Jane EyreJane Eyre

Charlotte BrontCharlotte Brontëë

ThemesThemes

Christian love and forgivenessChristian love and forgiveness Moral conflictMoral conflict SpiritualismSpiritualism Love and the need for autonomyLove and the need for autonomy The system of social classThe system of social class Gender relationsGender relations

SymbolsSymbols

The moon=changeThe moon=change Food=deprivation and wantFood=deprivation and want Fire=passionFire=passion Chestnut tree=Jane and Rochester’s relationshipChestnut tree=Jane and Rochester’s relationship Bertha Mason=the “trapped” Victorian wife; the Bertha Mason=the “trapped” Victorian wife; the

prevailing attitude towards other cultures; Jane’s prevailing attitude towards other cultures; Jane’s subconscious ragesubconscious rage

The red room=what Jane must overcome in order The red room=what Jane must overcome in order to find love and independence.to find love and independence.

Charlotte BrontCharlotte Brontëë

BiographyBiography

B. 1816 in Thornton, Yorkshire in EnglandB. 1816 in Thornton, Yorkshire in England Father was a rector (Episcopal clergyman)Father was a rector (Episcopal clergyman) Mother died 1821Mother died 1821 Attended the Clergy Daughters’ School – Attended the Clergy Daughters’ School –

later the model for the girls’ school in later the model for the girls’ school in Jane Jane EyreEyre. Older sisters return home from the . Older sisters return home from the boarding school and die of consumption – boarding school and die of consumption – tuberculosis. tuberculosis.

Biography, cont.Biography, cont.

returns home from school – writes miniature returns home from school – writes miniature books of a fantasy land called the Kingdom books of a fantasy land called the Kingdom of Angria.of Angria.

attends Roe Head school, then returns attends Roe Head school, then returns home to teach her sisters.home to teach her sisters.

teaches full time at Roe Head – hates it.teaches full time at Roe Head – hates it. rejects 2 marriage proposals from ministers.rejects 2 marriage proposals from ministers. 1844 – tries to start a school – no pupils 1844 – tries to start a school – no pupils

come come

Bio. Cont.Bio. Cont.

1845 – brother Branwell fired as a tutor for 1845 – brother Branwell fired as a tutor for unpleasantness with employer’s wife – unpleasantness with employer’s wife – spends 3 years at home drinking, taking spends 3 years at home drinking, taking drugs – eventually dies.drugs – eventually dies.

1846 – publishes a collection of poems with 1846 – publishes a collection of poems with sisters Emily and Anne. Use assumed sisters Emily and Anne. Use assumed names. Begins names. Begins Jane EyreJane Eyre..

1847 – 1847 – Jane EyreJane Eyre published. published.

Yet more bio.Yet more bio.

marries Arthur Bell Nicholsmarries Arthur Bell Nichols 1855 – dies in pregnancy; buried at Haworth 1855 – dies in pregnancy; buried at Haworth

parsonage.parsonage.

The Gothic NovelThe Gothic Novel

Definition: Gothic novels, originally from the Definition: Gothic novels, originally from the European Romantic Period, have a European Romantic Period, have a prevailing sense of mystery and terror. prevailing sense of mystery and terror.

Called gothic b/c its imaginative impulse is Called gothic b/c its imaginative impulse is drawn from the rough and primitive grandeur drawn from the rough and primitive grandeur of medieval buildings and ruins.of medieval buildings and ruins.

Dark and tempestuous – full of ghosts, Dark and tempestuous – full of ghosts, madness, outrage, superstition, and madness, outrage, superstition, and revenge.revenge.

Gothic, cont.Gothic, cont.

Settings often castles or monasteries with Settings often castles or monasteries with underground passages, dark battlements, underground passages, dark battlements, hidden passages, and trapdoors.hidden passages, and trapdoors.

Examples: Frankenstein, DraculaExamples: Frankenstein, Dracula Jane Eyre is not strictly gothic, but many Jane Eyre is not strictly gothic, but many

elements can be found.elements can be found.

