Compare the presentation of childhood in

Compare the presentation of childhood in "Great Expectations" and "Jane Eyre" Both "Jane Eyre" and "Great Expectation" adopt a typically Victorian outlook on childhood, which can seem quite alien set against modern values. However in both books, and particularly in "Jane Eyre", there is an effort to create a convincing expression of childhood through strong emphasis of the child's point of view above all others. In both books there is a interesting use of hindsight within the first person narration; not only does the narrator describe their childhood with perfect clarity of detail "before the long hour and a half of prayers and Bible-reading was over, I felt ready to perish with cold. Breakfast time came at last, and this morning the porridge was not burnt..." but also with a very mature and refined description of events that, at the time, the child would most likely not have been capable of. In "Jane Eyre" this maturity of description is visible both through the intricacy of the language "reader though I look comfortably accommodated, I am not very tranquil in my mind" and through the complexity of the ideas used "I was in discord in Gateshead Hall; I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage." However, Dickens mostly attempts a slightly more realistically childlike and basic narrative in "Great Expectations" than

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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What insights into 19th century education do you gain from the novel Jane Eyre?

1th January 2002 Isabel Wilkie What insights into 19th century education do you gain from the novel Jane Eyre? Charlotte Bronte was born in Yorkshire in 1816. She spent most of her life in Haworth, a bleak Yorkshire village where her father was curate. In 1821 her mother died, so she, her four sisters, Elizabeth, Anne, Maria and Emily and her brother Branwell were sent to live with their Aunt, Elizabeth Branwell. In 1824 Charlotte was sent with Elizabeth, Maria and Emily to a school for daughters of the clergy. While at school two of her sisters died of typhus, this is where she got her inspiration for Lowood. After Charlotte left this school she went to Miss Woolers School and returned home as a teacher. She also became a governess, as this was a respectable profession for someone of Charlotte's status. The novel Jane Eyre is autobiographical in that Charlotte Bronte describes her own education through the character Jane Eyre. Many of the incidents at Lowood really happened to her. At the beginning of the 19th century only 1 child in 20 went to school in 1800, and these were mainly boys, the sons of rich parents. Poor children were too busy to go to school as they worked on the land and in the factories to bring money for their families. Some factories provided some education for their workers but very little. If there was a

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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How does Jane's character differ from the other women in the novel?

How does Jane's character differ from the other women in the novel? Jane's temperament is strong and unique and she share's very few qualities with any of the other women in the novel. This is because, as a central character, Jane has to stand out and be individual. The other women in the novel are used to accentuate the qualities Jane has and enable comparison as well as helping to develop Jane's character. The beginning of the novel is set at Gateshead, where Jane spends the early years of her childhood. The cruelty Jane suffers at Gateshead, because of Aunt Reed and her cousin John, is what she struggles to overcome throughout the novel. Aunt Reed is a fairly simple character who only features occasionally in the novel, but whose cruelty is constantly referred to as having scared Jane. Aunt Reed is portrayed as being cruel, manipulative and "hard-hearted." She takes advantage of her power over Jane and treats her with "miserable cruelty". Jane has a more caring nature than Mrs Reed, from whom she seeks only love. Jane is not malicious like her aunt and the only qualities they share are their strong willed principles and feminist attitude towards many circumstances. Aunt Reed's significance in the novel is to create reader sympathy, the cruelty inflicted on Jane makes the reader understand and tolerate her flaws. Eliza and Georgiana, Jane's cousins at Gateshead, have

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Chapter 15 is a main chapter of the novel in terms of plot, characters, relationships, themes and genre so far because everything in this chapter links up to something that has happened in the past. Most

Consider the idea that chapter 15 is a main chapter in the novel in terms of plot, characters, relationships, themes and genres. Chapter 15 is a main chapter of the novel in terms of plot, characters, relationships, themes and genre so far because everything in this chapter links up to something that has happened in the past. Most events are reflections of the past or at least bring back the same feelings as those of the past. New relationships develop and characters begin to bond, as they understand more about each other's past. Also, in this chapter, we waver off Jane for a while and ponder more on Mr. Rochester. Up till now, everything was about Jane. At the beginning of the chapter, Mr Rochester told Jane about Adèle's past and how she came into this world. He tells her passionately and vividly about his past love and how she betrayed him. This shows the relationship between Jane and Mr. Rochester developing as he opens up to her. He is being friendlier towards her. When we were first introduced to Mr Rochester in the book, he gave the impression that he was an obnoxious man who thought highly of himself. He looked down at Jane when they first had a proper conversation and was very uptight. Adèle's childhood also relates to Jane's childhood in the sense that they were both left by to people who never really wanted them. Jane was left to the Reed family and Adèle to

