Bibliography

 Bronte, C (2011) Jane Eyre. Image available online at: http://janeeyremasterpiece.blogspot.co.uk

This image was used for my first blog. It is useful to show the character of Jane Eyre and how she was depicted in the 19^th century

Jenna (2012) Arrow, blog posted Teusday 28^th 2012. Available at: http://jennaolivia94.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/arrow.html

I used this arrow for making my mind maps. They helped structure how one thought came off another and how my ideas developed.

Fanpop (2013) Jane Eyre, submitted by adamsgirl. Image Online at: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/jane-eyre/images/6261141/title/jane-eyre-images-photo

This image, like the one above, helps describe the image Jane Eyre had to give. She had to be a symbol of the 19^th century, dressed in 19^th century clothin, but standing alone, as she tried to defeat the patriarchal society.

Bronte, C (1847) Jane Eyre. Booked published in London.

In order to complete my work, I had to read through some of the original novel. Although it was written in old English, and at times was hard to understand, I could get a good idea of how Jane Eyre was written.

Chandler, D., (n.d.) Syntagmatic Analysis, Semiotics for Beginners, available at: http://users.aber.ac.uk/dgc/Documents/S4B/sem04.html

This enabled me to make better sense of the story. Many characters from the novel fitted into several of Chandler’s seven character roles.

Bronte, C, E (1920) Charlotte and Emily Bronte, the complete novels. Published August 30^th, 1995 by Grammy.

As I spoke about the life of Charlotte Bronte, the writer of Jane Eyre, it would be appropriate to include her sister, also a recognized author, Emily Bronte. The two wrote poems, and became known together, then decided to go their own ways.

Fanpop (2006-2014) Love wallpaper. Image available online at: http://www.fanpop.com/clubs/love/images/4187632/title/love-wallpaper-wallpaper

This image added colour to my mind map. It is used to describe one of the themes of the novel.

Messeh, A (2012) Independent. Image posted Agust 20, 2012 on Fr. Anthony, available at: http://franthony.com/2012/08/the-confessions-of-an-independent-aholic/

This image is also used to describe a theme from the novel. I thought this would be appropriate in depicting the theme of independent, as it shows a person standing alone, while a group link next to the one.

World bank (2005-2012) Gender Relations, image available at: http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTINFORMATIONANDCOMMUNICATIONANDTECHNOLOGIES/0,,contentMDK:21033809~menuPK:2888290~pagePK:210058~piPK:210062~theSitePK:282823,00.html

This is another image showing a theme in my mind map. This is an appropriate picture depicting how Jane Eyre tried to equalize herself to Mr. Rochester.

Coats, K (2011) Social Class, article posed on the 24^th April, 2011 on blogspot. Available at: http://kalvincoates.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/social-class.html

This pyramid also portrayed a theme shown in the novel. Jane Eyre is very much about social class, as how she tries to work her way to the top of the hierarchy.

Blogs (2009) Christian cross, posted on blogspot. Image available at: http://healthnewstoday-just.blogspot.co.uk/2009/09/cross-wallpapers-hd.html

This image showed the theme of religion, and how Jane, throughout the novel, tries to find her own way to pray and practice the teachings of Christianity.

Blogspot (1972) Adaptations of Jane Eyre on BBC Radio. Available at: http://dknyz6.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/awesome-adaptations-56-jane-eyre-1972.html

This shows an advertisement for when an adaptation was shown on BBC of Jane Eyre.

Bronte Blogs (2013) Memory, Fever, Dream, posted by M on 15^th May, 2013. Available at: http://bronteblog.blogspot.com/2013/05/memory-fever-dream.html

This is an image from the graphic novel, Jane Eyre. This will show another adaptation of Jane Eyre, and how creative it can be shown, with limited words.

