1. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre

2. Many Books in One Autobiography Fairy Tale Plot Quest Plot
Gothic/Mystery Plot

3. Jane Eyre as Autobiography
Parents: Rev. Patrick Brontë + Maria
Maria (1814), Elizabeth (1815), Charlotte (1816), Branwell (1817), Emily (1818), Anne (1820)
Picture of Haworth [how-worth]-Brontes' villiage: very rural on the moors (treeless landscape swept by winds)
Mother, Maria Branwell Bronte, died when Charlotte was 5.
Older sisters, Maria and Elizabeth, cared for younger siblings until unmarried aunt, Elizabeth Branwell, came to live in Bronte home. Not affectionate and lovable. Also cared for by family servant, Tabitha Aykroyd, perhaps prototype of Nelly Dean in Wuthering Heights and Bessie in Jane Eyre.
Haworth today

4. Jane Eyre as Autobiography
Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell: Charlotte Brontë Emily Brontë Anne Brontë
All three sisters published novels in WH and AG together in set.
Charlotte's: "The Professor" was rejected for publication at that time. But Jane Eyre was published shortly thereafter in same year.
male pseudonyms: Currer, Ellis, and Acton Bell
Wuthering Heights--Emily's only novel
Anne: Agnes Grey - a governess’s life; The Tenant of Wildfell Hall a girl’s marriage to a rake.
Charlotte published the most: Shirley, Villette, The Professor
1847

5. Branwell Brontë Jane Eyre as Autobiography
Ambition to be portrait painter. Studied for a time, dropped out; became train station clerk
Then tutor for wealthy family--affair w/ wife. Eliz. Gaskell thinks the wife initiated it.
Never able to hold steady job. Disappointment to whole family.
Also wrote some poetry.
Branwell’s painting of Emily, Charlotte, and Anne
Branwell’s painting of Emily

6. Education Clergy Daughter’s School, Cowan Bridge Roe Head School
Jane Eyre as Autobiography
Education
Clergy Daughter’s School, Cowan Bridge
Roe Head School
 Lowood School in Jane Eyre
Cowan school model for Lowood in JE
4 oldest daughters enrolled at Cowan in
In one year Maria and Elizabeth became sick, went home, died.
Charlotte, Emily brought home
Maria = model for Helen Burnes at Lowood School in JE
1831 (age 15): Charlotte to Roe School for 1 year, returned in 1835 as governess while sisters Emily, Ann pupils there.
1838: Charlotte left --> governess for wealthy family (Sidgewicks) 3 months; Whites for 9 months
3 sisters tried to open school in Haworth--no applicants

7. The Tragedy of the Brontës
Mother died in 1821
Maria died in 1825 Tuberculosis (Consumption)
Branwell--addiction to alcohol and opium
1848: Family caught cold/flu leading to 3 deaths
Branwell and Emily in 1848; Anne in 1849.
1854: Charlotte married Rev. A.B. Nicholls and died same year (pregnant)
cause of deaths disputed: influenza, tuberculosis (consumption)
Charlotte romance w/married professor Heger (at Pensionnat Heger) when she and Emily had gone to Brussels to study languages in preparation for starting their own school
No evidence of romantic attachment to Nicholls.
Charlotte's death disputed as pregnancy toxemia, self-induced dehydration, tuberculosis

8. Jane Eyre and the Fairy-Tale Plot
Cinderella--Poor girl with heart of gold oppressed by wicked stepmother and stepsisters gets her chance to meet a Prince and prove her superiority, but not without serious obstacles along the way.
Early chapters lives w/ Reeds (father's sister's family)
Obnoxious children ~ step-siblings

9. Jane Eyre and the Fairy-Tale Plot
Beauty and the Beast?

10. “Poor Orphan Child” What do you remember about this song?
Was sung by Bessie while Jane recuperating from red room trauma
Original poem by Bronte for this book
what is major theme? God will look out for the orphan while no one else will.
Other orphans in fairy tales and fantasy?
The Little Matchstick Girl, Snow White, Harry Potter, Xeno
"Many well-known fairy stories share a common format: a forlorn, orphaned young person, cast out from his or her former home, after various trials and tribulations is rescued and united with a loved one -- a parent or royal personage. Cinderella serves as a good model: the orphaned child is trapped and bullied by her wicked stepmother and ugly stepsisters, meaning that the human soul is estranged from its spiritual nature or "father in heaven" and comes under the unpleasant control and influence of the lower side of nature. These are not her natural blood relatives, suggesting that the human soul rightly belongs to its better side. Dislodged from its proper status, the soul struggles to recover its legitimate state. By purity and virtue it gains the support and help of its fairy godmother, the spiritual soul. Many tales use the godmother and giver of gifts to represent the soul's finer qualities unfolded through merit." "The DNA of Fairy Tales: Their Origin and Meaning" By Renee Hall

11. Jane Eyre and the Quest Plot
Often a coming of age story; a novel dealing with the growth and education of the protagonist
Typically a male hero, on a journey toward self-realization/independence
Often orphaned or presented with other challenges
e.g., Dickens’ Great Expectations, David Copperfield, Hercules, The Lord of the Rings…
Bildung story special interest of post-Romantic world
"The child makes the man"
1. Interest and respect for children
2. Influence of theory of evolution and application to individual growth and development
Also a new sense in 19th century of "self-culture"--continuing development into adulthood based on life choices

12. Jane Eyre and the Gothic Plot
“Dark Romanticism”
Mystery
Haunted castle or house
Dreaming and nightmares
Doppelgänger or alter ego
Physical imprisonment
Psychological entrapment and helplessness
Involvement of the supernatural
Psychology of horror and/or terror
Henry Fuseli’s The Nightmare, 1781

13. Jane Eyre and the Gothic Plot
The Byronic Hero
Named for Lord Byron, flamboyant poet turn of 19th c.
Became the great heart throb of the day.
Lord Byron by Richard Westall, 1813
Byron in Albanian attire by Thomas Phillips
A.K.A. Villain-Hero: Aristocratic, charming, moody, solitary, secretive, intelligent, cynical, and emotionally wounded. Irresistable to women--relationships destructive.

14. The Distressed Heroine
Jane Eyre and the Gothic Plot
The Distressed Heroine
“Female Gothic”
Female protagonist is pursued and persecuted by a villainous patriarchal figure in unfamiliar settings and terrifying landscape.
Lady Macbeth by Henry Fuseli 1784

15. Architecture of the Mind
Jane Eyre and the Gothic Plot
Architecture of the Mind
Gothic heroines explore their unknown inner selves as they wander through the mysterious house
Thornfield, manorial seat of Rochesters becomes physical metaphor for Jane's mind.
Other famous haunted houses with psychological implications:
Poe's "Fall of the House of Usher"
Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights"--the estate of Earnshaws
Jane Austen's "Northanger Abbey" (spoof)
Daphne du Maurier's Manderley in "Rebecca"
CB visited North Lees Hal in Derbyshirel in her inspiration for Thronfield
Home of the Eyres at time of her visit
North Lees Hall, c. 1590

16. Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre