Lowood

1. Lowood Jenny, Ian, Nick, Hugh, & Kirsten

2. First Encounter with Helen Burns • Jane first sees Helen reading a book, • Rasselas by Samuel Johnson • - The History of Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia is a story about young men and their mentors traveling the world in order to attain happiness • Right away Jane decides to ask to lend the book • This shows Jane's curiosity and eagerness • "Prince of Abyssinia The History of Rasselas." Enotes.com. Enotes.com. Web. 28 Feb. 2012. <http://www.enotes.com/prince-abyssinia-history-rasselas-criticism/history-rasselas-prince-abyssinia>.

3. First Encounter with Helen Burns • She knew that the book was too dull for her, as she had a taste of a "frivolous and childish kind" and "could not digest or comprehend the serious or substantial" • She understands that as a child, her taste in books cannot be the most studious • Either way, Jane is struck by how she found "the hardihood, thus to open a conversation with a stranger" as "the step was contrary to my nature and habits"

4. First Encounter with Helen Burns • Helen Burns is the first character to tell Jane that Lowood is a charity school, and introduces the adults • Helen gives a hint to Brocklehurst's ways: • "Is he a good man?" • "He is a clergy man, and is said to do a great deal of good." • Helen points out that Jane asks too many questions; ends the conversation

5. Chapter 6: Christian Discussion • Jane and Helen Discuss revenge and religion • - Jane says " When we are struck without a reason, we should strike back again very hard; I am sure we should - so hard as to teach the person who struck us never to do it again". • - Helen counters this statement by citing the new testament. Suggesting that Jane " Love your enemies; bless them that curse you; do good to them that hate you and despitefully use you".

6. Chapter 6 Continued • Helen explains to Jane her belief that " Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrong". • Helen states her Christan views in a long monologue to Jane, but Jane does not make her thoughts on the speech known. The scene is cut off directly after Helen's religious reflection. A so-called Monitor forces Helen to leave, and the scene concludes.

7. Analysis: Chapter 6 • Helen serves as an intelligent, religious influence in this chapter. She preaches to Jane the Christian values that she stands by so strongly. • This chapter centers around religion, in relation to Jane, and sets the stage for the role of religion in the story later on.

8. Chapter 8- Helen Assesses Jane • -After collapsing on the floor, Jane feels as though her reputation has been tarnished at Lowood. Helen says this is not true. "Jane, you are mistaken..." After the abuse she takes from Mr. Brocklehurst she essentially has a emotional breakdown. • -Jane and Helen next speak with Miss Temple and she comforts Jane, serving her tea. Together they are able to declare Jane's innocence.

9. Jane's Growth in Chapter 8 • -Towards the end of the chapter, she is able to finally turn her focus to French and her drawings. The last half page of the chapter is focused on French and earlier on her drawings. • -We see a transition in Jane from a character who is under constraints to a character who is free. The renewed interest in French and her drawings in the final page of the chapter display Jane's increasing maturity and internal sense of freedom.

10. More on Jane's Growth • -Emphasis put on the comforting nature of Helen Burns and Miss Temple. "Miss Temple had always something of serenity in her air, of state in her mien, of refined propriety in her language, which precluded deviation into the ardent, the excited, the eager," • -Showing her growth in the end of Chapter 8 "I toiled hard, and my success was proportionate to my efforts; my memory, not naturally tenacious, improved with practice" This shows Jane's development of qualities she has not had before.

11. More Quotes and Evidence • "Better is a dinner of herbs where love is, than a stalled ox and hatred therewith." • -Quote from proverbs, section of quotes and sayings. • -Means that it is better to be unspectacular and poor with love than rich and absent of love. This is a fitting metaphor as Jane next explains that she has traded the luxuries of Gateshead for the "privations" of Lowood.