Bronteana (2006) Jane Eyre Television and Radio, available at: http://bronteana.blogspot.co.uk/2006_09_01_archive.html

Wheeler, K (2004) Freytag’s Triangle, available at: http://web.cn.edu/kwheeler/freytag.html

This image shows how well known Jane Eyre was, branching onto TV and radio, with different adaptations of the novel shown.

Burns, J (2003) Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, The Graphic Novel, Quick Text published by Classical Comics Ltd. Online version available at: http://classicalcomics.com/images/samples/PDFs/JaneEyre_QuickText.pdf

This is an adaptation I looked at depth in. It was the only graphic novel made of Jane Eyre, and gave me an idea of which I could use for the next assignment.

Rhys, J (1966) Wide Sargasso Sea. Published, first version of part one published in 1964, full version published in 1966 by Andre Deutsche

This is another adaptation I looked at depth in. It is from the point of another character within the novel. Wide Sargasso Sea was also worldly known, showing from a characters view point which the main story, Jane Eyre told nothing about. This is also one I looked at doing for my next assignment, as I could choose a character and write it from their point of view.

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys

Rhys, J (1966)

Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys is an adaptation of Jane Eyre. Jane Eyre was published in 1847, and Wide Sargasso Sea was published years later in 1966. It is a re-make of the novel, from another characters point of view. 

The novel is from Bertha's point of view, explaining her previous life, how she got married to Mr. Rochester, how she slowly descended into madness and how Mr. Rochester locked her in the attic after their marriage, with a maid to look after her. 

I could also use this for my next assignment, as I could make a mini video / movie clip from another characters point of view and focus in on one part of the story. As we do not know much about Bertha, Mr. Mason or their previous life, I could use one of them and portray an event from their point of view. For example, I could use the wedding scene of Jane and Mr. Rochester, or I could do it as a prequel to Jane Eyre, how Mr. Rochester came to marry Bertha.

Jane Eyre - The Graphic Novel

Burns, J (2003)

As you can see from my previous post of adaptations of Jane Eyre, there are many motion pictures, online adaptations, television, radio, and musical adaptations. Only one Graphic Novel adaptation of Jane Eyre has been created by John M. Burns in 2003. There are two different versions of the graphic novel; the full version or a quick text (the same story but a shorter version. 

This adaptation, like many others, is a direct link to the original story of Jane Eyre. The comic was specifically made with limited words for easy reading, and to educate adults and children about the 19th century.

This adaptation I could use for my next assignment. I could also create a graphic novel, focussing in on one part of the novel. I could even focus in on one part of the novel from another characters point of view. For example, I could show Bertha's point of view, and in the graphic novel, I could focus in one the part where she attacks members of the house hold and rips Jane's veil before the wedding.

Freytag's Triangle

Wheeler, K (2004)

The story of Jane Eyre can be transferred onto Freytag's Triangle.

As the story starts, Jane grows up in Gateshead, attending Lowood and then moving on to Thornfield Hall. These events lead to the climax in the story at Thornfield Hall. When Jane is about to Marry Mr. Rochester, and Mr. Mason declares he can't as Mr. Rochester is still married to Mr. Mason's sister Bertha, this presents a climax in the story. This is seen as the climax because everything in Jane's life is moving forward up till this point. When she refused to marry Mr. Rochester, and runs away in the middle of the night, she finds herself begging on the streets. The story then slowly moves Jane to her destiny, as she is found by her cousins of John Eyre, taking her in and allowing Jane to continue to find herself, as well as her true love. The story comes to a close, back at the bottom of the triable as Jane goes back to Mr. Rochester, this time to marry him as his equal.

Literature inspired by the novel

Adaptations of Jane Eyre

Themes Explored

LOVE

Jane Eyre is the tale of a quest to be loved. Jane not only searches for romantic love, but for a sense of belonging and purpose. As a orphaned child, she was neglected and bullied by her aunt and cousins, which lead to her friendship with Helen Burns and quoting ‘to gain some real affection from you, or Miss Temple, or any other whom I truly love, I would willingly submit to have the bone of my arm broken, or to let a bull toss me, or to stand behind a kicking horse, and let it dash its hoof at my chest’ (Chapter 8)(Bronte, 1847). This clearly shows that Jane was simply looking for affection and a sense of belonging, her tormented childhood drove her to search for her meaning in life, in which she could feel loved.

