Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Bronte

Characters
Gateshead Hall	Lowood School	Thornfield	Marsh End/Moor House
Mrs. Reed John Eliza Georgiana Bessie – nurse	Mr. Brocklehurst Miss Temple – superintendent Helen Burns Teachers: Miss Smith Miss Scatcherd Madame Pierrot	Mr. Rochester Mrs. Fairfax Adela Varens Sophie – French nurse Grace Poole Blanche Ingram Mr. Mason Bertha Mason       Rochester	St. John Rivers Diana Rivers Mary Rivers Hannah – housekeeper Rosamond Oliver – heiress from town

For discussion:

1. Discuss Helen Burns’ philosophy and how it helped Jane in her present and future life:
1.  “Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity, or registering wrongs.” 
2. “If all the world hated you, and believed you wicked, while your own conscience approved you, and absolved you from guilt, you would not be without friends.”

2. What events from Jane’s early years helped her withstand the turmoil in your young adult life?

3. Jane seems quite joyless.  Did she find any pleasure in life?  If so, what?  What do you think would have brought her joy?

4. In chapter 14, when Jane met Mr. Rochester, he stated, “Dread remorse when you are tempted to err, Miss Eyre; remorse is the poison of life.”  Do you think Jane had any remorse in her life?  What about the other characters?

5. In chapter 21, when Jane went back to see a dying Mrs. Reed, were you disappointed in Mrs. Reed’s reaction?  What were you hoping would happen?

6. Discuss the party held at Thornfield in chapter 18 and Jane’s observation of the guests.  She stated that when she considered the environment in which they had been raised and lived, “the less I felt justified in judging and blaming either him or Miss Ingram for acting in conformity to ideas and principles instilled into them, doubtless, from their childhood.  All their class held these principles.” 
1. How did Jane’s upbringing form her personality?
2. How did the party guests’ upbringing compare to Jane’s? 

7. At the party in chapter 18, do you think the guests really would have been tricked into believing that Mr. Rochester was a gypsy fortune teller?

8. Discuss the characters in the novel.
1. Who did you like the most? Find the most sympathetic?
2. Who did you like the least?
3. Which characters added the most enjoyment or meaning to the novel?
4. Is there anyone or anything you would change?

9. This novel is often studied in high school and college literature classes.  Why do you think it is so important?

10. What themes did Charlotte Bronte address in the novel?  How successful was she?  Did she broaden your understanding of the time period or of people in general?

11. Think about your reading experience:
1. If you read this book before, did you enjoy it more or less the second time and at a different stage in your life?
2. Did you read every word or skim?
3. Which part did you find the most moving?

12. Discuss Charlotte Bronte’s writing style, particularly when Jane spoke directly to the reader, for example look at the beginning of chapter 11.