copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson
Novel Information and Resources:
http://landow.stg.brown.edu/victorian/bronte/cbronte/61brnt6.html
This article discusses the autobiographical elements in the novel.Jane Eyre: Novels and Themes
Before You Read Chapters 28-35
Kelchner, Heidi. "Jane Eyre." Masterplots Complete 1999 CD-ROM. Salem Press, Inc. 1999.
This article gives summary of the novel and talks about a couple of basic themes found in the novel. Jane Eyre: A Critic
Tillotson, Kathleen. "Jane Eyre." Novels of the Eighteen Forties. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1954. 25-31.
This is a critic of Jane Eyre and also of Charlotte Bronte.Passion, Narrative, and Identity
Tanner Tony. "Passion, Narrative, and Identity in Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre." Susanne Kappeler. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul, 1983. 115-125.
This article gives an explication of the novel and goes over some elements of the novel such as theme. Modern American Feminist Writing
"Modern American Feminist Writing." Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 99. 1993-1998 Microsoft Corporation.
This article gives brief overview of feminist writing and some of its components.Summary of Jane Eyre and picture
Dinsdale, Ann and White, Kathryn. Bronte Parsonage Museum, Haworth. The Bronte Society (1998). 57-58.
Connects Charlotte’s most famous novel to her own life and character traits, demonstrating that authors usually write what they know. Provides a wonderful summary as well, introducing themes and other elements of the novel.Introducing the Novel
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 10
Describes who and what influenced Charlotte’s writing, and especially great context information about governesses in the 19th Century.
Before You Read Chapters 1-10
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 12
Great pre-reading activities and other useful anecdotesBefore You Read Chapters 11-20
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 19
Great pre-reading activities and other useful anecdotes
Before You Read Chapters 21-27
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 20
Great pre-reading activities and other useful anecdotes
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 24
Great pre-reading activities and other useful anecdotesBefore You Read Chapters 26-38
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 29
Great pre-reading activities and other useful anecdotesMeet Charlotte Bronte
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 9
More condensed autobiographical information but really awesome quote by Charlotte that you could use as a writing prompt
“The Wife’s Will” (poem by Charlotte)
http://digital.library.upenn.edu/women/bronte/poems/pbc-wife.html
Prompt to help students read Jane Eyre with the intent of figuring out what Charlotte Bronte thinks about love and marriage.
“Preface” by Currier Bell
www.uk.olivesoftware.com/Repository/DNS/1851/06/20/006-DNS-20-06-1851.PDF#OLVO_Entity_0086
In the 1851 London Daily News “Currier” (aka Charlotte) explains why they had male pseudonyms, etc. Helps students understand the difficulties 19th century women faced in order to publish and establishes a context of women’s’ roles in the 19th century as well.
“Mill Girl Writes a Great Novel”
www.uk.olivesoftware.com/Repository/WDP/1917/05/20/006-WDP-20-05-1917.PDF#OLVO_Entitiy_0113
Review of a book that was inspired by Jane Eyre. Demonstrates to students the wide-ranging effects of Charlotte’s work. Can be used as a prompt for discussion or writing.Bronte Country
Transportation in the 19th Century
www.bronte-country.com/pendle.html
Includes pictures of countryside that contains Wycoller hall, which is believed to be the inspiration for Thornfield Hall in Jane Eyre
www.literary_liaisons.com/article033.html
www.uncc.edu/arauch/Transport.html
As students read about Jane’s travel, these sights explain carriages as modes of 19th-century transportation. Includes pictures and written descriptions.Victorian Art and Architecture
Active Reading Chapters 21-27
www.britianexpress.com/History/victorian_art_and_architecture.htm
When Jane arrives at Thornfield, this provides contextual information on Victorian architecture.
Major Themes
www.gradesaver.com/ClassicNotes/Titles/janeeyre/themes.html
Wonderful explanation of themes that can prompt discussion, writing, or activities throughout study of novel
Active Reading Chapters 1-10
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 13
Provides good graphs students can use during reading to understand characters and events
Active Reading Chapters 11-20
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 17
Provides good graphs students can use during reading to understand characters and events
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 25
Provides good graphs students can use during reading to understand characters and eventsActive Reading Chapters 28-35
Active Reading Chapters 36-38
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 25
Provides good graphs students can use during reading to understand characters and events
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
page 29
Provides good graphs students can use during reading to understand characters and events
Vocabulary List
www.vocabulary.com/VUctjaneeyre.html
Comprehensive list of vocabulary students can practice and learn throughout study of novel. Includes creative suggestions on how to teach/use vocabulary in the classroom
Discussion Questions
http://us.penguingroup.com/static/rguides/us/jane_eyre.html
Wonderful questions to prompt classroom discussion throughout novel
Top Ten Quotes
www.novelguide.com/janeeyre/toptenquotes.html
Quotes can be used in quizzes/tests or to facilitate Jane character study Jane Eyre: The Musical
(Original Broadway Cast Recording: Music and Lyrics by Paul Gordon; Book and additional lyrics by John Caird; based on novel by Charlotte Bronte)
Can be checked out from BYU HBLL or purchased
BYU call number: MLLCD 8327 (In the Music Library Media Lab)
Can be listened to in segments for further insight during emotional scenes of novel.