Bessie Lee is the first person in Jane’s life, who occasionally gives her a sense of belonging. Bessie looks after Jane, singing to her and reading to her. When Jane leaves for Lowood, Helen Burns and Miss Temple fill the roles and are seen to her be true friends and role models. They give Jane a purpose and sense of belonging, but Jane still searches for romantic love. She leaves for Thornfield Hall, where she finds her love Mr. Rochester, but her integrity and independence won’t let her fall easily.

·      LOVE VERSUS INDEPENDENCE

Jane lived with her Uncle Reed (until he died), Aunt Reed and their 3 children. Jane could never express herself and was broken down every time she tried to stand up for herself. When she moved to Lowood to gain an education, she found herself through her friend, Helen Burn and role model, Miss Temple. Her independence at Lowood drove her to apply for a governess position and received a place at Thornfield Hall. There she fell in love with the master of the house, Mr Rochester. After discovering that he is already married, she refuses the marriage and his proposal for them to live in the south of France together as husband and wife, though they cannot be married. This shows that by refusing the marriage and proposal to live together, she is keeping her integrity and independence.

After rejecting the proposal, she is forced to beg on the streets for food. This exemplifies that she would rather be independent, relying on what she can get herself, than live of a man who’s already married.

Jane also refuses the marriage proposal from St. John. Although they enjoy each other’s company, and have a relationship built on common grounds, Jane keeps her integrity by rejecting him, as she knows the marriage would remain loveless. She searches for love and belonging, so entering a loveless marriage would take away her integrity and independence.

She rejects his marriage proposal, but agrees to travel to India with him as brother and sister. This proves to herself that she can be loyal to Mr. Rochester, her first love, and still reply on herself. This also shows that she refuses to enter a loveless marriage, as she searches for true love. Mr. Rochester was her true love, but her rejection of him shows she will not sacrifice her independence.

RELIGION

Jane struggles to find the balance between earthly pleasure and moral duty. She encounters three main religious figures throughout the novel; Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen Burns and St. John Rivers.

Mr. Brocklehurst seems to be doing a good thing, supplying children with a place to stay and feeding them and educating them, but in fact he greed’s over the money he receives from them, living his own wealthy life-style, while the children of Lowood walked in ragged and thin clothing, eating poor meals and waiting to fall ill and die. He constantly humiliates the children, which in itself is un-Christian.

Helen Burns takes a passive approach to Christianity, one of which is too submissive for Jane to adopt for herself.

Lastly, St. John Rivers takes great pride in himself, and what he does. He is driven by ambition and glory, which lead to his proposal to Jane. He knows that she will have to let go of her emotions and pleasure needs, so she is fully committed to her moral duties. Jane refuses, as she knows this will consist of her destroying her integrity and being disloyal to her own needs.

·      SOCIAL CLASS

Jane is a figure of indefinite class hierarchy. Her manners, sophistication and education are that of a lady, as her position of governess, tutoring children, meant she had to act of a higher class. Although she was a paid employee, her ‘fake’ status left her powerless and penniless and Thornfield Hall, which meant if she was to marry Mr. Rochester, she would not be his equal. Jane was of the same intelligence to him, but not the same social class, and by marrying him, he would still remain her master. It was only after Jane inherited the money from John Eyre, could she marry Mr. Rochester as his equal.

It is clear in the novel, that Jane tries to speak out about social class and tried to fight against it. In Chapter 23 she says to Mr. Rochester: ‘Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong! I have as much soul as you, and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you’ (Bronte, 1847).

 GENDER RELATIONS

Throughout the novel, Jane fights against the patriarchal society, trying to overcome oppression and achieve equality. Three main characters in the novel constrain Jane and try to keep her powerless, putting her own needs aside.

