Tasks: Jane Eyre

Questions for the excerpt from the novel

Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre, then talk about the tasks with a partner. Write shared answers.

1. Sum up what happens in the excerpt in three sentences.

2. This passage mainly consists of dialogue. Does that make it harder or easier for you to understand what is going on? Explain.

3. There is some description of the setting in the excerpt. Use the different passages and write a description of Thornfield.

4. What impression do you get of the relationship between Jane Eyre and Mr Rochester from the beginning of the passage?

5. Charlotte Brontë was a feminist. Do you see any indication of this in the excerpt?

6. The modernist author Virginia Woolf said the following about Charlotte Brontë:
   "We read Charlotte Brontë not for exquisite observation of character — her characters are vigorous and elementary; not for comedy — hers is grim and crude; not for a philosophic view of life — hers is that of a country parson’s daughter; but for her poetry." Study the language in the excerpt carefully: Can you find any examples of poetic language?

7. Did the passage make you want to read more of the novel?

Discuss

Research the story of Charlotte Brontë’s novel Jane Eyre and/or the 2011 film adaptation directed by Cary Fukunaga. You can use the Wikipedia summary of Jane Eyre to get an overview of the novel’s plot.

Discuss the following statements in groups. Explain whether you agree or disagree, and support your opinions with examples from the novel or the film

1. "It is unfortunate to regard Jane Eyre as a romantic story, because the relationship between Jane and Mr Rochester is not healthy. If it happened today we would call it a #MeToo scandal".

2. "Jane Eyre is an updated version of the fairy tale 'Beauty and the Beast'."

3. "Jane Eyre forgives her aunt for the horrible things she did to her, mistreating her when she lived with her, sending her to an awful school, and depriving her of knowing her uncle. Forgiving all that makes Jane seem like a doormat".

4. "Why do romantic stories always make it seem like a woman only has a choice between two men? Why cannot Jane have a third option, rather than running back to Mr Rochester after turning down St. John Rivers's offer of marriage?"

Compare

A film adaptation is never identical to the novel. Changes have to be made to adapt the story to the new format.

Watch the 2011 film adaptation of Jane Eyre, directed by Cary Fukunaga. Research the story of the novel and compare it with the film. You can use the plot summary of Jane Eyre on Wikipedia as a starting point.

1. What has been changed in the adaptation?

2. What do you think is the reason these changes were made?