Charlotte Brontë (1816-1855)
The human heart has hidden treasures, In secret kept, in silence sealed; The thoughts, the hopes, the dreams, the pleasures, Whose charms were broken if revealed.
Charlotte Brontë
was born in Yorkshire, England. After her mother's death in 1821, Charlotte was sent away to school by her aunt. The poor conditions there affected her health badly. After finishing school, Charlotte first worked as a teacher and then as a governess for various families in Yorkshire.
Jane Eyre tells the story of an orphaned girl who is brought up by her unkind aunt and cousins John, Eliza and Georgiana, until she is eventually sent away to an awful school. The book then follows Jane's difficult life until she finally finds love and happiness.
Jane Eyre has been made into several successful films and TV series and is one of the most well-known and best loved books in English literature.
Jane Eyre
Mark the statements (1-8) as T (true), F (false), or DS ?(doesn't say)
F
1 John bullied Jane occasionally.
2 Mrs Reed chose to ignore John's bad treatment of Jane.
3 John usually bullied Jane when Mrs Reed wasn't looking.
4 John was angry because Jane had a book that he wanted to read.
5 The book that John threw at Jane hit her on the head.
6 Jane compares John to a Roman emperor.
7 Mrs Reed came into the room after she heard John's shouts.
8 Jane was blamed for the incident.
T
T
F
DS
F
F
T
Match the words/phrases with their meanings:
- affection
- bewildered
- taking mv side
- dreading
- shortly
- sneaking
- accustomed to
- rummage
- trickle
- bellowed
- confused
- soon
- feelings of love/fondness
- feeling anxious/unhappy about sth that will/ may happen
- supporting me
- doing sth without being seen or heard
- used to
- shouted in a deep, angry voice
- search for sth in a careless/hurried way
- flow slowly
Use the words in brackets to rewrite the sentences using hyperbole
1. He's old. (than the hills)
He's ► older than the hills.
2.She’s forgetful, (remind her of her name)
She‘s ► so forgetful (that) you have to remind her of her name.
3. I've already told you. (million times)
I've ► already told you a million times.
4. He's very funny, (nearly died laughing)
He‘s ► so funny (that) I nearly died laughing.
Which of the adjectives best describe John, Jane?
• cruel
• educated cruel
• educated
• bad-mannered
• lonely
• arrogant
• bad-mannered
Jane : educated
(I had read old
smith's History of Rome),
lonely (an assumption based on how she must feel living in a house where no one wants her)
John : cruel (He bullied and punished me), bad-mannered (thrusting out his tongue at me), arrogant (You ought to beg, and not to live here with gentlemen's children like us)
Imagine the story is taking place today
Write your story
Think about:
where the characters are
what they wear
how John mistreats Jane & why
what other characters take part
what happens in the end
Read your story to the class
Good luck