Choose one of the following topics and write a well-supported essay of approximately 2 ½ - 3 pages. Adhere to academic standards of diction, syntax, and grammatical errors. Please attempt to go beyond the obvious answers and evidence in order to make your analysis unique.
IF YOU DO NOT PLAN ON WRITING 2 ½ PAGES THEN DO NOT BOTHER TURNING IT IN.
IF YOU DO NOT CORRECTLY IDENTIFY JANE EYRE AS A BOOK, YOU WILL NOT GET ABOVE A D.
IF YOU GET ANY PLOT INFORMATION WRONG, YOU WILL NOT GET ABOVE A D.
1. How do different characters (Helen, St. John, and Brocklehurst, primarily) portray different views of religion? What is Brontë saying about religion through these characters?
2. How/To what extent is Jane Eyre a feminist novel?
3. How does Brontë portray social class in the novel? What is her statement about social class?
4. Choose a motif in the novel (fire and ice, secrets, mother figures, etc.) and analyze its significance throughout.
5. Explore the novel as a hybrid of three genres: Gothic, Bildungsroman, and (fairytale) romance (Look these up to make sure you have a full understanding of the genres).
6. Explore the idea of Rochester as a Byronic hero.
7. Presentiments, dreams, intuition, fortune telling, portentous occurrences in nature (e.g., lightening splitting the oak tree) all are examples of the mystical in Jane Eyre. Analyze the use of mysticism in the novel and its purpose. Is it used to emphasize theme? Propel plot? Aid in characterization? Or, is it just part of the gothic and romantic movement?)
8. Ethics and morality play a crucial role in the decisions Jane makes. In fact, many times Rochester seeks Janeʼs advice on theoretical moral dilemmas. Analyze Janeʼs moral beliefs. From what do they emanate (Religion? Personal experience?)? Are her beliefs the result of youthful idealism? How would you characterize those beliefs? What is more important to Jane, feelings or reason?
Rubric for this paper
___ / 9 A.P. Score
___ / 10 An effective intro paragraph (with hook, background, thesis)
___/ 10 Grammar and Mechanics
___ / 20 Content and insight that goes above and beyond summary
___ / 10 Effective use of at least four quotes from the novel (must be from different areas of the text)
___ / 59 points
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