1. Jane Eyre Presentation
Group 5
Jason, Alec, Ben, Sarina, Ashley

2. Literal meaning of the prompt/ how it relates to the novel
The prompt asks for a mystery in a non-mystery book, where the process of investigating the mystery reveals more about the plot and characters than the solution of the mystery. Then, to choose a character who faces a mystery and how the investigation of the mystery illuminates their traits and contributes to the novel as a whole.
Jane’s journey brings her through a few specific mysteries such as the Red Room, what Grace Poole is doing at Thornfield, but also the broader mystery which encompasses the plot: where does Jane belong? The investigations of the smaller mysteries lend themselves to the broader mystery, as with the end to each mystery, she gets one step closer to where she feels she belongs.

3. Explaining the Prompt
Prompt: Many Works of literature not readily identified with the mystery or detective story genre nonetheless involve the investigation of a mystery. In this novel, the solution to the mystery may be less important than the knowledge gained in the process of its investigation. Choose a character who confronts a mystery. Then identify the mystery and explain how the investigation illuminates the meaning of the work as a whole
Jane Eyre's entire journey from Gateshead to Ferndean can be viewed as a mystery. Throughout her journey she is never quite sure what her next step will be. At Gateshead, she has a supernatural experience in the Red Room. At Thornfield, strange events keep occurring that are attributed to Grace Poole, but she later discovers that it is Bertha, Rochester's wife. All of these mysteries shape Jane's character and lead to where she ultimately ends up in the book. 

4. Mystery behind who is Mr. Mason and why and how he got stabbed
Examples from the text
Mystery behind who is Mr. Mason and why and how he got stabbed
This is a mystery to Jane because she obviously doesn't know who in their right mind would not only stab Mr. Mason. As the novel progresses it is revealed that it is Bertha who has committed this crime and that Mr. Mason is in fact her brother. When Jane first hears the “shrilly sound that ran from end to end of Thornfield” she has no idea who is screaming or what has happened which is expressed in not only her dialogue but the dialogue of the rest of the tenants. The mystery coincides with the questions of who has done this and why did he or she do it? This mystery is reiterated again by Jane when she is settled in hiding with Mr. Mason and asks “ What creature was it, that, masked in an ordinary woman’s face and shape, uttered the voice, now of a mocking demon, and anon of a carrion-seeking bird of prey?” before she questions who is this injured man she is supposed to be supervising, “And this man I bent over- this commonplace, quiet stranger- how had he become involved in the web of horror? And why had the fury flown at him?” (pg.198)

5. Mystery behind Jane seeing Uncle Reed’s “ghost” in the Red Room
Example 2 from the text
Mystery behind Jane seeing Uncle Reed’s “ghost” in the Red Room
Jane is escorted to the red room as a punishment for her actions. Her emotional state is hectic to say the least as she states her “her habitual mood of humiliation, self- doubt , forlorn depression, fell damp on the embers of my decaying ire.” (pg.10) She begins to hear the “rushing of wings” as well as “something near me.” (pg.11) This feeling of a ghost is a mystery in the book because it is never explained whether her experience with Mr. Reed was due to a hallucination or if it was truly supernatural like Jane believes. The mystery or question is never solved or answered throughout the entire novel as it is never revisited or discussed a Jane grows throughout the novel.

6. Broad Mystery Example
"'Hush, Hannah! I have a word to say to the woman. You have done your duty in excluding, now let me do mine in admitting her. I was near and listened to both you and her. I think this is a peculiar case -- I must at least examine into it. Young woman rise, and pass before me into the house.'" (pg. 370)
This quote is from Jane being admitted into Moorhouse by St. John. In this incident, Jane is trying to rediscover her place in the world on her own terms in light of the revelations made during her wedding ceremony. She is constantly making revelations such as this during the novel, moving from place to place with anticipation for the next place being the place she belongs.

7. foreshadowing
"'Sir, it removed my veil from its gaunt head, rent it in two parts, and flinging both on the floor, trampled on them.'"  (pg. 311) 
In addition to the strange noises and goings on that Jane has noticed so far at Thornfield Hall, this event has alerted her that something more sinister may be happening. The fact that the incident involves the destruction of Jane's wedding veil foreshadows that the issue may come to a head as a result of or during Jane and Rochester's wedding. 

8. Rhetorical Question
“ Why was I always suffering, always browbeaten, always accused, for ever condemned? Why could I never please? Why was it useless to try to win any one’s favor?” (Pg. 5)
Jane’s question here from her punishment in the Red Room is also part of the larger mystery she is trying to solve: where she belongs. Here in the beginning, she is wondering if this was the only thing she could be a part of. She knows that Gateshead is not a place she’ll ever be treated fairly, which is why she truly wants to know where she would belong. Her use of rhetorical questions suits the prompt well, because it checks the readers awareness of Jane’s current situation throughout the novel, bookmarking the stages of her journey to find where she belongs.

9. Gothic Elements
“Mr. Reed had been dead nine years: it was in-this chamber he breathed his last: here he lay in state; hence his coffin was borne by the undertaker’s men… the beclouded afternoon was tending to drear twilight” (8-9)
The atmosphere and narrative of the red-room provides a dark and foreboding tone, creating a mysterious and suspenseful setting. These uncertainties leave the reader to create their own understanding of the room, creating the idea of supernatural entities (Mr. Reed’s spirit looming over the room) being present.

10. Pivotal point 1: Jane is sent into the red room
“The red-room was a spare chamber, very seldom slept in… This room was chill, because it seldom had a fire; it was silent… Mr. Reed had been dead nine years: it was in-this chamber he breathed his last” (7-8)
This moment is significant because it marks an act of cruelty from the Reed’s that acts as the tipping point for Mr. Lloyd and Bessie to suggest that she leave Gateshead and become schooled. This allows her not only to meet her friend at Lowood, but also become educated and begin her profession as a teacher at the school. Pertaining to the prompt, it introduces the mystery surrounding the death of her uncle, and suggests that her upbringing would have been much more forgiving if he were to be alive.

11. Pivotal point 2: Jane marries rochester
"Reader, I married him. A quiet wedding we had: he and I, the parson and clerk, were alone present" (429)
This moment is significant because it ties up all the loose ends from the mysteries in the book. Jane has finally found that the place she belongs is whatever place she decides she wants to belong, and that place is with Rochester.

12. Citations
Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Starling and Black Publications, 2013.