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Jane Eyre : Literary devices

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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.

Literary devices

Figures of Speech

  • Metaphor: When one thing is said to be another, without using like or as. Example: “I am no bird; and no net ensnares me: I am a free human being with an independent will.” – (Jane, Chapter 23). Explanation: Jane compares herself to a bird trapped in a net. By denying this, she metaphorically asserts her freedom and independence.
  • Irony: When the meaning is opposite of what is said or expected. Example: Mr. Rochester hides his marriage and tries to marry Jane. On their wedding day, the revelation shocks Jane and ruins everything. Explanation: It is ironic because Jane believed in his honesty and love, but the truth shows betrayal.
  • Simile: A direct comparison using like or as. Example: “I felt as if I could haunt such shade for ever;” – (Jane, Chapter 23). Explanation: This line is spoken by Jane Eyre. She expresses her uneasy foreboding on the night before her wedding, foreshadowing Bertha Mason’s terrifying intrusion.
  • Symbols: 
  • The Red Room: Symbol of Trauma and Oppression. The Red Room, where Jane is locked as a child, represents punishment, injustice, and fear. It becomes a lasting symbol of Jane’s struggle against cruelty, social inequality, and emotional suffering.
  • Fire and Ice: Symbol of Passion and Control. Fire symbolizes Jane’s emotions, love, and rebellion (like Rochester’s fiery nature). Ice symbolizes restraint, coldness, and control (like St. John’s rigid will). The balance of fire and ice reflects Jane’s search for harmony.
  • Bertha Mason: Symbol of Repression and Madness. Bertha represents Rochester’s hidden sins, social secrets, and the destructive power of repressed passion. She is the dark double of Jane, showing what happens when freedom and identity are denied.
  • Thornfield Hall: Symbol of Secrets and Fate. Thornfield seems grand and safe, but inside hides Rochester’s secret wife. The fire that destroys it symbolizes truth breaking free, punishment for sin, and the possibility of renewal.
  • The Splitting of the Chestnut Tree: Symbol of Broken Union and Destiny. The chestnut tree under which Rochester proposes to Jane is later split by lightning. It foreshadows the separation of the lovers, yet its roots remain alive, symbolizing their destined reunion.

Moral Lesson: 

  • Marriage should be based on love and equality.
  • Even in suffering, faith gives strength.