GENERAL
In each paragraph you should aim to quote and make a commentary on the quote. Your commentary should include a statement responding to the topic sentence - and therefore the essay title, identify a language feature in the quote, a statement about its effect on readers and or other characters.
The essay must include some paragraphs that include comments on contexts, how the texts were considered by critics or referring to the genre of the time and theoretical perspectives such as feminism or Marxism.
If you can't quote describe a specific episode in detail and concisely as possible, identify a writing style associated with the episode you are writing about and comment on this.
For example if you are writing about the Gothic: refer to the red room. We know it contains the colour red and the colour white. We know Jane is isolated. And that her uncle died in this room. We know the room is unused and we know the servants avoid going in there at night. So refer to colour symbolism, descriptive language, dark foreboding atmosphere - this is emphasised by the growing darkness - pathetic fallacy!
It should be possible to refer to the role of women within this society. Refer to their status, their relationship to men, their opportunities in life.
GOTHIC
Gothic episodes and images that spring to my mind include:
The red room, Thornfield Hall - the setting, the meeting with Rochester on the road to Hay, the fire in Rochester's room, the attack on Richard Mason by Bertha, the destruction of the tree by lightening at their proposal, Bertha's visit to Jane the night before the wedding and the tearing of her Vail, the ruin of Thornfield Hall at the end of the novel.
LOVE STORY
Define concept of romantic love
You could consider sexual love, divine love and familial / fraternal love as aspects of this novel as well. For example what kind of love exists between Helen and Jane? What kind of love exists between Adele and Jane? What kind of love does Bertha Mason represent do you think?
Romanticism is different from romantic love
Comment on broad range of episodes
Also a rite of passage story
Refer to inner turmoil battle between reason and passion. Referring to St John and Rochester would be an appropriate comparison to make in this essay.
Refer to key episodes - fire in the bedroom, Bertha's attack on Mr Mason, the proposal,
Be aware of different kinds of love
DEFINITION
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IDEAS
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Romantic Love
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Romance is the pleasurable
feeling from an emotional attraction towards another person associated with
love.
Romance usually implies an expression of
ones deep and strong emotional desires to connect with another person
intimately.
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Divine Love
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defined by God’s love for
his creation. This was fully expressed in the death and resurrection of Jesus
Christ. Love defined by self- sacrifice and selfless acts in the world.
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Sexual Love
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A strong physical desire to
be in close, intimate contact with someone.
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Familial Love
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means affectionate regard
or friendship. It is a dispassionate virtuous love. It includes loyalty to
friends, family, and community, and requires virtue, equality and familiarity
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