Jane Eyre and Feminism - Kenwood Academy



Jane Eyre and Feminism

Feminism Definition and Background

Feminism is the belief in the social, economic, and political equality of the sexes. Although largely originating in the West, feminism is manifested worldwide and is represented by various institutions committed to activity on behalf of women’s rights and interests.

Throughout most of Western history, women were confined to the domestic sphere, while public life was reserved for men. In medieval Europe, women were denied the right to own property, to study, or to participate in public life. At the end of the 19th century in France, they were still compelled to cover their heads in public, and, in parts of Germany, a husband still had the right to sell his wife. Even as late as the early 20th century, women could neither vote nor hold elective office in Europe and most of the United States (where several territories and states granted women suffrage long before the federal government did so). Women were prevented from conducting business without a male representative, be it father, brother, husband, legal agent, or even son. Married women could not exercise control over their own children without the permission of their husbands. Moreover, women had little or no access to education and were barred from most professions. In some parts of the world, such restrictions on women continue today.

Jane Eyre was published in 1847, almost 300 years after the first feminist texts were published in England. The seminal work, A Vindication of the Rights of Women by Mary Wollstonecraft, published in 1792 is still one of the most read feminist essays today. Wollstonecraft challenged the notion that women exist only to please men, by proposing that women and men be given equal opportunities in education, work, and politics. Excerpts from

1. Manifested most likely means:

2. Suffrage most likely means:

3. Seminal most likely means:

Jane Eyre Text Excerpts

“It is vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquility: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it…Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, too absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex” (129-130).

“Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton? – a machine without feelings? And can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? 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. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh; - it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal – as we are!” (292)

Non-Fiction Text

This excerpt found on The Victorian Web website is from a 1966 non-fiction essay by R.B. Martin. Martin illustrates the point of view that Jane Eyre is not a feminist novel. Read the excerpt and then decide for yourself.

“The novel is frequently cited as the earliest major feminist novel, although there is not a hint in the book of any desire for political, legal, educational, or even intellectual equality between the sexes. Miss Bronte asks only for the simple — or is it the most complex? — recognition that the same heart and the same spirit animate both men and women, and that love is the pairing of equals in these spheres. . . . The famous plea that women ought not to be confined 'to making pudding and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags' [Chap. 12] is not propaganda for equal employment but for a recognition of woman's emotional nature. The condemnation of women to a place apart results in the creation of empty, capricious women like Blanche Ingram, who tyrannize over men whenever possible, indulge in dreams of Corsair lovers, and can communicate only in the Byronic language of outdated romantic fiction. Only equals like Jane and Rochester dare to speak truth couched in language of unadorned directness. [pp. 93-94]”

4. Do you think Jane Eyre is an example of feminist literature or like Martin, do you think it is not?

5. Why do you choose this side?

6. Use evidence from the texts of both Jane Eyre and the non-fiction essay to support your stance.

7. Write a thesis statement that clearly argues your point of view. Use the following as a rough template.

The Victorian novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte (does or does not) represent the principles of early feminist

thought because _____________________________________, _________________________________ and

________________________________________________.

The 5-paragraph essay based on the Jane Schaffer model

Introduction Paragraph

Opening (OS): In 1-3 sentences, introduce the general topic of the essay in an interesting but not gimmicky way. You should avoid using quotes or definitions in the opening.

Background (BG): In 2-3 sentences, name the author and the book title and some significant and specific information about the characters, setting or theme of the novel.

Thesis (T): In 1-2 sentences, state your position or make your argument that you will go on to prove in your essay and list the three points that you will use to back up your argument. Make sure you can uphold your stance with facts.

3 Body Paragraphs

Topic Sentence (TS): This sentence should state the main point of the paragraph and be straight to the point. This point comes directly from your thesis.

Concrete Detail 1 (CD1): This sentence is the "what" sentence and is a fact that shows "what" is happening. It should be either an example, illustration, evidence or a fact, support, plot reference, paraphrase, plot summary, etc. It should be a concrete detail and should start with 'for example' or a different transition.

Commentary 1 (CM1): This sentence contains no facts; rather, it is a comment from you that elaborates on the fact presented in CD1. This sentence contains analysis, interpretation, opinion, inference, insight or reason about the point in CD1. It is important that the CM explains how the CD helps prove your TS.

Concrete Detail 2 (CD2): This sentence must include the textual evidence that supports the TS. You will directly quote the text, using a lead-in and proper citation. The quote should offer concrete evidence to back up the point you make in your TS.

Commentary 1 (CM1): This sentence contains no facts; rather, it is a comment from you that elaborates on the fact presented in the CD2. This sentence contains analysis, interpretation, opinion, inference, insight or reason about the textual support in CD2. It is important that the CM explains how the CD helps prove your TS.

Concluding or closing sentence (CS): This is the closing sentence that wraps up the TS and sums up the paragraph. It closes up the thoughts and gives insight to the next paragraph. It is a good idea to use as many (at least two) feeling, emotional, or connotative words as possible. It usually begins with "As a result" or another concluding phrase.

Conclusion

Conclusion (CON): In 3-4 sentences, the conclusion wraps up the topic of the paper. Directly relates to the thesis statement but does not repeat it. Do not introduce any new facts in this paragraph. This paragraph is solely used to tie up the loose ends in the paper.

Essay Requirements

• It must not be written in first person

• Every body paragraph must be 6 sentences long.

• Each section of the body paragraphs (TS, CD, CM, CS) is only one sentence in length

• Each section should also avoid past tense and only be written in present tense

The Elements of Fiction

PLOT is the structure of the story. Can you fill in this graphic with the general plot components?

3

2 4

1 5

answer:

1 exposition: the start of the story, the situation before the action starts

2 Rising action: the series of conflicts and crisis in the story that lead to the climax

3 Climax: the turning point, the most intense moment – either mentally or in action.

4 Falling action: all of the action which follows the climax

5 Resolution or dénouement: the conclusion, the tying together of all of the threads

Can you name the four different types of conflict that might character faces?

Human vs.

Human vs.

Human vs.

Human vs.

Answer:

Human, Nature, Society, Self

Characters are the people (or animals things, etc. presented as people) appearing in a literary work.

Can you name the four character types?

_____________________Characters are_________________________________________________________

_____________________Characters are_________________________________________________________

_____________________Characters are_________________________________________________________

_____________________Characters are_________________________________________________________

Answer:

Round – convincing, true to life

Static – do not change throughout the course of the story

Dynamic – undergo some type of change or development

Flat – stereotyped, shallow and often symbolic

Setting is the place where the story takes place and includes

The geographical location

The time period

The social and economic characteristics of the location

The specifics place like building, room, bus, etc.

The atmosphere or feeling of the place

Theme is the central idea or central message of the story. The Theme usually contains some insight into the human condition – telling something about humans and life.

Symbolism is when one thing represents an idea, quality or concept larger than itself.

What might a lion symbolize?

What might a rose symbolize?

What might water symbolize?

Point of View is the perspective from which the story is told.

Character = Who are the main characters?

Plot = What is taking place?

Setting = When does it take place? The time period, time of day

Setting = Where does it take place?

Author’s Purpose = Why was it written?

Theme/Symbol = How does the author accomplish his/her purpose?

5 Paragraph Essay Outline

Essay Prompt

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