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Fiziksel guzellik - jane eyre ve madam bovary

Serra Ercil 05/04/2005 Fiziksel Guzellik Fiziksel güzellik, pek çok kisi tarafindan çok önemli ve imrenilesi bir nitelik gibi görülür, ancak içsel güzellik ve karakter saglamligiyla da desteklenmeyen fiziksel güzellik insana kalici basari, huzur ve mutluluk getiremez, hatta zaman zaman zarar dahi verebilir. Fiziksel olarak güzel kisiler toplumsal konumlarini yükseltmek için bunun yeterli oldugunu düsünerek kendilerini gelistirme ihtiyaci duymazlar ve bu durum onlarin hayatta basarisiz olmalarina neden olur; on sekiz ve on dokuzuncu yüzyillara bakildiginda bu dönemde hakim olan fiziksel güzelligin tehlikeli oldugu düsüncesinin temelinde dinsel doktrinlerin de oldugu görülmektedir. Bu düsünceler Charlotte Bronte'nin "Jane Eyre" ve Gustave Flaubert'in "Madame Bovary" adli romanlarinda da ortaya atilmistir. Fiziksel olarak güzel kisiler toplumsal konumlarini yükseltmek için bunu yeterli görerek kendilerini gelistirme ihtiyaci duymazlar ve bu durum onlarin hayatta basarisiz olmasina neden olur. Güzellik bazi durumlarda kolayciliga neden olabileceginden kisi için tehlikeli de olabilir. "Erdem, güzelligi yola getirinceye kadar, güzellik erdemi fahiseye çevirir." diyen Shakespeare de fiziksel güzelligin kontolünün zor ve tehlikeli oldugunu ortaya koymaktadir. Özellikle fiziksel açidan güzel olan kadinlarin, toplumun daha üst katmanlarina

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Portrayal of Childhood in Jane Eyre

Portrayal of Childhood in Jane Eyre Jane Eyre is a novel written in the first person about her life. It follows her life from the eyes of an un-moulded child, to a moulded young woman. Charlotte Brontë was the author of the book and a lot of the book reflected aspects of her life, this added a more personal and atmospheric feel to the book. I think the genre of the book can be classed by a mixture of two: the gothic novel and the romantic novel. I think this, because the gothic novel includes many themes such as the mysterious and horrific or unexplained. This genre can definitely describe the mysterious happenings at Thornfield, which were to do with Bertha Mason (Mr. Rochester's secret wife). The romantic novel, expresses the passion that Jane holds within herself. There are different streams of romance as such, running throughout the novel and the love that Jane either receives or urges for. For example: there is true romance encountered with Mr. Rochester, in contrast to the 'fake' love suggested to her by St. John. Her passion or desire to be loved, can be seen whilst she is living at Gateshead, in contrast to the feelings of passion that she feels when she meets Helen Burns, or the Rivers family. The book shows a lot of independence and power that Jane has, and with this independence she tries to make something of herself, and break the social hierarchy. Parallel

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  • Subject: English
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Is the character of Jane Eyre 'the personification of an unregenerate and undisciplined spirit 'or is this portrayal of an early nineteenth century the 'earliest major feminist novel?'

