Friday, May 29, 2020 4:03 PM
Passage Based Question; The Introduction
Question One: In what ways does Bronte make this excerpt such an intriguing beginning to the novel? (25 marks)
Text: Chapter One, Jane Eyre
Charlotte Bronte has through her masterful writing abilities, in the very first chapter of her novel Jane Eyre set the tone Starting from:
for the rest of the book and established many of the main themes, which helps create a sense of intrigue in the reader THERE WAS NO possibility of taking a walk that day. We had been wandering
towards the book, prompting them to read on further. This is encapsulated in the excerpt presented as through indeed, in the leafless shrubbery an hour in the morning; but since dinner (M
establishing the clear class differences present which are recurrent throughout the novel and Jane’s position in society Reed, when there was no company, dined early) the cold winter wind had
as both a poor orphan and a woman, created sympathy in the minds of the readers. Thus, by forming a connection brought with it clouds so somber, and a rain so penetrating, that further outd
between the reader and the protagonist of the novel, this excerpt helps develop a sense of fascination in the reader exercise was now out of the question.
towards this novel. This is only furthered by developing Jane’s misery through her choice of literature as well as the use To:
of both diction and literary devices. I can not tell what sentiment haunted the quite solitary church-yard, with its
inscribed head-stone; its gate, its two trees, its low horizon, girdled by a brok
A phrase mentioned in the very introduction of the novel is, “the cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so wall, and its newly-risen crescent, attesting the hour of eventide.
somber, and a rain so penetrating…” as a pathetic fallacy is at work here as human attributes are given to an inanimate
object of nature reflecting a mood. The initial atmosphere created by the gloomy weather mirrors the gothic themes
which much of the novel contains, as the theme of gothic is established from the very first paragraph. It also helps
foreshadow the gradual incline in misery as the novel progresses, starting from being discriminated by her aunt, then to
the being bullied by her cousin before the traumatic incident in the red room takes place. This is further followed by a
dreadful time in Lowood School, before the misery climaxes with the death of Helen Burn. This cascading effect of grief
which will take place is foreshadowed by the glum atmosphere depicted through the weather, and this helps keep the
readers interest alive. The feeling of impending doom is present within the first paragraph.
The abrupt start to the novel which begins with the words “there was no possibility of taking a walk that day,” helps
create a sense of familiarity as it seems like no introductions are necessary. It also seems remarkably like Jane is talking
to us, rather than Bronte writing which engages the reader who immediately feels a sense of familiarity with Jane. From
the very beginning of the book, Bronte uses careful novelistic craftsmanship to position the reader on Jane's side. Not
only does the narration occur in Jane’s voice, a fact which automatically makes her a more sympathetic character, but
Bronte incorporates all of the tragic facts of Jane’s childhood in the first few pages. From the start, Jane is oppressed;
she is sent off while her cousins play. Further sympathy is created when Jane talks about how her “heart is saddened by
the chidings of Bessie, the nurse, and humbled by the consciousness of my physical inferiority to Eliza, John and
Georgiana Reed.” This creates pity in the readers towards Jane as they find themselves attached to her and concerned
for her struggles.
This opening chapter sets up two of the primary themes in the novel: class conflict and gender difference. As a poor
orphan living with relatives, Jane feels alienated from the rest of the Reed family, and they certainly do nothing to make
her feel more comfortable. The difference between Jane and her cousins is first established when Mrs. Reed talks about
how “she really must exclude Jane from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children.” Not only does
this remark on the tragic events of Jane’s life both which have happened, including the death of her parents, but also
those which will follow, making it hard for her to be happy like many other children of her age, but also helps set her
apart from everyone else.
Jane's situation as she sits reading Bewick's History of Birds provides significant imagery. The red curtains that enclose
Jane in her isolated window seat connect with the imagery of the red-room to which Jane is banished at the end of the
chapter. This helps foreshadow and build up to the coming tragedy. Her seclusion from everyone else as she sits and
reads also represents her isolation in society and how she differs from everyone else around her, the “red moreen
curtain” representing her class, her status as an orphan, her attitude and her looks, all of which isolate her from her
cousins.