Bronte Country
www.beautifulbritain.co.uk/wycoller.htm
Beautiful pictures to help students understand setting of novel
“A Stranger in a Strange Land”
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 35);
book A stranger in a Strange Land by Julie Baker can be purchased or checked out from a library. Used as an activity to connect landscape of Haworth to text.
from “The Life of Charlotte Bronte”
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 37)
www.lang.nagoya-u.ac.jp/~matsuoka/EG-Charlotte.html
(full-text source of biography by Elizabeth Gaskell)
Activity useful to gain greater insight into how Charlotte’s life was reflected in the novel“Sonnet 116” & “Wedding Day in the Rockies”
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 33)
http://stellar-one.com/poems/shakespeare_william-sonnet_116.html (sonnet)
“Wedding Day in the Rockies” can be found in various collections by E.B. White
Activity great at emphasizing themes of love and the complexity of love
from “Wide Sargasso Sea”
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 34)
Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys can be purchased or checked out from library
Interesting activity to explore a character in Jane Eyre—Bertha Rochester—that is usually ignored or disregarded. Also provides more depth to the influence of Charlotte’s work“Signs and Symbols”
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 36)
www.rahidnab.com/symbols.htm (short story)
This short story explores theme of loss (and others) that are also found in Jane Eyre. Students can make cross-genre connections between works of literature.
Responding Chapters 1-10
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 15)
Good group activities and other research or writing activities for post-reading
Responding Chapters 11-20
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 19)
Good group activities and other research or writing activities for post-reading
Responding Chapters 21-27
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 23)
Good group activities and other research or writing activities for post-reading
Responding Chapters 28-35
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 27)
Good group activities and other research or writing activities for post-reading
Responding Chapters 36-38
www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre/pdf (page 31)
Good group activities and other research or writing activities for post-reading.
Jane Eyre video
Description at http://store/aetv/com/html/search/inded.jhtml?search=jane+Eyre
Can be purchased from that site as well.
Wonderful visual representation of Jane Eyre after book is read
More Activities
www.classzone.com/novelguides/litcons/janeeyre/guide.cfm
Useful activities for in-class work post-reading. Also good research project ideas.
Jane Eyre: a dramatization
Play by Robert Johnson (1998)
Can be checked out from BYU HBLL or purchased
BYU Call number: PS 3560 .0276 J36
Acted out by students would be a wonderful way for students to connect with characters or understand the novel from a dramatic perspectiveReading Activities compiled by Beth Sancher
|During Reading | After Reading |
Pre-Reading Activities
1. Landow, George, P. (1994). Theatre and Popular Entertainment. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from The Victorian Web
Website: http://www.victorianweb.org/mt/mtov.html.
This website is an extensive site on the Victorian era. There are articles on clothes, entertainment and other Victorian areas of interest to be found here. This website could be used as a way of introducing Jane Eyre to students as it allows readers to see what life was like during Jane Eyre’s time. 2. Author Unknown. (Year Published Unknown). Charlotte Bronte "Jane Eyre". Retrieved 20 September 2005, from Brooklyn University Website: http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/cs6/bronte.htmlThis website has extensive information on Charlotte Bronte and Jane Eyre. There is information on Charlotte and many questions can be answered as to why she wrote Jane Eyre. This site would be good for a teacher to view to introduce Charlotte Bronte to the students.3. Author Unknown. (Year Published Unknown). Images of London. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from Images of London Website: http://www.images-of-london.co.uk/In looking at this website teachers can see how London looked like for those in the Victorian era. This website could provide effective ways of having students learn about Britain as a pre-reading activity to studying Jane Eyre.4. Wales, Jimmy. (2001). Wikipedia - Bildungsroman. Retrieved 20, September 2005, from MediaWiki Website: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bildungsroman This website defines what a Bildungsroman is. Teachers could have their students guess what they think this word means and then upon the teacher giving the correct answer, students could then be asked to name as many bildungsromans as possible. From the list given on this website the teacher could then see which ones they have read and whether they identified them as being bildungsromans.
5. Moser, Barry. (2001). Today in Literature. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from TinL Website: http://www.todayinliterature.com/biography/charlotte.bronte.asp.