Elements of gothic motifs in Elements of gothic motifs in Jane Jane EyreEyre

Romantic and desperate escape/flee from Romantic and desperate escape/flee from site of male hero.site of male hero.

Setting is castle-like structureSetting is castle-like structure Haunting mystery and sufferingHaunting mystery and suffering SecretsSecrets Dark, disturbing charactersDark, disturbing characters Emotional traumaEmotional trauma AlienationAlienation

Motifs, cont.Motifs, cont.

Fire and iceFire and ice Prevalence of mysteryPrevalence of mystery SuspenseSuspense GhostsGhosts ImprisonmentImprisonment The appearance of a fortune tellerThe appearance of a fortune teller Portentous dreamsPortentous dreams

The Byronic HeroThe Byronic Hero

So called from poet Lord Byron’s heroesSo called from poet Lord Byron’s heroes A type of antihero who is a romanticized but A type of antihero who is a romanticized but

wicked characterwicked character Defies authorityDefies authority Associated with destructive passionsAssociated with destructive passions Brooding, alienatedBrooding, alienated Persistent lonelinessPersistent loneliness Fiery rebellionFiery rebellion

Hero, cont.Hero, cont.

ArrogantArrogant High level of intelligenceHigh level of intelligence Suffering from unnamed crimeSuffering from unnamed crime Troubled pastTroubled past Powerfully seductivePowerfully seductive MoodyMoody Jaded, world-wearyJaded, world-weary A good heart in the endA good heart in the end

SAT vocabulary from SAT vocabulary from Jane EyreJane Eyre

Approbation: (noun) official approval, praiseApprobation: (noun) official approval, praise Assiduous: (adj) characterized by careful attentionAssiduous: (adj) characterized by careful attention Austere: (adj) strict, stern, unadorned Austere: (adj) strict, stern, unadorned Complacency: (noun) the state of being self-Complacency: (noun) the state of being self-

satisfiedsatisfied Debauchery: (noun) moral corruptionDebauchery: (noun) moral corruption Dowager: (noun) an elderly woman of societyDowager: (noun) an elderly woman of society

Vocab. Cont.Vocab. Cont.

Effervescent: (adj) showing high spirits, Effervescent: (adj) showing high spirits, bubblybubbly

Enigmatic: (adj) mysterious, puzzlingEnigmatic: (adj) mysterious, puzzling Extricate: (verb) to free, to disentangleExtricate: (verb) to free, to disentangle Fervid: (adj) impassionedFervid: (adj) impassioned Gregarious: (adj) friendly, outgoingGregarious: (adj) friendly, outgoing Inclement: (adj) stormy, severeInclement: (adj) stormy, severe

Cont.Cont.

Insuperable (adj) incapable of being conquered Insuperable (adj) incapable of being conquered Lethargic: (adj) sluggish, without energyLethargic: (adj) sluggish, without energy Malevolence: (noun) ill will, evil intentionsMalevolence: (noun) ill will, evil intentions Opprobrium: (noun) disgrace as a result of bad Opprobrium: (noun) disgrace as a result of bad

conductconduct Pompous: (adj) exaggerated show of self-Pompous: (adj) exaggerated show of self-

importanceimportance Quell: (verb) to put down a rumor or disturbanceQuell: (verb) to put down a rumor or disturbance

A few more A few more Refuge (noun) a place of shelter or protectionRefuge (noun) a place of shelter or protection Sagacious: (adj) wiseSagacious: (adj) wise Sequester: (verb) to seclude, to put away from Sequester: (verb) to seclude, to put away from

othersothers Supercilious (adj) vain and arrogantSupercilious (adj) vain and arrogant Torpid: (adj) inactive, dullTorpid: (adj) inactive, dull Vignette: (noun) a short, descriptive literary sketchVignette: (noun) a short, descriptive literary sketch Zealot: (noun) one who embraces a cause with Zealot: (noun) one who embraces a cause with

extreme enthusiasmextreme enthusiasm

Victorian fashionsVictorian fashions

contcont

contcont

Victorian architectureVictorian architecture

moremore

moremore