The color red is symbolic as it represents fire and passion, red offers vitality, but also the potential to burn everything
that comes in its way to ash. The symbolic energy of the red curtains contrast with the dreary November day that Jane
watches outside her window: "a pale blank of mist and cloud." Throughout the book, passion and fire will contrast with
paleness and ice. Jane's choice of books is also significant in this scene. The fact that she is reading “Bewick's History of
British Birds” in light of how the need for freedom and the instinct to migrate are two concepts associated with birds
and this symbolizes how Jane reads this book because birds are symbolic of her desire for freedom from her current,
stifling situation. Like a bird, she would like the freedom of flying away from the alienation she feels at the Reed's house.
The content of the book itself seem reflective of Jane’s situation. The situation of the sea fowl that inhabit "solitary
rocks and promontories," is similar to Jane's: Like them, she lives in isolation. The extreme climate of the birds' homes in
the Arctic, "that reservoir of frost and snow," the "death-white realms," again creates a contrast with the fire that
explodes later in the chapter during John and Jane's violent encounter, which will later follow. The book goes on to talk
about “the broken boat stranded on a desolate coast; to the cold and ghastly moon glancing through bars of cloud at
a wreck just sinking.” This also seems to portray Jane’s situation as it is possible that she felt lonely and even though she
is young, she felt as though she was sinking with no place to go. She might have related as though she was the boat
stranded alone on some uninhabited place. This further helps in creating sympathy towards Jane’s plight in the minds of
the readers.
The mention of faraway places such as “bleak shores of Lapland, Siberia, Spitzbergen, Nova, Zembla, Iceland,
Greenland, with "the vast sweep of the Arctic Zone, and those forlorn regions of dreary space,” seems to imply how
Jane desires to explore the world outside of her confined space, and this contrast between the open spaces she wishes
to explore and the situation she currently is in – confined and secluded behind the curtain- just further seems to remark
on how limited Jane’s life is. These limitations could also come in the form of her poor position in society and how for
her status as both a woman and a poor orphan, not many ways in life were available and she would never have the
freedom she desires. This not only builds up to the repressive and constrained atmosphere Jane would have to live in
Lowood School but also helps to evoke sympathy’s in the readers mind and draw them further in to the novel.
In conclusion, Bronte has through the portrayal of Jane as a character to be pitied because of her unfortunate life
circumstances due to the position she was born in and her exclusion from a family unit which she seems to so desire
helped develop a connection between the reader and Jane, who is the protagonist, thus creating a sense of intrigue in
the story. Her bleak position is also represented by the books she reads, which along with her surroundings (such as the
red curtain) help symbolize Jane as a character and what she stands for- including her passion and vitality, as well as the
unfortunate circumstances which will follow later. Thus the reader is drawn into the story, both out of compassion for
Jane and an eagerness to know what misfortunes later befall her.
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,Friday, May 29, 2020 3:34 PM
Quotes- 1 to 10
CHAPTER ONE:
• Cold winter wind had brought with it clouds so somber
• She really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children.’
• Cross legged like a Turk
• Red moreen curtain nearly close
• Protecting but not separating me from the drear November day
• Of ‘the solitary rocks and promontories’
• ‘Say, ‘what do you want, master reed?’’
• You have no business to take our books; you are a dependent.
• Which made him bilious, and gave him a dim and bleared eye and flabby cheeks.
• Wicked and cruel boy
• Every morsel of flesh on my bones shrank when he came near
• Mrs. Reed was blind and deaf on the subject
CHAPTER TWO
• “Master! How is he my master? Am I a servant?”
• Curtains of deep red damask
• Revolted slave
• Unjust-Unjust
• This room was chill, because it seldom had a fire;
• I was a discord in Gateshead Hall
• Mr. Reeds spirit harassed by the wrongs of his sisters child might quit its abode.