Charlotte Bronte as Currer Bell - This website is useful as discusses pseudonyms and Charlotte Bronte’s use of the pseudonym “Currer Bell.” It is informative as a pre reading activity as students can discuss pseudonyms and other famous pseudonyms can be discussed such as modern day musicians and movie stars who go by different names6. Author Unknown. (Year Published Unknown). Bronte Sisters. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from Haworth Village. Website: http://www.haworth- village.org.uk/brontes/charlotte/chronology.asp In looking at this time line teachers could provide an activity where students find out information not only on Charlotte Bronte but on her sisters who were also famous authors that used pseudonyms. 7. Author Unknown. (Year Published Unknown). Bronte Sisters. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from Haworth Village. Website: http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/visitors/visiting-bronte-country/visit-haworth.aspHaworth – This is a very interesting site that looks at how Haworth was when Charlotte Bronte lived there and interesting facts about how it is today. In looking at Haworth as it is today and comparing it to 1847, teachers can devise an activity that introduces the students to life in Charlotte Bronte’s homeland. 8. Taft, Deb. (1999). Victorian Education. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from Gober.Net Website: http://www.gober.net/victorian/reports/schools.html.
This website shows Victorian boarding schools as they were. This could be interesting to look at as students who have not read Jane Eyre can see what boarding schools are like and can have a better understanding when they read Jane Eyre as to why she was unhappy at the one she attended. Students could do a little research and maybe write a short paragraph about how they would feel attending a boarding school
9. Malheiro, Betty. (2001). 1876 Victorian England. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from Victorian England Revisited Website: http://www.logicmgmt.com/1876/intro.htm These websites look at Victorian houses and the way in which they differ from houses in Britain today. This could be especially interesting activity for students to see how houses in Britain looked in 1876 and how similar they are still in Britain.10. Cody, David. (1994). Queen Victoria. Retrieved 20 September 2005, from The Victorian Web Website: http://www.victorianweb.org/vn/victor6.html.
This website talks about Queen Victoria’s reign of the United Kingdom and the changes she implemented. This could be an interesting activity where students can research the monarchy or teachers could talk about how the Royal family in Britain is or s nor effectiveDuring Reading Activities
1. Author Unknown (1990). IMDB - Jane Eyre. Retrieved 25 September 2005, from Internet Movie Database Inc Website: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0116684/.
This website shows the cover of the 1996 released movie Jane Eyre. There is a full list of characters and the actors who play them. Also there is a brief synopsis. This site would be good for a teacher as the teacher can order the movie if so desired for the class to view. 2. Wales, Jimmy. (2001). Wikipedia - Jane Eyre Quotes. Retrieved 25 September 2005, from MediaWiki Website :< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_Eyre#Quotes>.
This website is useful as it contains many details about Jane Eyre that can be useful in preparing a lesson plan. Useful information such as a link to film and television adaptations of Jane Eyre, famous quotes from the book that can be looked at as the book is read and even external links that can be used to further the study of Jane Eyre.3. "Jane Eyre: Introduction." Novels for Students. Ed. Marie Rose Napierkowski. Vol. 4. Detroit: Gale, 1998. October 2003. 26 September 2005. <http://www.enotes.com/eyre/27965>.
This website contains many different useful links to studying Jane Eyre. The site contains a biography on Charlotte Bronte, a brief summary and analysis and even contains sample essay questions that can be used in preparing for a paper. 4. Author Unknown, (1996). Classroom Study Guides. Retrieved 25 September 2005, from AETV Website: http://www.aetv.com/class/admin/study_guide/archives/aetv_guide.0362.html.
This website has excellent ideas as to how Jane Eyre can be linked to lives in today’s societies such activities include role playing and the discussion of marriage in today’s society. 5. Jacobsen, Karin, and Mary Ellen Snodgrass. CliffsNotes on Jane Eyre. 25 Sep 2005. http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-23.html
This Website contains many aids that can be used for teaching Jane Eyre; such as an introduction, a synopsis and a full list of characters seen in the story with a brief summary of each. There is also an extensive character map that shows how all the relationships tie together. 6. Moore, Andrew. (1999). Universal Teacher. Retrieved 23 September 2005, from Website: http://www.universalteacher.org.uk/prose/janeeyre.htm.
This website allows teachers to think of study questions for the students as they read the story Jane Eyre. Important relationships like Jane’s and Rochester are discussed. 7. Adams, Mrs. (2003). Jane Eyre Study Guide. Retrieved 24 September 2005, from Study Guide Website: http://www.studyguide.org/jane_eyre.htm.
This website gives a comprehensive two sentence summary of each chapter by chapter. It is very effective and poses analytical questions for the teacher to ask the students to discuss during their reading.
