Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1997.

 

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte is the third novel by one of the three Bronte sisters which students will discover in the Literature and Composition major stream. A classic of English literature, this novel was published in  1847, and has been called a Byronic novel and an influential pro-feminist text respectfully.



Jane Eyre and Mr. Rochester in the
BBC adaption of the novel, Jane Eyre.

The story begins with a young woman, Jane Eyre who becomes orphaned and goes to live with her Aunt and Uncle. After the death of her uncle she is treated in a Cinderella type fashion/ scenario and is sent to an institution where she, after going through many trials, becomes a teacher. Taking up a position as Governess for a young French girl at a property called Thornfield Hall, she strikes up a most unusual relationship between herself and the master of the house, Mr.Rochester (her employer). After bizarre and frightening incidents, she learns that she is not the only woman in the house and desiring to break free what from what is a dysfunctional and unfair set of circumstances, her travels 
take her to the point of death, yet also elevation as a woman 
and in class and the story becomes one of redemption and healing for all
involved.

Students should take note of the themes running through this book such as the role of the Governess, feminism, female empowerment and challenging of social class proprieties. Expect that the literary devices and forms used by all three Bronte sisters and their works will be compared in your final Assessments.

An excellent movie adaptation of Jane Eyre is also available online and is fairly loyal to the written work:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XsB22Qjz3A&noredirect=1