12. Chapter X • "Therefore I now pass a space of eight years almost in silence: a few lines only are necessary to keep up the links of connection". After the traumatic death of Helen, Jane goes 8 years without changing much, until she is ready to leave Lowood as an adult • "I remained an inmate of its walls". Even after they reform the school Jane doesn't truly enjoy Lowood, and still feels imprisoned. • At this point in all the major influences on Janes life are out of the picture. She is several miles away from her aunt, Helen is dead, Ms. Temple is now married, and Mr. Brocklehurst is now under the thumb of a board of directors. Jane is currently the only character in the book.

13. Chapter X • "that my mind had put off all it had borrowed of Miss Temple--or rather that she had taken with her the serene atmosphere I had been breathing in her vicinity--and that now I was left in my natural element, and beginning to feel the stirring of old emotions. It did not seem as if a prop were withdrawn, but rather as if a motive were gone: it was not the power to be tranquil which had failed me, but the reason for tranquillity was no more. My world had for some years been in Lowood: my experience had been of its rules and systems; now I remembered that the real world was wide, and that a varied field of hopes and fears, of sensations and excitements, awaited those who had courage to go forth into its expanse, to seek real knowledge of life amidst its perils."-- • "Then," I cried, half desperate, "grant me at least a new servitude!" • These two quotes show that Jane has matured and is tired of the closed off world of Lowood. She is ready to experience the joys of life, but she must relinquish Lowood to do this. She must become a functioning member of society by finding work. She is excited for this new life.

14. Chapter X • "What do I want? A new place, in a new house, amongst new faces, under new circumstances: I want this because it is of no use wanting anything better. How do people do to get a new place? They apply to friends, I suppose: I have no friends. There are many others who have no friends, who must look about for themselves and be their own helpers; and what is their resource?" • - Although she is ready to leave she has a bit of a quarter life crisis, she knows that she is going into this harsh world with no one to have her back.

15. Chapter X In the end Jane gets to leave, and she gets reunited with an old servant. The reader gets caught up on the lives of the Reed family and the tragic irony that has fell upon them. Georgina loses her man and John loses control of his life.

16. Symbols • Fire is associated with warmth, kindness, and love, qualities that Helen and Miss Temple possess. This is reflected in Helen's last name and the fire Jane, Helen, and Miss Temple are sitting by. • Ice is associated with loneliness and oppression. Jane arrives in Lowood in the winter and initially has to adjust to the freezing temperatures. She also has to deal with the lack of friends, and Mr Brocklehurst's humiliations.

17. Themes and Motifs • Religion • Mr. Brocklehurst is a hypocrite. He forces the students to live in harsh conditions to get rid of their pride but he does not hold himself and his family to the same standards. In this representation of organized religion, one person dictating the lives of others does not follow the rules themselves. • Helen Burns preaches love and forgiveness. Despite her suffering, she bears no ill will towards her abusers and is very passive. "Life appears to me too short to be spent in nursing animosity or registering wrongs." Jane later internalizes this form of Christianity.

18. Themes and Motifs • Gender Relations • Mr. Brocklehurst is the main antagonist of this part of Jane's life. Not only is he a religious hypocrite, but he also uses religion to oppress others. His presence is a direct threat to Jane's psychological well-being. His behavior towards the students functions as a commentary on male dominance.

19. Themes and Motifs • Substitute Mothers • Miss Temple acts as a substitute mother and role model to Jane. She is a fair and compassionate teacher who treats students with respect and tries to improve their circumstances. Jane also notes that "Miss Temple had always something of serenity in her air, of state in her mien, of refined propriety in her language, which precluded deviation into the ardent, the excited, the eager." Her influence on Jane manifests as the restraint and self-control Jane adapts over the next eight years at Lowood.

20. Themes and Motifs • Social Class • Even though some of the students, such as Jane and Helen, are shown to be intelligent and moral, they thought to be useless because they are poor. • Romanticism • Helen dies of consumption in Jane's arms. In this dramatic and emotional scene, Jane loses her only friend.