Summary:
Jane travels alone to Lowood. The following day, Jane is introduced to her classmates and learns the daily routine, which keeps the girls occupied from before dawn until dinner. The manager of the school, Miss Temple, is very kind, while Miss Scatcherd, is unpleasant, she is very nasty to Helen. Helen becomes ‘best friends’ with Jane. Jane quickly learns that life at the school is harsh. The girls are underfed, overworked, and forced to sit still. Helen explains that she is a fully fledged Christian , so she accepts being treated bad, forgives and loves her enemies. Jane disagrees with injustice, but Helen believes that she deserves to be punished for her faults. Mr Brocklehurst humiliates Jane by telling the whole school that she is a liar. Jane explains to Miss Temple that she doesn’t lie and she tells her about life at Gateshead. Miss Temple believes her and so publicly declares Jane innocent. In spring, a lot of the girls get ill with typhus, Helen becomes ill with tuberculosis, and later dieing in her sleep in Jane’s arms. New people come to run the school, conditions improve for the girls. Jane later becomes a teacher at Lowood, she then advertises to become a governess, she accepts a job at Thornfield Manor. Before she leaves Lowood, Bessie comes to see her and she tells her what has happened at Gateshead since Jane left – John Eyre, Jane’s uncle came to look for her.
Symbols/Motifs/Themes:
Love -
Jane searches, for love, but also for value. “to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest” (Chapter 8, Jane to Helen ).
Religion -
Helen is very religious, however, Jane has her own ideas about religion and faith. Helen believes that she derserves to be punished and hit by her teacher - as a punishment for her faults. Jane thinks this is wrong but she admires helen for her strength of character.
Substitute Mothers -
Miss Temple, is very close to Jane. She seems to look out for Jane, and encourages her intellectual development. In chapter 10, Jane writes “she had stood by me in the stead of mother, governess, and latterly, companion” about Miss Temple.
Characters:
Helen Burns - Helen = Jane’s best friend at Lowood. She has a belief that she deserves to be treated bad at Lowood because of her ‘faults’ – Jane cannot understand this. Helen dies in Jane’s arms.
Miss Scatcherd - Is the nasty, cruel, bullying teacher at Lowood, she particularly picks on Helen.
Miss Temple - She is the kind, friendly teacher at Lowood, who treats Helen and Jane with respect. She seems to be one of Jane’s first positive female role models and a mother like companion. Miss Temple publicly declares that Jane is not a liar and clears Jane of Mr Brocklehursts hurtful public accusation.
Response/developments:
I feel the novel has progressed greatly, and is starting to go somewhere. At first i didn't particularly enjoy, the book, but as i am progressing with the reading it is becoming more interesting and i feel i am getting into the book more. The character of Jane Eyre has also progressed well, from an unhappy child to a hardworking student to leaving Lowood for a job as a governess at Thornfield. Jane has already been through a lot, i would say Bronte evokes a reaction in me through the way in which the book is written ie Jane narrating, i believe that this helps the readers to relate to her and the events and the accounts in her life.
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
READING JOURNAL - Jane Eyre - Chapter 4
Summary:
Jane is told she could be going to Lowood girls’ school, she meets Mr Brocklehurst. He is the man who runs and owns the school. Mrs Reed tells Mr. Brocklehurst that Jane lies and she is trouble. Later, Jane is seething at her Aunt for lying about her...she tells her aunt what she really thinks.
Themes:
Religion - religion come sinto this chapter...Mr Brocklehurst seems upset at Jane because she doesn't want to read psalms and doesn't seem particularly interested in them.
Characters:
Mr. Brocklehurst - He is the owner and 'manager' of Lowood School. He is nasty and cold to Jane as a result of Mrs Reed's lies.
Response:
I have only read up to chapter 4, but as i read i think the book seems to get a little more interesting along the way. The more i read it, the more i get into it. i kind of feel pleased for Jane in a way because by the end of this chapter she has told her Aunt how she feels and she has also left Gateshead to attend a school. Even though the school isn't wonderful it is better than staying with the Reed family.
Jane is told she could be going to Lowood girls’ school, she meets Mr Brocklehurst. He is the man who runs and owns the school. Mrs Reed tells Mr. Brocklehurst that Jane lies and she is trouble. Later, Jane is seething at her Aunt for lying about her...she tells her aunt what she really thinks.
Themes:
Religion - religion come sinto this chapter...Mr Brocklehurst seems upset at Jane because she doesn't want to read psalms and doesn't seem particularly interested in them.
Characters:
Mr. Brocklehurst - He is the owner and 'manager' of Lowood School. He is nasty and cold to Jane as a result of Mrs Reed's lies.
