Jane Eyre Question 8 (Reflecting History)

Jane Eyre accurately reflects events in history. This novel was set in the 1800's in England. During this time people were respected if they had money. The wealthy people were the high class and the poor were considered rubbish. This is reflected very much in Jane Eyre. An example of this is between the Reed family and Jane. The Reed's have money and Jane has none. Therefore Jane is considered a servant or a strain on the Reed family. One reason is because they did not like her parents. Another reason is they had to spend money on her. The second Mrs. Reed heard about a free boarding school for orphans she sent Jane away so she did not have to care for her anymore.

During this time period it was considered appalling to marry someone not in the same class as you. For example Jane's mother had money and married in a lower class; because of this the Reed family cut Jane's mother off from money. they were ashamed of her because she married low. People are also astonished when Jane and Mr. Rochester go to get married. This is because Mr. Rochester is a wealthy high class citizen while Jane is a mistress. Overall this novel accurately reflects history because it shows how people were treated by a class and wealth system.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Margaret Smith. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

Jane Eyre Question 7 (Author Techniques)

The author of Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte, uses different techniques to engage the audience and makes the story effective. For example she uses the symbol love towards the end of the book. Throughout Jane's stay at Thornfield the reader sees the connection and love between Mr. Rochester and Jane. She also uses mystery and suspense when talking about their love. When Mr. Mason and his lawyer stop the wedding and tell the judge that Rochester is already married. (Bronte Ch 26) The suspense is to the reader because he or she does not know if Jane will stay with him or leave. There is also suspense in chapter 28 when Jane collapses in anguish and exhaustion. The reader does not know if she will be okay. The author also uses tragedy to keep the story interesting. An example of this is Jane's parents and uncle are dead, she is treated poorly at her aunt's house, her first friend at Lowood dies, and her heart is broken by the man she loves. The author connects all of these techniques together to form a intriguing and timeless story. Therefore, I think Charlotte Bronte succeeds in her different techniques to interest the reader and makes the story effective.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Margaret Smith. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

Jane Eyre Question 6 (Timeless Messsage)

There is a timeless message of never giving up is shown throughout Jane Eyre multiple times. From the beginning of the novel reader sees how Jane is treated like a servant in her aunts home. She is bullied, beat, and hurt emotionally and psychically by her cousin John Reed numerous times. She has no comfort because her parents and uncle are dead. The only reason that Jane is still at the Reed Estate is because her uncle made her aunt promise to keep Jane until she could live on her own. Jane endures the pain and ends up becoming friends with the actual servant named Bessie. As the book goes on the reader sees Jane's never give up attitude lets her attend a boarding school at a place called Lowood. Jane thinks her schooling is being generously paid for by Mrs. Reed but is disappointed to find out the school was for girls who had been orphaned. (Bronte Ch. 5)This is an instance were Jane could have gave up on life but she stays at the school and enjoys her experiences by making friendships and making memories. Jane goes on to become a governess at a manor called Thornfield. (Bronte Ch. 10) She falls in love with a man named Mr. Rochester and gets her heart broken when she discovers he is married to someone else as they are about to be married. (Bronte Ch. 26) Once agian Jane does not give up on love and life and takes a new path. Eventually Jane and Mr. Rochester do get back together and Jane's good attitude lead her to happily ever after life. I think we still read this novel because it teaches us to never give up and tells us that hard work and a good attitude pays off.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Margaret Smith. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

Jane Eyre Your Choice Blog

Jane is an outsider. Her parents are dead and left her no money. Her aunt and cousins, the Reeds, treat her like servant. From the beginning of the novel the reader sees how Jane is left out. On page 8 Jane says, “She really must exclude me from my privileges intended for contented, happy, little children.” (Bronte 18)This quote shows Jane feels excluded from her only family. She should be loved or at least included by her aunt but is not. In chapter one the reader sees all the Reed children sitting by their mother and feeling happy. Jane does not get to lie with them and sense the feeling of love and acceptance. The feelings of neglect as a young ten year old can and most likely will affect Jane’s’ life as an adult. Luckily Jane has a comfort, books. She feels pleased when she is reading. On page twelve Jane states, “With Bendwick [the book] on my knee I was then happy: happy in my own way.”( Bronte 12) When Jane is reading it makes her feel better. She can imagine better lives and create dreams for herself. Sadly John Reed, Jane’s older cousin, his horribly mean to her. John is Jane’s “master”. She is supposed to treat him with respect and not talk back to him. When he catches her reading one of his books he screams and yells at her. He says on page seventeen, “You are a dependent! Mama says: you have no money your father left you none, you ought to beg, not live here with gentleman children like us!” He even hits her after saying this. Nobody would feel good about themselves after that. Jane tries sticking up for herself, but ends up getting in trouble. She gets banished to the red room and is locked up there alone. She feels lonely, unloved and an outsider.

This is imprtant to Jane as a protagonist because it is the reason she is different and unique. This is important to the reader because it makes Jane seem more real. It also makes her relateable to readers of Jane Eyre.

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. Ed. Margaret Smith. Oxford: Oxford UP, 1998. Print.

Why Read the classics #1

The essay "Why Read the Classics" has many statements about classics. In fact there are fourteen statements about the classics. This can confuse the reader and make it hard for them to come up with the thesis. Therefore I have come up with my own thesis. I found the thesis of the essay is classical literature is meant to affect our lives and help us (the readers) understand the classics and relate them to our daily lives. The experiences in the classic novels help readers find themselves and reach goals. On page nine the author states, "classics help us understand who we are and points we have reached." (Calvino 9) This quote is saying classics help make us who we are. The stories in certain novels effect our lives in great ways. they give us goals and dreams and they define are personalities.

The thesis in "Why Read the Classics" is implicit, The thesis is not stated in words but is written "in-between the lines." The thesis in this essay reflects the title and point of the essay. A good thing about an implicit thesis is the reader can make his or her own thesis using the main points of the essay.

Calvino, Italo. "Why Read the Classics." The Uses of Literature. New York: Vintage Books, 1999