Kate Fitzturner Is the character of Jane Eyre 'the personification of an unregenerate and undisciplined spirit 'or is this portrayal of an early nineteenth century the 'earliest major feminist novel?' Jane Eyre is often regarded as a modern day fairy tale when viewed superficially . However, the complexity of the story lines and characters represented a phenomenal breakthrough in story writing techniques during the Victorian period. Brontes creation of a new and powerful woman created a stirr amoungst Victorian Critics. Raised in this repressive male-dominated society, some critics like Elizabeth Rigby,suggested that Charlotte Bronte's characterisation of Jane Eyre demonstrated her rebellion against male repression . Elizabeth Rigby was very critical of the woman portrayed by Bronte describin Jane as an 'unregenerate and undisciplined spirit', reflecting a typical critical Victorian response to Jane's assertive and independent nature. To interpret this as a feminst critique reflects a more positive response to Jane's independence. R.B Martin, a modern critic of the 1970's, suggests that the most dominant theme in the novel Jane Eyre, is the fight for equality and that Jane's character illustrates the emergence of feminism during the Victorian Period. It has been argued that Jane Eyre is a wild and 'undisciplined' spirit. Jane's ideals and actions greatly

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Mansfield's Presentation Of The Vulnerability Of Single Women In Edwardian England In 1920 when the book 'Bliss And Other Stories' was published, it was the end of World War 1,

Mansfield's Presentation Of The Vulnerability Of Single Women In Edwardian England In 1920 when the book 'Bliss And Other Stories' was published, it was the end of World War 1, which for a number of reasons was a very vulnerable time for a single woman. There were many more un-married women around at this time than men, because most young men were out fighting in the war, which basically meant that there were not enough husbands to go round. The whole concept of an unmarried woman, made them very vulnerable to being miss-read by the outside world. The world for women was currently revolutionising as women no longer had to stay at home and look after the house hold, but had to go out and get jobs, which were usually men's posts, but as these single women didn't have the financial support of a husband, they had no choice but to work. Though finding work was not always as easy for women, because they could not do any physical jobs, as it was still considered in proper, and had not had the privilege of going to university. In some cases like the case of 'Miss Ada Moss' in 'Pictures' by Katherine Mansfield, women sometimes had no choice but to turn to prostitution, to allow them to pay there rent; ('if people wont' look after themselves in times like these, nobody else will'). In 1920, when this story was written, there was no social service available to deal with this

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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In 'Jane Eyre' Charlotte Bronte takes the opportunity to examine some of society's attitudes to girls and their education. Discuss

In 'Jane Eyre' Charlotte Bronte takes the opportunity to examine some of society's attitudes to girls and their education. Discuss (Consider historical, social issues, language, plot and characters) 'Jane Eyre', Charlotte Bronte's second completed manuscript, was published in October 1847. Writing was considered a disreputable occupation for women, so Bronte wrote Jane Eyre under the pseudonym of Currer Bell in an effort to avoid personal publicity. In the course of her book, we see how Jane Eyre progresses through life. She begins her story as a penniless orphan forced to live on the charity of her Aunt Reed. Ten-year-old Jane lives at the Gateshead Hall where she is relentlessly abused, ostracized and despised by her benefactress and cousins. She is then send away and sufferes the wretchedness in the charity school of Lowood run by the tyrannical Brocklehurst. Later on, Jane advertises and becomes a governess at Thornfield Hall where she meets Mr. Rochester, her employer, with whom she then falls in love and after many the troubles and disasters, eventually marries 'Jane Eyre' is a spiritual autobiography; it is a person fused into a narrative and speaks to us directly. The novel provides a truthful view of the education and social preconceptions in the nineteenth century England. Bronte may have transcribed much of her own life and experiences into the

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Character Analysis – Ricky in American Beauty.

CHARACTER ANALYSIS - RICKY Where is the beauty in a plastic bag, a deceased bird, a dead person? Strange questions you may think if you haven't seen the film American Beauty but it is one person's obsession with beauty that creates a fascination and a particular attraction towards it that makes it all comprehensible. Ricky Fitz, the new next door neighbour to the troubled Burnham family, adds a new dimension to their mundane lives, in some cases simplifying their situation and in other cases, complicating it. Ricky is generally a very interesting character that really captures an audience and entices them to look at life from another angle. He has a poor, harmful family relationship that he looks to escape from through change, a characteristic of all the characters in the film. He shares a sensual and physical relationship with the girl next door, Jane, whilst he also has a strong relationship with her father, Lester, a some what complacent and immature character. It is Ricky's vision of beauty though, that really makes him stand out and makes him so quizzical. Ricky is generally a very insightful person, curious and up front. He is very honest about his feelings and his past, illustrated many times, but particularly when Jane asked him why he was sent to a mental institution and he was able to answer calmly and confidently. He dresses in a very specific way which is

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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