Response:
I have only read up to chapter 4, but as i read i think the book seems to get a little more interesting along the way. The more i read it, the more i get into it. i kind of feel pleased for Jane in a way because by the end of this chapter she has told her Aunt how she feels and she has also left Gateshead to attend a school. Even though the school isn't wonderful it is better than staying with the Reed family.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
READING JOURNAL - Jane Eyre - Chapter 3
Summary:
Jane wakes in her own bedroom, in the care of Mr Lloyd and Bessie. Bessie shows that she does not approve of Mrs Reeds treatment of Jane. Jane and Mr Lloyd talk of her life at Gateshead;
He suggests Jane should be sent away to school in the hope that she may find happiness. Jane is very excited and optimistic at the idea of going to school and leaving Gateshead. Jane overhears a conversation between Miss Abbot and Bessie, she finds out that her mother was a member of the Reed family, and they disapproved of her husband –Jane’s father. After Jane was born both of her parents died from illness. Leaving her orphaned with her uncle Reed to bring her up.
Themes: New themes of hope, excitement and optimism are introduced as the prospect of Jane leaving Gateshead to go to school.
Characters: Mr Lloyd is brought in, he is the family ‘doctor/pharmacist’, he is the man that suggests Jane should be sent away to school – in hope of bringing her some happiness.
Response: I began to feel ‘happy’ for Jane as she has the opportunity to begin a new phase of her life, which is due to be optimistic, as if she goes to school she will be leaving Gateshead, in search of a happier life.
Jane wakes in her own bedroom, in the care of Mr Lloyd and Bessie. Bessie shows that she does not approve of Mrs Reeds treatment of Jane. Jane and Mr Lloyd talk of her life at Gateshead;
He suggests Jane should be sent away to school in the hope that she may find happiness. Jane is very excited and optimistic at the idea of going to school and leaving Gateshead. Jane overhears a conversation between Miss Abbot and Bessie, she finds out that her mother was a member of the Reed family, and they disapproved of her husband –Jane’s father. After Jane was born both of her parents died from illness. Leaving her orphaned with her uncle Reed to bring her up.
Themes: New themes of hope, excitement and optimism are introduced as the prospect of Jane leaving Gateshead to go to school.
Characters: Mr Lloyd is brought in, he is the family ‘doctor/pharmacist’, he is the man that suggests Jane should be sent away to school – in hope of bringing her some happiness.
Response: I began to feel ‘happy’ for Jane as she has the opportunity to begin a new phase of her life, which is due to be optimistic, as if she goes to school she will be leaving Gateshead, in search of a happier life.
READING JOURNAL - Jane Eyre - Chapter 2
Summary:
Bessie and Miss Abbott take Jane to the ‘red-room’.
Jane is locked in the ‘red-room’, she starts to think about her dead Uncle Reed and how he brought her to Gateshead when her parents died…his own dying wish was that his wife promise to raise Jane as one of their own. Jane then begins to think her uncle’s ghost is in the room with her, she thinks he is going to take revenge on his wife for breaking her promise by treating Jane as an outsider. Because she is scared at the thought of a ghost in the room she screams, her aunt ignores her and dismisses the fact something is wrong she believes that Jane is trying to get out of being in trouble and is trying to escape her punishment. Jane then faints.
Themes: Social class – she is treated badly even though she comes from a good family, she has been orphaned so is poor, she is treated as a servant from the Reeds, especially by John Reed. Key themes of Depression, isolation, confinement, segregation, melancholy, despair are increased due to Jane being locked in the ‘red-room’ and fainting
Places: The setting for this chapter is still in Gateshead, but the focus is in the ‘red-room’, where Jane is locked in.
Bessie and Miss Abbott take Jane to the ‘red-room’.
Jane is locked in the ‘red-room’, she starts to think about her dead Uncle Reed and how he brought her to Gateshead when her parents died…his own dying wish was that his wife promise to raise Jane as one of their own. Jane then begins to think her uncle’s ghost is in the room with her, she thinks he is going to take revenge on his wife for breaking her promise by treating Jane as an outsider. Because she is scared at the thought of a ghost in the room she screams, her aunt ignores her and dismisses the fact something is wrong she believes that Jane is trying to get out of being in trouble and is trying to escape her punishment. Jane then faints.
Themes: Social class – she is treated badly even though she comes from a good family, she has been orphaned so is poor, she is treated as a servant from the Reeds, especially by John Reed. Key themes of Depression, isolation, confinement, segregation, melancholy, despair are increased due to Jane being locked in the ‘red-room’ and fainting
Places: The setting for this chapter is still in Gateshead, but the focus is in the ‘red-room’, where Jane is locked in.
READING JOURNAL - Jane Eyre - Chapter 1
Summary:
Begins in the home of the Reed family. Jane Eyre is in the drawing room reading Bewick’s History of British Birds – I think she tries to escape what is going on around her through reading and looking at picture books. Jane isn’t allowed to be around and play with her cousins Eiza, Georgiana, and John (the Reed children). John bullies Jane for no reason other than that she is an orphan. He taunts Jane and throws a book at her; she starts to lose her patience and a fight occurs between them. Mrs. Reed, Jane's aunt, blames Jane and sends her to the “red-room” as punishment. The “red-room” is where her Uncle Reed died. A negative scene has already been set; this can be seen in the 1st sentence ‘there was no possibility of taking a walk that day’ also the words ‘leafless shrubbery’ ‘cold winter’ ‘sombre’ ‘rain so penetrating’ give a negative notion. Jane seems miserable, lonely, sad etc.
