Jane Eyre and the Novel

Why Were Novels So Popular in the 19 th Century ? Appeal to “young, ignorant, and idle” Appeal to newly-literate audiences (working classes, middle class, women)—leads to “highbrow” and “lowbrow” notions of writing Economically feasible (subscription publishing, libraries, serials)

What does the 19 th C British novel emphasize? Questions of social identity (class, inheritance, gender roles) Moral values (faith, ethics, courage, dignity) Realism in subject, tone, description Mood, sensation, feeling (e.g. “gothic”)

Jane Eyre Published by Charlotte Brontë in 1847 as “an autobiography” Pseudonym “Currer Bell” Immediate success

Why a pseudonym? “Averse to personal publicity, we veiled our own names under those of Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell; the ambiguous choice being dictated by a sort of conscientious scruple at assuming Christian names positively masculine, while we did not like to declare ourselves women, because -- without at that time suspecting that our mode of writing and thinking was not what is called 'feminine' -- we had a vague impression that authoresses are liable to be looked on with prejudice; we had noticed how critics sometimes use for their chastisement the weapon of personality, and for their reward, a flattery, which is not true praise."

Autobiographical Elements? Brontë was a clergyman’s daughter She and her sisters attended a similar school She became a governess Sisters died of “consumption” Siblings were all artists

When we read novels, we look for Plot Setting Characterization Dialogue Theme Narrator’s point of view Repeated patterns which may have symbolic or thematic importance

Patterns of Repetition Signal Importance Landscapes and viewpoints Words and synonyms (rebel, liberty) Episodes (Jane being singled out) Characters (kindly female supporters: Bessie, Mrs. Fairfax, the Rivers sisters) Actions (e.g. painting pictures, “taking likenesses,” etc.)

Plot At its simplest, “what happens why” Story = what happens Structure = how the plot is revealed in the narrative Sequence: how things happen in the plot or structure “The King died and then the queen died.” “The King died and then the queen died of grief.”

The Plot has Falling Action Resolution (Denouement) Introduction Complication (Conflict) Intensified by Rising Action Climax This is complicated by 3-volume structure—are there mini- climaxes in each section?

Setting When it was written Where it was written Milieu Verisimilitude Fashions (e.g. “Gothic”)

19 th Century Gothic

What Is Literary Gothic? In 19 th century, “irregular”, “wild,” “supernatural,” “uncivilized” Some indicator words: mad, wild, free, authentic, natural, dark, exotic, ancient, spooky, brooding… General tone is dark, brooding, creepy, mysterious, malevolent…think Tim Burton Mysterious house, broodingly handsome hero, madwoman in attic—all Gothic conventions

Characterization “Round” characters: fully-developed, three-dimensional “Flat” characters: not fully-developed, often stereotyped Implicit vs. explicit characterization Think about how characterization is conveyed to us (description, other characters’ reactions, etc.)

Dialogue Voice Word choice Rhythm

Theme Idea or point being put forward by a work May or may not be synonymous with “message” May be explicitly or implicitly conveyed and reinforced

Point of View First person (“I”) –Protagonist –Observer Third person omniscient (“He, she, They”) Third person limited (through the consciousness of one character) Third person objective (scientific description)