Jane Eyre Summary Workbook: Analyzing Jane's Isolation & Relationship, Summaries of English Literature

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Jane Eyre

Chapter summary workbook

Chapters 1-

In these chapters, Jane Eyre is a young orphan being raised by Mrs. Reed, her cruel, wealthy aunt, at Gateshead.

Briefly summarise each of these chapters (bullet points are fine).

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

At Gateshead, Jane is an outsider. What factors alienate Jane from the rest of the household, even the servants and the other children? How does the reader respond to Jane in consequence of her social isolation?

In these chapters, the third stage of Jane’s life as she moves to T_______________ to begin

Chapters 17-

By this stage of the story, the narrative has begun to focus increasingly on the potential relationship between Jane and Mr Rochester.

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

What are your impressions of Mr Rochester by this point in the novel?

Chapter 26-

Chapter 26

How is the ‘madwoman in the attic’ presented in this chapter? What impressions are created of Bertha Mason?

In the deep shade, at the farther end of the room, a figure ran backwards and forwards. What it was, whether beast or human being, one could not, at first sight tell: it grovelled, seemingly, on all fours; it snatched and growled like some strange wild animal: but it was covered with clothing, and a quantity of dark, grizzled hair, wild as a mane, hid its head and face.

Even though the fault would be Rochester's, Jane's reputation and future prospects would be ruined by this marriage. What does this tell us about Victorian society?

Chapter 27

Chapters 28-

In these chapters, Jane decides to make her departure from Thornfield, perhaps the most important decision she makes in the novel. Marsh End and Morton are the setting of the novel’s fourth phase. Here Jane develops a new sense of belonging, and proves herself capable of finding like-minded companions with whom she is not romantically involved.

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30

Chapter 31

Chapter 32

Chapter 36-

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

What do you think of Jane’s marriage to Rochester at the end of the novel?

Another problem that troubles some critics is the fact that Jane finds happiness in the novel only through marriage, suggesting that marriage constitutes the only route to contentment for women. Another way of looking at Jane’s marriage is that she doesn’t sacrifice everything, but enters into a relationship in which giving and taking occur in equal measure. Indeed, in order to marry Rochester Jane has had to reject another marriage, a marriage that would have meant a much more stifling and suppressed life for her. Moreover, in declining to marry St. John, Jane comes to the realization that part of being true to “who she is” means being true to her emotions and passions.