what this character did for Jane. Bonus 50 points if you can find a quote from chapter 3 in relation to this quote from chapter 8.
What is the freeing effect that Mr. Lloyd's visit had on Jane? Explanation: Mr. Lloyd helped Jane to first open up about her life at Gateshead, and then he helped to get her the opportunity to go to school, as well as fix her reputation that Mr. Brocklehurst had tarnished. Bonus: "Well, well; who knows what may happen..." (24) or something similar.
The master of Lowood Institution. A hypocritical preacher whose family indulges in a lavish lifestyle while he preaches about the good in poverty.
Who is Mr. Brocklehurst?
Miss Temple says, "You have been charged with falsehood; defend yourself to me as well as you can. Say whatever your memory suggests as true; but add nothing and exaggerate nothing" (71) during this event.
What is "Miss Temple summons Jane and Helen to her room. Once there, Miss Temple tries to understand Jane’s story and asks Jane to recount it for her"?
Jane develops in this way twice throughout the chapter. It is shown through her conversations and interactions with Helen Burns and Miss Temple. Bonus 50 points if you can find a quote to support.
What is Jane's resolve to open up to other people and become more personable (friendly)? Bonus points if you found "Resting my head on Helen's shoulder..." and "...I told her all the story of my childhood" (70-71) or something close.
This Gothic Romantic element is displayed by this quote: "...now, here I lay again crushed and trodden on; and could I ever rise more? 'Never,' I thought; and ardently I wished to die" (68). Bonus 50 points if you can explain how this quote relates to the theme.
What is the distressed heroine? Explanation: Jane characterizes her as the distressed heroine when she attempts to find herself as a person, but she is blocked by the efforts of Mrs. Reed and Mr. Brocklehurst.
This recurring aspect of Jane's story is seen in this quote: "We shall think you what you prove yourself to be, my child. Continue to act as a good girl, and you will satisfy me" (71). Hint: It is in relation to the famous idiom "Don't judge a book by its cover."
What is Jane's constant having to prove herself to others? Explanation: Miss Temple gives Jane the chance to prove herself innocent, deciding that she can not judge Jane purely by what others have said about her. This is also seen when Mr. Brocklehurst tests Jane and decides she is a bad child in chapter 3, and another example is Mr. Rochester repeatedly telling Jane that he will make his own observations about her in chapters 14 and 15.
A teacher at Lowood Institution, who is also the superintendent. She is very kind to her students and is the most understanding teacher.
Who is Miss Temple?
This event is at the end of the chapter, highlighted by when Jane says, "She had scarcely finished ere the bell announced bedtime: no delay could be admitted" (74).
What is "After telling Jane that she will write to Mr. Lloyd to confirm Jane’s story, Miss Temple checks up on Helen’s health. Miss Temple then converses with both girls—mainly Helen—before she sends them back to their living quarters"?
In relation to her childhood and the influence of the Reeds, Jane finally decides to let ______________ and to break ______________. Bonus 50 points if you can find a quote to support.
What is to "let go of her hate" and to "break free from her past"? Bonus points if you found "...my language was more subdued than it generally was...I infused into the narrative far less gall..." (71) or something close.
The quote "I toiled hard, and my success was proportionate to my efforts; my memory, not naturally tenacious, improved with practice; exercise sharpened my wits" (75) relates to this literary genre/technique. Bonus 50 points if you can explain how this quote relates to the theme.
What is bildungsroman (a genre that deals with a person's formative years or spiritual education)? Explanation: This quote describes Jane's academic growth as a child, which is a good example of bildungsroman.
"God waits only the separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward. Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress, when life is soon over, and death is so certain an entrance to happiness---to glory?" (70) relates to these tenets that Jesus gave during his Sermon on the Mount.
What are the Beatitudes? Explanation: The second sentence relates to the first of the Beatitudes, "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:3).