Mr. Brocklehurst after publicly humiliating Jane, tried to keep her in a submissive position at Lowood. Once she left Lowood, St John challenged her independence and integrity by asking for her hand in marriage, knowing she would have to dismiss her own needs and pleasures, focusing on her moral duty. She eventually married Mr. Rochester, her first and true love, ensuring they could marry as equals.

Themes

Character roles in depth

Jane Eyre: the protagonist and the hero
Jane Eyre is written in first person, from her own point of view. She is the main character in the novel, taking the reader through the journey of her life, starting with her childhood to her late marriage. She also plays the hero is her own story, as she continues to stay independent, keeping her integrity by declining marriage proposals, until she confirms she is marrying for love in an equal marriage.

John Eyre, Rivers Family, Mr. Rochester, Dr. Lloyd: the donor
The donor is someone who helps the protagonist get through a situation and helps them overcome it. John Eyre leaves Jane the inheritance when she most needs it, and the Rivers Family takes her in and makes her aware of the inheritance. Mr. Rochester also takes her in and help Jane. Dr. Llyod convinced Mrs. Reed to allow Jane to go to Lowodd, allowing her to exit her life of torment at Gateshead.

Mr. Rochester: the sought-for-person
Jane Eyre is the story of a quest for Love. Mr. Rochester is Jane's love, and Jane has to go through certain event to test her dedication to Mr. Rochester by not loosing track or loosing herself in the process.

Mr. Rochester, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mr. Mason, Berhta, St. John, Dr Llyod, Mrs. Reed, Helen Burns and Miss Temple: the dispatcher
The dispatcher is someone who helps Jane to move and and sends her on her journey. Dr. Lloyd convinces Mrs. Reed to let Jane go to Lowood, meaning he sent her away. Mrs. Reed and her 3 cousins made Jane leave as they tormented her. At Lowood, Mr. Brocklehurst also tormented Jane, and he was part of the reason Jane left to be a governess at Thornfield. Helen Burns and Miss Temple motivated Jane to leave Lowood, making her realise she can have a better life away from Lowood. At Thornfield, Mr. Rochester first proposal drove Jane to decline it, as she knew he would still be of a higher class, meaning they could not marry as equals. Mr. Mason and Bertha also had a part to play in this, as Jane could not face Bertha and what she stood for (Mr. Rochesters past life). Mr. Mason is the one who told Jane about Bertha, making her decline the marriage and keep her integrity and independence. St. John made Jane go back to her first love Mr. Rochester, making her realise she should only marry for love.

Dr. Lloyd, Helen Burns, Miss Temple, John Eyre, Rivers Family, Mr. Rochester: the helper
The helper is someone who at anytime in the novel, helps the protagonist. Their role is very similar to the donor. Dr. Lloyd helps Jane leave her life at Gateshead, allowing her to move on. At Lowood, Helen Burns and Miss Temple help Jane get through her time there and overcome the public humiliation she received from Mr. Brocklehurst. The Rivers Family and Mr. Rochester take Jane in and look after her. John Eyre gives Jane an inheritance which helps her get off the streets.

Bertha, Mr. Brocklehurst, Mrs. Reed, Geogiana, Eliza and John(her 3 cousins): the villain
The villain is someone who torments the protagonist and stops them from achieving their goals in some way. Mrs. Reed and her three cousins torment Jane by physically and emotionally abusing her from a young age. At Lowood, Mr. Brocklehurst bullies Jane by publicly humiliating her, making her think she is useless. Bertha is the main reason Jane doesn't marry Mr. Rochester. Bertha stands in the way of Jane and her dream of finding a true love.

St. John : the false hero
Jane is on a quest for independence and love. St. John tries to take that away from her by proposing to her, knowing she would enter a loveless marriage. In a way, St. John tries to trick Jane, making her think that a marriage with him is what she needs, when Jane is actually searching for love.