1. Jane Eyre is young woman who endures hardship during an era (the Victorian period)
in which women were, in many respects, without influence over events that might have
affected them. Jane defies this social construct through the force of her own character
and, significantly, the love and assistance of a sisterhood of women. What specific role
does sisterhood play in Jane's ascension to independence and power? What is the
significance of this element of the novel?
2. In what way(s) might Jane Eyre be considered a "pre-feminist" novel? How might
this novel be considered influential to the feminist movement? What is the significance
of the way in which Bronte brings her character to self actualization?
3. Define the concept of the bildungsroman and its significance to Jane Eyre.
4. How does Charlotte Brontë incorporate elements of the Gothic tradition into the novel?
5. How does the novel comment on the position of women in Victorian society?
6.What is the role of family in the novel?
7. Explain the importance of paranormal experiences in the novel. What do the
characters learn from dreams and visions? How do these experiences modify your
understanding of the characters? How do the supernatural elements interact with the
novel's realism?
8. Discuss the representations of the various women in the novel: Mrs. Reed, Miss
Temple, Céline Varens, Blanche Ingram, Bertha Mason, and Diana and Mary Rivers.
What does Jane learn about proper feminine behavior from these women? Which are
positive role models? Negative?
9. Discuss two scenes that show the ambiguity of Jane's social class. What are Jane's
opinions of the upper classes and the lower classes? What does the novel say about
the social class system in England? Does Brontë critique the system or support it?
10.. Analyze the importance of the five major places Jane lives on her journey:
Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor House/Marsh End, and Ferndean. What do
their names signify? What lessons does Jane learn at each place? Jane provides
detailed descriptions of the natural world around each place: What do these
descriptions reveal about their character?
11.How do different characters (Helen, St. John, and Brocklehurst, primarily) portray
different views of religion? What is Brontë saying about religion through these
characters?
12. How/To what extent is Jane Eyre a feminist novel?
13. How does Brontë portray class in the novel? What is her statement about social
class?
14. Choose a motif in the novel (fire and ice, secrets, mother figures, etc.)and analyze
its significance.
15. Explore the paradox of Victorian marriage and the character of Jane Eyre. Was
Jane able to retain her autonomy even while entering into a marriage with Rochester?
16. Explore the novel as a hybrid of three genres: Gothic, Bildungsroman, and
romance.
17. Compare/contrast pairs of literary foils in the novel.
18. Explore the idea of Rochester as a Byronic hero. (see the other side of this sheet)