8. Author Unknown. (1999). Novelguide - Jane Eyre. Retrieved 24 September 2005, from Novelguide.com. Website: <http://www.novelguide.com/janeeyre/metaphoranalysis.htm>
This website takes a comprehensive look at the main themes in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Themes such as fire and burning that play an intricate role in the telling of the story.
9. Sancher, Bethan, L. "Jane Eyre a comparison." Provo, UT: 2005.
This activity is useful for a teacher as it allows them to help students to summarize the story and allows for a comparison exercise. I would advise an excerpt from another book to be used for the second column or a book that the students have recently read that is similar. A good one to use is Jane Austen’s Emma.
10. Sancher, Bethan, L. "Jane Eyre- Chapters 1-9, study questions." Provo, UT: 2005.
When I was studying Jane Eyre I was asked to do a similar exercise. I found the exercise helped me to more fully pay attention to these crucial chapters of the book. In doing this activity students can see Jane as a child allowing them to see her grow through the book from a child into a woman. Post-Reading Activities
1. Author Unknown. (Year Published unknown). Capital Play House – Jane Eyre activities. October 3, 2005: http://www.capitalplayhouse.com/Jane_Eyre_Activities
This website explores activities for teachers to use in their classroom. The activities are fun and can really get the students involved.
2. Author Unknown. (2000). Teacher Vision. October 2, 2005, Pearson Education, Inc: http://www.teachervision.fen.com/page/18124.htmlThis website poses questions for discussion based on the reading of Jane Eyre. The questions allow the students to think about what events took place through the novel and look further than the book for answers. 3. Quia Web. (1998-2005). Quia Web – Jane Eyre Vocabulary. October 3, 2005, Quia Corporation. http://www.quia.com/jg/398631list.htmlI liked this site as the vocabulary chosen to be looked at was difficult. I think this could be used as a good group activity. I would personally just give the words in column A and leave column B blank for the students to fill in themselves. 4. Janice Cook. (2005). Vocabulary from Classic Texts – Jane Eyre. October 2, 2005, Vocabulary University: http://www.vocabulary.com/VUctjaneeyre.html
This website also focused on vocabulary used in Jane Eyre. I thought this would be useful as a teacher could assign different chapters to different groups in order for the students to learn the terms. 5. Author Unknown. (Year Published unknown). Key Conventions – Jane Eyre activity. October 3, 2005: http://www.longroad.ac.uk/accreditation/subject_english/bronte_charlotte/jane_eyre.pdf
This website file offers a comparison between Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre and Daphne Du Maurier’s Rebecca. The PDF file also offers activities and essay questions that compare both books. The questions prove to be very thought provoking. 6. Glencoe McGraw Hill. (2005). Study Guide for Jane Eyre (page30). October 3, 2005, Website: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf
This website is extremely useful as it is a Jane Eyre study guide that takes you from the start to the finish of the book and even beyond. One of the two after reading activities I particularly liked was this one found on page 30. I would prepare excerpts “From the Life of Charlotte Bronte” by Elizabeth Gaskell and then have the students complete the following worksheet.7. Jacobsen, Karin, and Mary Ellen Snodgrass. CliffsNotes on Jane Eyre. 2 Oct 2005 <http://www.cliffsnotes.com/WileyCDA/LitNote/id-23.html>.
This website is useful as it has a quiz that can be used as a post reading of Jane Eyre that tests the students knowledge of the events and characters in the novel all the way though the book. The quiz is listed below. What I liked most about this quiz is that I could take the test online and see how I fared in my reading of Jane Eyre. After taking the quiz the correct answers are given.8. Glencoe McGraw Hill. (2005). Study Guide for Jane Eyre (page34). October 3, 2005, Website: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/literature/litlibrary/pdf/jane_eyre.pdf This is the second activity that I found engaging as a post reading of Jane Eyre in the Glencoe Jane Eyre study guide (p.34). This activity looks at Jean Rhys’ novel Wide Sargasso Sea. I found the focus questions used very stimulating and encourages the students to really think. I particularly liked the art connection activity mentioned at the bottom of the page. 9. Sancher, Bethan, L. "Jane Eyre and Wide Sargasso Sea, a comparison." Provo, UT: 2005
Have the students read Wide Sargasso Sea by Jane Rhys and then have them write a 5 paragraph paper on any of these topics that compare the two books. 10. Tennant, Emma. Adele: Jane Eyre's hidden story. Ed. 1. New York: Thorndike Pr Published Date: 05/01/2003.
This book is interesting and very good at looking at another character’s viewpoint from the story Jane Eyre. This book looks at the life of Adele, Mr. Rochester’s ward, who is eight years old. This book could be used as a comparison activity or could be read just for fun
Reading Resources and Unit Guide for this Novel