Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë tells the tale of a girl orphaned at a young age, sent to live with her aunt where she is treated as a burden and abused, passed along to a charity school where she experiences more cruelty and unkindness, until eventually Jane is of an age to make her own way in the world. Throughout it all, Jane Eyre maintains her integrity and shows a strong resilience in the face of so much adversity.
In the following extract, Jane has taken up the post of governess at Thornfi eld, a castle belonging to the mysterious Mr Rochester. She follows the head of house, Mrs Fairfax, on a tour of the castle.
to identify
elements of the gothic genre
to understand genre
Author Bio.
Charlot e Brontë was one of three sisters who published poetry and novels during the nineteenth century. As a female writer, Charlot e was forced to publish her work under a pseudonym (an assumed name), as women found it diffi cult to get their work circulated during this period. Jane Eyre was one of her earliest publications.
Think of a book, film or TV programme that has made you feel scared or uncomfortable. What was it about your chosen text that made you feel this way?
