Which phrase best describes character’s perspective?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. She [Mrs. Fairfax] returned; with her own hands cleared her knitting apparatus and a book or two from the table, to make room for the tray which Leah now brought, and then herself handed me the refreshments. I felt rather confused at being the object of more attention than I had ever before received, and, that too, shown by my employer and superior; but as she did not herself seem to consider she was doing anything out of her place, I thought it better to take her civilities quietly. What does the juxtaposition of Mrs. Fairfax’s behavior with Jane’s reaction reveal about Jane?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Here, Helen is talking about Miss Temple. Miss Temple is full of goodness; it pains her to be severe to any one, even the worst in the school: she sees my errors, and tells me of them gently; and, if I do anything worthy of praise, she gives me my meed liberally. One strong proof of my wretchedly defective nature is, that even her expostulations, so mild, so rational, have not influence to cure me of my faults; and even her praise, though I value it most highly, cannot stimulate me to continued care and foresight. Based on this excerpt, what does Helen think about herself?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. When Mrs. Fairfax had bidden me a kind good-night, and I had fastened my door, gazed leisurely round, and in some measure effaced the eerie impression made by that wide hall, that dark and spacious staircase, and that long, cold gallery, by the livelier aspect of my little room, I remembered that, after a day of bodily fatigue and mental anxiety, I was now at last in safe haven. . . . My couch had no thorns in it that night; my solitary room no fears. At once weary and content, I slept soon and soundly: when I awoke it was broad day. What moral message does Brontë convey through the symbolism of the house outside and inside of Jane’s room?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Here, Jane encounters a new room. She pointed to a wide arch corresponding to the window, and hung like it with a Tyrian-dyed curtain, now looped up. Mounting to it by two broad steps, and looking through, I thought I caught a glimpse of a fairy place, so bright to my novice-eyes appeared the view beyond. Yet it was merely a very pretty drawing-room, and within it a boudoir, both spread with white carpets, on which seemed laid brilliant garlands of flowers; both ceiled with snowy mouldings of white grapes and vine-leaves, beneath which glowed in rich contrast crimson couches and ottomans; while the ornaments on the pale Parian mantelpiece were of sparkling Bohemian glass, ruby red; and between the windows large mirrors repeated the general blending of snow and fire. What does Jane think about the drawing-room?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. [Mrs. Fairfax said,] "I really got quite melancholy with sitting night after night alone; I had Leah in to read to me sometimes; but I don’t think the poor girl liked the task much: she felt it confining. . . .” My heart really warmed to the worthy lady as I heard her talk; and I drew my chair a little nearer to her, and expressed my sincere wish that she might find my company as agreeable as she anticipated. What does the juxtaposition of Leah and Jane reveal?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Here, Mrs. Fairfax is talking to Jane. I’m sure last winter (it was a very severe one, if you recollect, and when it did not snow, it rained and blew), not a creature but the butcher and postman came to the house, from November till February; and I really got quite melancholy with sitting night after night alone; I had Leah in to read to me sometimes; but I don’t think the poor girl liked the task much: she felt it confining. In spring and summer one got on better: sunshine and long days make such a difference; and then, just at the commencement of this autumn, little Adela Varens came and her nurse: a child makes a house alive all at once. What is Mrs. Fairfax’s perspective about those around her?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. Here, Jane and Mrs. Fairfax discuss Mr. Rochester. [Jane] "Well, but, leaving his land out of the question, do you like him? Is he liked for himself?” [Mrs. Fairfax] " I have no cause to do otherwise than like him; and I believe he is considered a just and liberal landlord by his tenants: but he has never lived much amongst them.” "But has he no peculiarities? What, in short, is his character?” "Oh! his character is unimpeachable, I suppose. He is rather peculiar, perhaps: he has travelled a great deal, and seen a great deal of the world, I should think. I dare say he is clever, but I never had much conversation with him.” "In what way is he peculiar?” "I don’t know—it is not easy to describe—nothing striking, but you feel it when he speaks to you; you cannot be always sure whether he is in jest or earnest, whether he is pleased or the contrary; you don’t thoroughly understand him, in short—at least, I don’t: but it is of no consequence, he is a very good master.” What does the dialogue reveal about Mrs. Fairfax’s perspective on Mr. Rochester?
Read the excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë. The said Eliza, John, and Georgiana were now clustered round their mama [Mrs. Reed] in the drawing-room: she lay reclined on a sofa by the fireside, and with her darlings about her (for the time neither quarrelling nor crying) looked perfectly happy. Me, she had dispensed from joining the group; saying, ". . . Until she heard from Bessie, and could discover by her own observation, that I was endeavouring in good earnest to acquire a more sociable and childlike disposition, a more attractive and sprightly manner—something lighter, franker, more natural, as it were—she really must exclude me from privileges intended only for contented, happy, little children. What is revealed by juxtaposing Mrs. Reed’s treatment of her children with her treatment of Jane?
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