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Jane Eyre : Key info

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Jane Eyre is a notable literary work by Charlotte Brontë. A complete discussion of this literary work is given, which will help you enhance your literary skills and prepare for the exam. Read the Main texts, Key info, Summary, Themes, Characters, Literary devices, Quotations, Notes, and various study materials of Jane Eyre.

Key info

Key Facts 

  • Author: Charlotte Brontë (1816–1855)
  • Author’s Full Name: Charlotte Brontë
  • Full Title of Book: Jane Eyre: An Autobiography
  • Author’s Title in Book: Currer Bell (pen-name of Charlotte Brontë)
  • Title of the Author: One of the Brontë Sisters / Pioneer of Feminist Fiction
  • Written Date: 1846-1847
  • First Publication Date: 16 October 1847
  • Publisher: Smith, Elder & Co. (London)
  • Genre: Gothic Novel / Bildungsroman (Coming-of-Age Novel) / Romantic Novel
  • Form: Fiction (Prose Novel)
  • Point of View: First-Person (from Jane Eyre’s perspective)
  • Climax: Jane discovers Bertha Mason, Rochester’s insane wife, in the attic on their wedding day
  • Tone: Passionate, Serious, Moral, Introspective, Romantic
  • Source: Inspired by Brontë’s own life experiences, including her time at Clergy Daughters’ School and her work as a governess
  • Narrative Style: Autobiographical, personal
  • Famous For: One of the earliest feminist novels. 
  • Setting: 
  • Setting (Time): Early 19th century (Victorian Era)
  • Setting (Place): Northern England — Gateshead Hall, Lowood School, Thornfield Hall, Moor House, and Ferndean

Key Note- English

  • Feminism: Feminism means the demand for equal rights and dignity for men and women. In literature, it highlights women’s freedom, voice, and position in society. In Jane Eyre, Charlotte Brontë shows how a woman fights for her own will, dreams, and self-respect.
  • Gothic Elements: The features of Gothic literature include fear, mystery, dark atmosphere, supernatural power, and strong emotions. In Jane Eyre, the darkness of Thornfield Hall, storms, hidden secrets, and mysterious figures repeatedly create a Gothic mood.
  • Red Room: In childhood, Jane was punished in the Red Room. This room symbolizes loneliness, fear, repression, and mental suffering. It was Jane’s first great trauma, which shaped her strength and rebellious spirit.
  • Madwoman in the Attic: Bertha Mason, locked away in Thornfield, is the “madwoman in the attic.” She symbolizes the oppression, captivity, and silenced voice of women in a patriarchal society. In literary criticism, she has become a symbol of feminist resistance and the uncovering of hidden truths.
  • Romantic Idealism: In the Romantic age, nature, emotion, imagination, and freedom of the soul were emphasized. In Jane Eyre, love, morality, independent self-identity, and a deep connection with nature highlight Romantic idealism.

Charlotte Brontë wrote Jane Eyre in 1846-1847. At that time, she worked as a governess. Her own life was full of struggles. She lost her mother and sisters early. She also faced poverty and loneliness. Charlotte wanted to highlight the challenges faced by women. She wanted to write about a simple girl who becomes strong. She mixed her real-life feelings with fiction. She used the pen name “Currer Bell” because women writers were not respected at the time. She sent the manuscript to many publishers. Many rejected it. Finally, it was published in October 1847. The novel became very popular. People liked Jane’s bold character. It was different from other romantic novels. Charlotte’s pain, her fight for respect, and her job as a governess helped her write Jane Eyre. The novel is part fiction, part her own life story.