JE #15

“They’ve like nobody to tak’ care on ’em but me. I’m like to look sharpish” (436). Bronte uses dialect through Hannah’s character. Hannah is the only character to have a distinguished dialect throughout the entire novel, excluding the many people speaking French. Almost everyone that Jane comes across is well educated, until she meets Hannah. Bronte uses this dialect, not to debase the importance of Hannah’s character, but to easily reveal that she is in fact not well-educated. In this passage Bronte shows how valuable it is to have a decent education.

JE #14

“I have no relative but the universal mother, Nature: I will seek her breast and ask repose” (414). In a time of solitude, with nowhere to go, Jane Eyre seeks for a motherly figure to comfort her. Throughout the novel, Bronte has given the orphan Jane many motherly figures including: Bessie, Miss Temple, Helen, and even the moon. When she is alone searching for something to cling onto, Jane resolves that her only relative is the “universal mother Nature,” and fastens herself to it.

JE #13

“A Christmas frost had come at midsummer: a white December storm had whirled over June; ice glazed the ripe apples, drifts crushed the blowing roses; on hay-field and corn-field lay a frozen shroud” (383). Through this one passage Bronte creates a vivid image of frigidness and death in the reader’s mind. The reader is submerged into Jane’s concealed thoughts and exact feelings at this precise moment where she feels abandoned. She states that the cold of winter instantly shrouded the merriment and excitement of summer--her marriage to her beloved Mr. Rochester.

JE #12

“He stood between me and every thought of religion, as an eclipse intervenes between man and the broad sun” (361). Bronte uses many literary devices throughout the novel, including many similes. A simile is a comparison often using the words “like” or “as.” It is a figure of speech that is common for expressing ideas and imagery. This passage also demonstrates the importance Mr. Rochester has on Jane. She says how he is like an “eclipse” between her and the sun--being the only thing that she can see in front of her.

JE #11

“Let me look at your face: turn to the moonlight…I want to read your countenance” (340). Throughout the novel Bronte alludes to phrenology, the “belief that character traits manifest themselves in the shape of the head” (Plattsburgh). Jane does not accept Mr. Rochester’s proposal of marriage until she reads his face. She must determine that Mr. Rochester is truly sincere. Charlotte Bronte and her sister include the idea of phrenology throughout many of their works of literature, as it was most likely studied in their own lives.

"Bront." Plattsburgh State Faculty and Research Web Sites. Web. 02 Dec. 2009. http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/peter.friesen/default.asp?go=217.

JE #10

“The inanimate objects were not changed: but the living things had altered past recognition” (311). Bronte delves into the relationship time has with animate and inanimate objects. After being away for approximately nine years, Jane finds the nonliving occupants at Gateshead to be quite similar as before--while the active members have drastically changed. Bronte’s entire piece of literature is based off of time. The novel is a self titled autobiography written by Jane Eyre: Bronte’s main character. She narrates her life--connecting remembrance and time to form the story of her life.

JE #9

“The glamour of inexperience is over your eyes…and you see it through a charmed medium: you cannot discern that the gilding is slime and the silk draperies cobwebs; that the marble is sordid slate, and the polished woods mere refuse chips and scaly bark” (297). Bronte floods this passage with metaphors. The imagery she creates leads to a better understanding of the thoughts of Mr. Rochester. He depreciates the value of his home generating the general theme of social status. To Jane the house is a “splendid mansion” but to Mr. Rochester it seems not much more than “slime.” The differences between these two characters, and their separate social status, eventually kindles the love between them.

JE #8

“Brought down in armfuls by the Abigails” (260). A servant or “handmaid” is sometimes referred to as an Abigail, its reason coming straight from the Bible. King David’s third wife’s name was Abigail. Abigail referenced herself as King David’s “handmaid.” In English literature it has been common to call someone’s servant or attendant “Abigail” for this meaning. Bronte, being of English heritage, often has this name associated with this meaning throughout Jane Eyre. Bronte hints at the role stature has in this past English society.

"Abigail - meaning of Abigail name." Baby Names Name Meanings Baby Boy Names, Baby Girl Names. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/0/Abigail.

