1. Jane Eyre And the Life of the Bronte Sisters

2. The Bronte Sisters’ Literary Career • 1845 --Charlotte came by accident upon a number of poems that Emily had written. • 1846 –The 3 sisters published their poems, at their own expense, as poems, by Crurrer, Ellis and Acton Bell. (Only 2 copies of the poems were sold.) • 1847 -- Anne’s novel Agnes Grey& Emily’s Wuthering Heightswere both accepted for publication, while Charlotte’s first novel The Professorwas rejected by one publisher after another. … Jane Eyre, was published in October. It was immediately very popular, outselling Wuthering Heights ….

3. The Bronte Sisters • Maria’s and Elizabether’s deaths in the Clergy Daughters School • [publication of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre in 1847] • Sept. 1848-- Barnwell died. ( John Reed) • Dec. 1848 -- Emily died. • May 1849 – Ann, too, died. Charlotte, as a novelist of several books, became acquainted with Mrs. Gaskell & William Thackeray. • 1855-- Charlotte died in childbirth. • The Bronte Sisters – Literary Aspiration in their lonely and drab lives. • 4:32—the painting, and Emily and Ann out in nature (rose vs. holy bush) • 14:00—letter from Southey • 1:10 – Emily’s poems  1:16 publication of their novels • 1:38 –illness and death of Emily • 1:50 – Charlotte at the concert hall

4. Major Questions re. Jane Eyre • Jane Eyre’s Quest: what does she desire? How does she quest for what she desires? Is she in any way compromised? • Passion and Conscience: How does she deal with her passion? • Religion and Charity: Do they support or obstruct Jane’s quest? • Society and Class Differences: how are social identities (e.g. The Reeds, Bessie, Helen Burns, etc.) and social problems (Lowood) presented? • Jane Eyre the narrator: how does she position herself between Jane the character and the reader? • Is the novel feminist*?

5. Note: A True Lady is… • Jane: [women should not be confined] 'to making pudding and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags‘ (XII) • a true lady is . . . sweet and delicate and refined. . . her sphere is to cheer, to refine, to beautify, to bless. The opportunities and influence she may acquire (by behaving thus), she may turn to the noblest and holiest purposes. ---- Hints on Etiquette (1843) Charles William Day

6. Next Week • Chaps I – X (Jane’s life in Gateshead and Lowood)