Mrs. Talley
Name: _______________________
English IV AP
Date: ________________________
Jane Eyre—Charlotte Brontë
*Indicates concepts that will appear on the exam
Due Date for these questions: October 6, 2015
Chapter 1
1. What narrative point of view does Brontë use for this novel?
2. *How does Brontë create sympathy for Jane in the first chapter?
3. *What is the purpose of including the descriptive passages of Berwick’s History of
British Birds at this point in the novel?
4. *Identify the following characters:
a. Jane Eyre
b. Aunt Reed
c. Bessie
d. John Reed
e. Eliza Reed
f. Georgiana Reed
Chapter 2
5. *Describe how the weather sets the tone for this chapter in the novel.
6. *Describe how Jane holds an ambiguous place in the Reed home and in society.
7. *How does Miss Abbot try to frighten Jane before locking her in the red-room?
8. *What does the reader learn about Jane’s character in this chapter?
9. *Jane briefly considers escaping Gateshead. What options does she ponder?
10. *Consider the name of the Reed’s home, Gateshead. What significance does this name
have at this point in the novel?
11. Why is Jane allowed to live at Gateshead with the Reeds?
12. *Consider the other characters’ actions when Jane is locked in the red-room. How do the
other characters’ dialogue and behavior help shape readers’ opinions of them?
Chapter 3
13. Describe how the tone of the chapter changes from the beginning to the end.
14. Describe the effect of the allusion that Brontë employs in this chapter.
15. Explain how Jane suffers prejudice based on her appearance.
Chapter 4
16. *Analyze Brontë’s use of fire and ice in this chapter. Provide examples from the text to
support your thoughts. What do these motifs represent in the text?
17. *From Mr. Brocklehurst’s description of Lowood, how do the reader’s know that he is a
hypocrite? How does this knowledge foreshadow Jane’s experience at Lowood?
18. Explain the epiphany that Jane has at the end of the chapter about her relationship with
Bessie.
19. *This chapter ends the first section of the novel, Jane’s childhood at Gateshead. What
has Jane learned about her relationship with Mrs. Reed?
Chapter 5
20. *This chapter marks the first time the reader is addressed directly. Why is this
important?
21. *What can readers infer about Mr. Brocklehurst’s character from the information
presented in this chapter?
22. What do the burnt porridge, distasteful food, and inadequate portion sizes at Lowood
emphasize?
23. *Contrast Brontë’s description of Superintendent Miss Temple with that of her employer,
Mr. Brocklehurst.
24. *Evaluate the name Lowood. What is its significance for this section of the novel?
25. *Identify the following characters:
a. Mr. Brocklehurst
b. Miss Temple
c. Helen Burns
Chapter 6
26. Detail the harsh physical conditions of the setting in this chapter.
27. *Why does Helen Burns endure her harsh treatment at Lowood?
28. *Analyze the difference between Jane and Helen’s beliefs about Christianity.
29. *What does Helen tell Jane about her feelings toward the Reed family?
Chapter 7
30. *Using examples from Chapter 7, examine Brontë’s use of light and dark.
31. *How does Brontë indicate that Mr. Brocklehurst is a hypocrite in this chapter?
32. From Jane’s point of view, how is Miss Temple’s behavior in this chapter unacceptable?
Chapter 8
33. What is the one thing that Jane Eyre truly wants?
34. *Contrast Jane and Helen’s views of solitude.
35. How does the tone of the chapter change from beginning to end?
36. *Explain how Jane’s temperament begins to change in this chapter because of her
relationship with Helen and Miss Temple.
Chapter 9
37. *Explain the symbolic meanings of the names and places where Jane has lived so far in
her life: Gateshead and Lowood. Compare/Contrast the two.
38. *Contrast Helen and Jane’s views on death and religion.
39. Analyze how the weather parallels and contrasts the tone and events of the chapter.
40. Why does Jane enjoy her new friend?
41. *At this point in her life, Jane has only encountered two significant religious figures.
Explain the effect each one has on Jane and her view of religion.
Chapter 10
42. An aporia occurs when a character speaks directly to oneself or to the reader, especially
when a character is trying to solve a dilemma or decide a plan. Explain when and why
Bronte uses aporia in this chapter.
43. How does Miss Temple’s marriage affect Jane?
44. Discuss Jane’s one real concern about venturing away from Lowood.
45. Bessie notes that Jane is “quite a lady.” On what does Bessie base her opinion?
46. *Explain how Brontë uses the supernatural in this chapter.
Chapter 11
47. Examine how class issues are important in this chapter.
48. Why does Bronte have Jane address the reader at the beginning of this chapter?
49. Before Jane goes to sleep in her new room at Thornfield, she kneels to pray. This action
does not correlate with Jane’s previous beliefs concerning religion. Why have Jane’s
views changed?
50. *Explain how Bronte uses foreshadowing and the supernatural in this chapter.
Chapter 12
51. In this chapter, Jane experiences a rare moment of equality with the male gender.
Explain this incident and its significance.
Chapter 13
52. *Explain why Jane’s paintings are atypical.
53. *Evaluate Bronte’s supernatural elements in this chapter and their effects. Provide
examples from the text to support your ideas.
Chapter 14
54. *Explain how the weather contrasts with the mood of the chapter.
55. *Judge Bronte’s use of fire and light in this chapter. Provide examples from the text and
argue the effect of each.
56. Summarize Mr. Rochester’s feeling towards Celine Varens.
Chapter 15
57. Assess how Mr. Rochester and Jane seem to become equals in social status in this
chapter.
58. *Contrast the changes in tone caused exclusively by the supernatural elements that
Bronte employs in this chapter.
59. *Evaluate how the relationship between Mr. Rochester and Jane changes drastically in
this chapter.
60. Justify why Jane now thinks of Adele more favorably.