Jane Eyre Charlotte Brontë

Themes Christian love and forgiveness Christian love and forgiveness Moral conflict Moral conflict Spiritualism Spiritualism Love and the need for autonomy Love and the need for autonomy The system of social class The system of social class Gender relations Gender relations

Symbols The moon=change The moon=change Food=deprivation and want Food=deprivation and want Fire=passion Fire=passion Chestnut tree=Jane and Rochesters relationship Chestnut tree=Jane and Rochesters relationship Bertha Mason=the trapped Victorian wife; the prevailing attitude towards other cultures; Janes subconscious rage Bertha Mason=the trapped Victorian wife; the prevailing attitude towards other cultures; Janes subconscious rage The red room=what Jane must overcome in order to find love and independence. The red room=what Jane must overcome in order to find love and independence.

Charlotte Brontë

Biography B in Thornton, Yorkshire in England B in Thornton, Yorkshire in England Father was a rector (Episcopal clergyman) Father was a rector (Episcopal clergyman) Mother died 1821 Mother died 1821 Attended the Clergy Daughters School – later the model for the girls school in Jane Eyre. Older sisters return home from the boarding school and die of consumption – tuberculosis. Attended the Clergy Daughters School – later the model for the girls school in Jane Eyre. Older sisters return home from the boarding school and die of consumption – tuberculosis.

Biography, cont. returns home from school – writes miniature books of a fantasy land called the Kingdom of Angria. returns home from school – writes miniature books of a fantasy land called the Kingdom of Angria. attends Roe Head school, then returns home to teach her sisters. attends Roe Head school, then returns 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 – tries to start a school – no pupils come 1844 – tries to start a school – no pupils come

Bio. Cont – brother Branwell fired as a tutor for unpleasantness with employers wife – spends 3 years at home drinking, taking drugs – eventually dies – brother Branwell fired as a tutor for unpleasantness with employers wife – spends 3 years at home drinking, taking drugs – eventually dies – publishes a collection of poems with sisters Emily and Anne. Use assumed names. Begins Jane Eyre – publishes a collection of poems with sisters Emily and Anne. Use assumed names. Begins Jane Eyre – Jane Eyre published – Jane Eyre published.

Yet more bio. marries Arthur Bell Nichols marries Arthur Bell Nichols 1855 – dies in pregnancy; buried at Haworth parsonage – dies in pregnancy; buried at Haworth parsonage.

The Gothic Novel Definition: Gothic novels, originally from the European Romantic Period, have a prevailing sense of mystery and terror. Definition: Gothic novels, originally from the European Romantic Period, have a prevailing sense of mystery and terror. Called gothic b/c its imaginative impulse is drawn from the rough and primitive grandeur of medieval buildings and ruins. Called gothic b/c its imaginative impulse is drawn from the rough and primitive grandeur of medieval buildings and ruins. Dark and tempestuous – full of ghosts, madness, outrage, superstition, and revenge. Dark and tempestuous – full of ghosts, madness, outrage, superstition, and revenge.

Gothic, cont. Settings often castles or monasteries with underground passages, dark battlements, hidden passages, and trapdoors. Settings often castles or monasteries with underground passages, dark battlements, hidden passages, and trapdoors. Examples: Frankenstein, Dracula Examples: Frankenstein, Dracula Jane Eyre is not strictly gothic, but many elements can be found. Jane Eyre is not strictly gothic, but many elements can be found.

Elements of gothic motifs in Jane Eyre Romantic and desperate escape/flee from site of male hero. Romantic and desperate escape/flee from site of male hero. Setting is castle-like structure Setting is castle-like structure Haunting mystery and suffering Haunting mystery and suffering Secrets Secrets Dark, disturbing characters Dark, disturbing characters Emotional trauma Emotional trauma Alienation Alienation

Motifs, cont. Fire and ice Fire and ice Prevalence of mystery Prevalence of mystery Suspense Suspense Ghosts Ghosts Imprisonment Imprisonment The appearance of a fortune teller The appearance of a fortune teller Portentous dreams Portentous dreams

The Byronic Hero So called from poet Lord Byrons heroes So called from poet Lord Byrons heroes A type of antihero who is a romanticized but wicked character A type of antihero who is a romanticized but wicked character Defies authority Defies authority Associated with destructive passions Associated with destructive passions Brooding, alienated Brooding, alienated Persistent loneliness Persistent loneliness Fiery rebellion Fiery rebellion

Hero, cont. Arrogant Arrogant High level of intelligence High level of intelligence Suffering from unnamed crime Suffering from unnamed crime Troubled past Troubled past Powerfully seductive Powerfully seductive Moody Moody Jaded, world-weary Jaded, world-weary A good heart in the end A good heart in the end

SAT vocabulary from Jane Eyre Approbation: (noun) official approval, praise Approbation: (noun) official approval, praise Assiduous: (adj) characterized by careful attention Assiduous: (adj) characterized by careful attention Austere: (adj) strict, stern, unadorned Austere: (adj) strict, stern, unadorned Complacency: (noun) the state of being self- satisfied Complacency: (noun) the state of being self- satisfied Debauchery: (noun) moral corruption Debauchery: (noun) moral corruption Dowager: (noun) an elderly woman of society Dowager: (noun) an elderly woman of society

Vocab. Cont. Effervescent: (adj) showing high spirits, bubbly Effervescent: (adj) showing high spirits, bubbly Enigmatic: (adj) mysterious, puzzling Enigmatic: (adj) mysterious, puzzling Extricate: (verb) to free, to disentangle Extricate: (verb) to free, to disentangle Fervid: (adj) impassioned Fervid: (adj) impassioned Gregarious: (adj) friendly, outgoing Gregarious: (adj) friendly, outgoing Inclement: (adj) stormy, severe Inclement: (adj) stormy, severe

Cont. Insuperable (adj) incapable of being conquered Insuperable (adj) incapable of being conquered Lethargic: (adj) sluggish, without energy Lethargic: (adj) sluggish, without energy Malevolence: (noun) ill will, evil intentions Malevolence: (noun) ill will, evil intentions Opprobrium: (noun) disgrace as a result of bad conduct Opprobrium: (noun) disgrace as a result of bad conduct Pompous: (adj) exaggerated show of self- importance Pompous: (adj) exaggerated show of self- importance Quell: (verb) to put down a rumor or disturbance Quell: (verb) to put down a rumor or disturbance

A few more A few more Refuge (noun) a place of shelter or protection Refuge (noun) a place of shelter or protection Sagacious: (adj) wise Sagacious: (adj) wise Sequester: (verb) to seclude, to put away from others Sequester: (verb) to seclude, to put away from others Supercilious (adj) vain and arrogant Supercilious (adj) vain and arrogant Torpid: (adj) inactive, dull Torpid: (adj) inactive, dull Vignette: (noun) a short, descriptive literary sketch Vignette: (noun) a short, descriptive literary sketch Zealot: (noun) one who embraces a cause with extreme enthusiasm Zealot: (noun) one who embraces a cause with extreme enthusiasm

Victorian fashions

cont

cont

Victorian architecture

more

more