Themes: Misery of Jane’s exclusion from her aunt her her cousins. Depression, isolation, confinement, segregation, melancholy, despair. Escapism through picture books.
Characters:
Jane: Jane Eyre is the main character and main narrative voice. She is isolated from the Reed family, she is seen as an outsider because she was orphaned. She seems rather independent and ‘older’ for her actual age. She is only living there because it was her dying Uncle Reeds last wish.
Mrs Reed: Mrs Reed appears to resent Jane, she treats Jane terribly compared to her own children. For example, when the fight occurred between Jane and her cousin John, Mrs Reed blamed and punished Jane when it was more so Johns fault.
John Reed: A bully and seems very stuck-up and spoilt.
Reed sisters: Eliza and Georgina also seem spoilt, but they do not seem to bully and taunt Jane as their brother does. Not much is really said about them.
Bessie: Jane's maid kind-of-thing, Bessie is presently shown as an unkind character. However, she has not had much role to play yet, so has just been introduced into the story.
Motifs: Red= red is mentioned loads in this chapter i.e. ‘red moreen curtain’ ‘scarlet drapery’ – Red suggests warning and danger signs, could possibly indicate the warning of the ‘red-room’ and punishment, suffering, anger, fear, injustice, hatred.
Places: The setting for this chapter is Gateshead, it is the family home of the Reeds. It is November, and seems to be imagined as drab, dreary and depressing as you would expect Jane is feeling.
Narrative voice: Jane is the narrator; she talks in 1st person so it encourages the reader to empathise with her character more. This is because it shows how she thinks and what she may be feeling from herself. It makes the story more personal to the readers.
Response: As a reader, I began to feel empathetic towards Jane. I feel sorry for Jane because she is lonely, isolated and not accepted by the Reeds. I am an open-minded reader, however, I found this book hard to get into at first, and it wasn’t until the second time I read chapters 1-4 that I began to actually take the story in.
Begins in the home of the Reed family. Jane Eyre is in the drawing room reading Bewick’s History of British Birds – I think she tries to escape what is going on around her through reading and looking at picture books. Jane isn’t allowed to be around and play with her cousins Eiza, Georgiana, and John (the Reed children). John bullies Jane for no reason other than that she is an orphan. He taunts Jane and throws a book at her; she starts to lose her patience and a fight occurs between them. Mrs. Reed, Jane's aunt, blames Jane and sends her to the “red-room” as punishment. The “red-room” is where her Uncle Reed died. A negative scene has already been set; this can be seen in the 1st sentence ‘there was no possibility of taking a walk that day’ also the words ‘leafless shrubbery’ ‘cold winter’ ‘sombre’ ‘rain so penetrating’ give a negative notion. Jane seems miserable, lonely, sad etc.
Themes: Misery of Jane’s exclusion from her aunt her her cousins. Depression, isolation, confinement, segregation, melancholy, despair. Escapism through picture books.
Characters:
Jane: Jane Eyre is the main character and main narrative voice. She is isolated from the Reed family, she is seen as an outsider because she was orphaned. She seems rather independent and ‘older’ for her actual age. She is only living there because it was her dying Uncle Reeds last wish.
Mrs Reed: Mrs Reed appears to resent Jane, she treats Jane terribly compared to her own children. For example, when the fight occurred between Jane and her cousin John, Mrs Reed blamed and punished Jane when it was more so Johns fault.
John Reed: A bully and seems very stuck-up and spoilt.
Reed sisters: Eliza and Georgina also seem spoilt, but they do not seem to bully and taunt Jane as their brother does. Not much is really said about them.
Bessie: Jane's maid kind-of-thing, Bessie is presently shown as an unkind character. However, she has not had much role to play yet, so has just been introduced into the story.
Motifs: Red= red is mentioned loads in this chapter i.e. ‘red moreen curtain’ ‘scarlet drapery’ – Red suggests warning and danger signs, could possibly indicate the warning of the ‘red-room’ and punishment, suffering, anger, fear, injustice, hatred.
Places: The setting for this chapter is Gateshead, it is the family home of the Reeds. It is November, and seems to be imagined as drab, dreary and depressing as you would expect Jane is feeling.
Narrative voice: Jane is the narrator; she talks in 1st person so it encourages the reader to empathise with her character more. This is because it shows how she thinks and what she may be feeling from herself. It makes the story more personal to the readers.
Response: As a reader, I began to feel empathetic towards Jane. I feel sorry for Jane because she is lonely, isolated and not accepted by the Reeds. I am an open-minded reader, however, I found this book hard to get into at first, and it wasn’t until the second time I read chapters 1-4 that I began to actually take the story in.
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