AS ENGLISH LITERATURE
POETRY AND PROSE 1800 – 1945
JANE EYRE - CHAPTER SUMMARY
Key questions to consider when reading this novel
·
How is the setting being used in these chapters?
·
In what way is the social, political and
biographical context of the novel being addressed here?
·
How do these chapters fit into the novel as a
whole?
·
How is each chapter structured – can you
identify a pattern in the novel?
·
What do you notice about the writing style in
these chapters?
·
What different strategies does Bronte use to
create her narrator?
·
Comment on the presentation of key themes; love,
independence/interdependence, roles of women, roles of men, social class and
religion, community?
·
How is morality discussed throughout the novel?
Consider such issues as human rights, slavery and adultery?
·
What are the conventions of the genre of
romantic novel?
Chapter summaries and reading dates
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CHAPTER
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DATE w/b
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SUMMARY
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VOLUME 1
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1
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2/1
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Jane persecuted by Mrs Reed and John Reed – Jane attacks John
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2
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Jane in the Red Room
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3
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Jane speaks to the doctor. School is mentioned. Meets Brocklehurst.
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4
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Meeting with Brocklehurst
Tea with Bessie
Set work – 3 paragraphs presentation
of Jane’s childhood & Gateshead
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5
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7/1
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Jane leaves Gateshead. Arrival at Lowood.
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6
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Jane meets Helen Burns
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7
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Summary of harsh life at Lowood. Brocklehurst singles Jane out as
someone not to be trusted
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8
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Helen and Jane have tea with Miss Temple. Jane is publicly vindicated
of Brocklehurst’s accusations. Jane settles down to work.
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9
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14/1
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Jane is eighteen – now a teacher at the school
Set work – 3 paragraphs on
Lowood and Jane
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10
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Eight years have passed. 6 as pupil 2 as teacher. Jane seeks change, applies for a new job,
is accepted, news from Bessie about the Reeds.
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11
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Comes to Thornfield Hall. Meets Mrs Fairfax, Adele. Hears of Mr
Rochester. First impressions
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12
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Summary of Jane’s life / Meets Rochester
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13
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21/1
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Jane invited to tea with Rochester / interrogation of Jane
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14
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Rochester tells Jane his history
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15
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Bertha sets alight Rochester’s bed. Jane saves his life. She has a
glimpse of his secret
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VOLUME 2
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1 (16)
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Next morning. Rochester absent.
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2 (17)
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28/1
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The party arrive at Thonefield Hall.
Jane watches the guests from a distance. Miss Ingram introduced. The ladies
attack governesses.
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3 (18)
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Richard Mason. Rochester as gypsy
fortune teller arrives interviews the women.
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4 (19)
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Jane’s interview with Rochester as
gypsy fortune teller
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5 (20)
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Richard Mason’s visit ends with
Bertha’s attack on him. Again Jane glimpses further into his secret world
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6 (21)
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4/2
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Jane helps Rochester. She stays with
Mason while Rochester gets the doctor. Jane called to Gateshead to visit dying Mrs Reed
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7 (22)
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Jane’s stay at Gateshead. Mrs Reed’s confession, letter & death,
Georgina and Eliza’s fate,
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8 (23)
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Midsummer Rochester proposes marriage
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9 (24)
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Joy. Rochester wants to bestow jewels
and clothes on Jane
Check
reading journal / notes
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10 (25)
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11/2
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Night before wedding. Jane’s dream. Meets Bertha – she tares Jane’s veil
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11 (26)
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Jane’s wedding day. Rochester shows Jane and Richard Bertha Mason.
The secret revealed.
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VOLUME 3
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1 (27)
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Jane leaves Rochester and Thornfield Hall. Leaves early morning.
Travels as far as she can by carriage until money runs out.
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2 (28)
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Set work – on courtship of
Jane and Rochester – symbolism – full essay
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3 (29)
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18/2
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Two days journey. Jane is alone and destitute. Sleeps in the open.
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4 (30)
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Jane hears of her Uncle’s death
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5 (31)
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Jane begins life as a school teacher. She feels humiliated. St John
visits – tells Jane to forget the past
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6 (32)
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Jane’s relationship with her pupils improves, St John visits Jane
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7 (33)
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4/3
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St John reveals Jane’s true identity, Jane is wealthy, discovers she
has a family and can benefit them all
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8 (34)
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Christmas at Moor House, St John wants Jane to learn Hindustani and
accompany him to India
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9 (35)
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St John’s forceful arguments and proposal of marriage to Jane. A
torture and a temptation. He is turned down
Set work – Jane’s relationships
with men through the novel – full essay
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10 (36)
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11/3
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Jane is resolved to find Rochester. Her journey and her meeting with
the publican. He tells us Jane’s story and Rochester’s present situation.
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11 (37)
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Jane and Rochester meet. Establish the ground rules of their
relationship. Love.
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12 (38)
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Conclusion Jane and
Rochester are happily married. Rochester blind for two years but able to see
when his first son is born. Mary and Diana are married, St John a missionary
– close to death.
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