1. JANE EYRE An Amalgam of Genres

2. AUTHOR AND PUBLICATION The Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Anne, and Emily – all published writings under the pseudonyms Currer Bell, Acton Bell, and Ellis Bell. The Brontë sisters – Charlotte, Anne, and Emily – all published writings under the pseudonyms Currer Bell, Acton Bell, and Ellis Bell. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847) was the first to achieve success and was widely popular, paving interest for her sisters’ works, especially Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre (1847) was the first to achieve success and was widely popular, paving interest for her sisters’ works, especially Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights. While Jane Eyre enjoyed success, once it was speculated that the author was female, criticism arose that the novel was “course” or “improper,” but it still remained famous. While Jane Eyre enjoyed success, once it was speculated that the author was female, criticism arose that the novel was “course” or “improper,” but it still remained famous.

3. VICTORIAN ERA Population increase Population increase Technology enhancements Technology enhancements Poor conditions Poor conditions Periodicals/ newspapers Periodicals/ newspapers Literature during this time period Emphasis on realistic portrayal of life Emphasis on realistic portrayal of life

4. VICTORIAN/ROMANCE NOVEL Jane Eyre has qualities of typical Victorian novels: a focus on virtue and morality, overcoming one’s faults, evildoers coming to punishment, and goodness being rewarded. Most Dickens novels also fall in this category. Jane Eyre has qualities of typical Victorian novels: a focus on virtue and morality, overcoming one’s faults, evildoers coming to punishment, and goodness being rewarded. Most Dickens novels also fall in this category. It also fits the qualities of a Romance novel: lovers being destined for each other and passion. It also fits the qualities of a Romance novel: lovers being destined for each other and passion.

5. WELL, SORT OF The typical heroine of a Victorian and/or Romance novel was almost always beautiful, and she used her beauty as a means of navigating her world and advancing her interests. The typical heroine of a Victorian and/or Romance novel was almost always beautiful, and she used her beauty as a means of navigating her world and advancing her interests. Charlotte Brontë is said to have argued with her sister Emily that she could create a heroine as “plain and as small as myself.” Jane’s better qualities are not in her appearance but in her moral strength and passion. Charlotte Brontë is said to have argued with her sister Emily that she could create a heroine as “plain and as small as myself.” Jane’s better qualities are not in her appearance but in her moral strength and passion.

6. BILDUNGSROMAN Jane Eyre is definitely a bildungsroman or novel of education/development. Jane Eyre is definitely a bildungsroman or novel of education/development. The novel follows Jane from her childhood to adulthood. The novel follows Jane from her childhood to adulthood. While it is typical in this sense, Jane Eyre was groundbreaking in the heightened focus it places on Jane’s interior conflicts: moral, spiritual, and emotional. These had traditionally been considered the realm of poetry, not novels. While it is typical in this sense, Jane Eyre was groundbreaking in the heightened focus it places on Jane’s interior conflicts: moral, spiritual, and emotional. These had traditionally been considered the realm of poetry, not novels.

7. GOTHIC NOVEL Jane Eyre also borrows traits from the gothic novel, which began to become popular during the 18 th and continuing into the 19 th centuries. Jane Eyre also borrows traits from the gothic novel, which began to become popular during the 18 th and continuing into the 19 th centuries. Other gothic works include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula. Other gothic works include Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, the works of Edgar Allan Poe, and Bram Stoker’s Dracula.

8. TRAITS OF GOTHIC LITERATURE It is not exactly horror fiction; instead, it relies heavily on the power of the unseen and unknown to disturb the reader. It is not exactly horror fiction; instead, it relies heavily on the power of the unseen and unknown to disturb the reader. It is a branch of Romanticism, which placed a heavy reliance on emotions. It is a branch of Romanticism, which placed a heavy reliance on emotions. The name “gothic” comes from the architecture. This literature places an emphasis on atmosphere, developed through setting and diction, to create a feeling of unease and suspense. The name “gothic” comes from the architecture. This literature places an emphasis on atmosphere, developed through setting and diction, to create a feeling of unease and suspense.

9. GOTHIC SETTING AND TRAITS CONTINUED Qualities of gothic settings: unnaturally still and quiet, gloomy, spooky, cold, desolate, isolated, and containing secret passageways. Qualities of gothic settings: unnaturally still and quiet, gloomy, spooky, cold, desolate, isolated, and containing secret passageways. The stories often have a preoccupation with madness or the disturbances of the human mind (Dark Romanticism). The stories often have a preoccupation with madness or the disturbances of the human mind (Dark Romanticism). They can have supernatural elements, as well. Romantics strongly believed that not everything could be explained by reason alone. They can have supernatural elements, as well. Romantics strongly believed that not everything could be explained by reason alone.

10. “THE BLACK CAT” While Poe and Brontë are two totally different writers, they do share the qualities of gothic fiction. While Poe and Brontë are two totally different writers, they do share the qualities of gothic fiction.