• I know that had I been a sanguine, brilliant, careless, exacting, handsome, romping child—though
equally dependent and friendless—Mrs. Reed would have endured my presence more
complacently
• I thought a ghost would come
• Underhanded little thing
• when she had ascertained that I was really subsiding, she loosened her hold of me
• Miss eyre are you ill; do you feel like you should sleep; would you like to eat or drink something?
• Herald of a coming vision from another world
• ‘the dimly gleaming mirror’
• ‘dead men … revisiting the earth’
CHAPTER THREE
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,CHAPTER THREE
• I felt so sheltered and befriended while he sat in the chair near my pillow
• Protection and security when I knew there was a stranger in the room
• Inexpressible sadness weighed it down
• But I ought to forgive you, for you knew not what you did:
• Gulliver a most desolate wanderer
• No, I was not heroic enough to purchase liberty at the price of caste.
• A beauty like Miss Georgiana would be more moving in the same condition.”
• I felt physically weak and broken down; but my worse ailment was an unutterable wretchedness
of mind:
• Like most other favors long deferred and often wished for, too late!
• This book I had again and again perused with delight.
• All was eerie and dreary; the giants were gaunt goblins, the pigmies malevolent and fearful imps,
Gulliver a most desolate wanderer in most dread and dangerous regions.
• I cry because I am miserable.”
• Besides, school would be a complete change: it implied a long journey, an entire separation from
Gateshead.
• “Yes,” responded Abbot, “if she were a nice, pretty child, one might compassionate her
forlornness; but one really cannot care for such a little toad as that.”
CHAPTER FOUR
• Human beings must love something,
• A black pillar! Such at least, appeared to me, at first sight, the straight, narrow, sable-clad shape
standing erect on the rug: the grim face at the top was like a carved mask, placed above the shaft
by way of capital.
• He, for it was a man,
• “Well, Jane Eyre, and are you a good child!”
• What a face he had, now that it was almost on a level with mine! What a great nose! And what a
mouth! And what large prominent teeth!
• You are deceitful!”
• There's a dear—and lie down a little.”
• Even for me life had its gleam of sunshine
• “What would Uncle Reed say to you, if he were alive?”
• I half believed her; for I felt indeed only bad feelings surging in my breast.
• From every enjoyment I was, of course, excluded
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, • From every enjoyment I was, of course, excluded
• To speak truth, I had not the least wish to go into company, for in company I was very rarely
noticed
• I was comparatively happy, believing it to be happy likewise.
• What a miserable little poltroon had fear, engendered of unjust punishment, made of me in those
days! I
• I dimly perceived that she was already obliterating hope from the new phase of existence which
she destined me to enter
• Speak I must; I had been trodden on severely, and must turn, but how?
• I assure you, I desire to be your friend.”
CHAPTER FIVE
• “Be sure and take good care of her,”
• Raw and chill was the winter morning: my teeth chattered as I hastened down the drive.
• Valley, dark with wood, and long after night had overclouded the prospect I heard a wild wind
rushing among the trees.
• I dressed as well as I could for shivering entered the cold and dimly-lit school-room
• Tall lady with dark hair, dark eyes, and a pale and large forehead
• Great gray hills heaved up around the horizon; as twilight deepened, we descended a valley, dark
with wood, and long after night had overclouded the prospect I heard a wild wind rushing among
the trees.
• Quaint assemblage they appeared, all with plain locks combed from their faces, not a curl visible;
in brown dresses, made high and surrounded by a narrow tucker about the throat, with little
pockets of holland (shaped something like a Highlander's purse) tied in front of their frocks, and
destined to serve the purpose of a work-bag, all, too, wearing woolen stockings and country-made
shoes, fastened with brass buckles.
• None of whom precisely pleased me; for the stout one was a little coarse, the dark one not a little
fierce, the foreigner harsh and grotesque, and Miss Miller, poor thing! looked purple, weather-
beaten, and overworked
• When full of flowers they would doubtless look pretty: but now, at the latter end of January, all
was wintry blight and brown decay.
• “You ask rather too many questions. I have given you answers enough for the present: now I want
to read.”
• Her sight seems turned in, gone down into her heart: she is looking at what she can remember
CHAPTER SIX
• I felt ready to perish with cold.
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