JE #7

“Some natural tears she shed” (243). Bronte references Paradise Lost, which has been commonly alluded to throughout the novels we have read so far this year. Paradise Lost tells a lot about religion and its different ways, while Jane struggles to find her own path with religion. It is interesting that John Milton’s work of literature written in the late sixteenth century has had such an influence on many great authors after his time. It is intriguing that Bronte uses this quote, which hints that Adele may not always shed “natural” tears, possibly also foreshadowing upcoming events.

"Milton: Paradise Lost - Book 12." Dartmouth College. Web. 01 Dec. 2009. http://www.dartmouth.edu/~milton/reading_room/pl/book_12/index.shtml.

JE #6

“Little things recall us to earth” (186). Bronte says how the littlest things in life are often the most important--allowing one to linger and think to oneself for moments, but bringing one back “to earth” in time. Something as simple as a clock striking can be enough to end previous thoughts and move one along with her life. Jane’s “eyes and spirit seemed drawn from the gloomy house,” wanting to remain away for as long as possible but eventually seduced by such a small thing.

JE #5

“Like types of the Hebrew ark” (173). The Hebrew ark, also known as the Ark of the Covenant, is a holy warehouse where the Ten Commandments are held. It is often referred to in the Bible, which Bronte must have been quite familiar with. The theme of religion is absolute through Jane Eyre; Bronte (through many characters) expresses Christianity and religion openly and often, in many different styles. These differences lead her main character to be confused, struggling to find her own view of Christianity.

"PE HTML PUBLIC "-//IETF//DTD HTML//EN"Ark of the Covenant, Ark." Public Services - Social, Religious, Scientific, Products, Environment. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://mb-soft.com/believe/txn/ark.htm.

JE #4

“‘A new servitude! There is something in that,’ I soliloquized (mentally, be it understood; I did not talk aloud)” (152). Bronte includes a literary device (as well as mentioning the device) that was commonly used by William Shakespeare in his works. Throughout her novel Bronte references many of Shakespeare’s works, including a quote from Macbeth: “After life’s fitful fever they sleep well” (174). Shakespeare’s predominance throughout the centuries is inevitable, as it appears in works of literature as Jane Eyre. It is apparent that Bronte had much respect for Shakespeare’s work and devices, as she includes such things heavily in her novel. The two pieces also share the theme of social status; Macbeth demonstrates the fall of a character and Jane Eyre is an example of the rise of a character.

JE #3

“Eyes like Miss Scatcherd’s can only see those minute defects, and are blind to the full brightness of the orb” (131). According to dictionary.com, an orb can be any sphere or globe, but it says how it can specifically be “any of the heavenly bodies, as the sun or moon”. Bronte uses imagery in this passage. She heightens the reader’s awareness of the fact that Miss Scatcherd only sees the “defects” in her students. She gives an illustration of being unaware of certain abilities in people, being blind to the “full brightness” of the people (or heavenly body for imagery).

"Orb Definition Definition of Orb at Dictionary.com." Dictionary.com Find the Meanings and Definitions of Words at Dictionary.com. Web. 30 Nov. 2009. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/orb.

JE #2

“Humility is a Christian grace, and one peculiarly appropriate to the pupils of Lowood; I, therefore, direct that especial care shall be bestowed on its cultivation amongst them” (93). Bronte often foreshadows upcoming events. Here she uses foreshadowing to let the reader know that humility, like at Gateshead, is “peculiarly appropriate” and will be used. The reader is hopeful that her schooling at Lowood will be better than her life at Gateshead, but this creates possible contemplation for the reader.

JE #1

“You will now stay here an hour longer, and it is only on condition of perfect submission and stillness that I shall liberate you then” (75). Charlotte Bronte uses the “red-room,” in which Jane is locked up, as a symbol throughout the novel. This room, and the humiliation that came with it, is often referred to as Jane ages, especially in other such times of mockery. Her first memory of the red-room is at Lowood, when being scoffed at by Mr. Brockleworst. For Jane this room symbolizes what she has already defeated, as well as what lays ahead of her, of which she must conquer.