Jane Eyre - Sample exam question
The question
Starting with this extract, analyse:
- How Brontë presents Jane's principles in this extract, focusing on how she adheres to the bible's word about marriage. What does this suggest about Jane's character?
- How Brontë presents Jane and her principles in the text as a whole
The extract
In this extract, Rochester has just revealed to Jane the truth about his marriage to Bertha. He has also shared his desire to live with Jane and declared his love for her.
'As he said this, he released me from his clutch, and only looked at me. The look was far worse to resist than the frantic strain: only an idiot, however, would have succumbed now. I had dared and baffled his fury; I must elude his sorrow. I retired to the door.
"You are going, Jane?"
"I am going, sir."
"You are leaving me?"
"Yes."
"You will not come. You will not be my comforter, my rescuer? My deep love, my wild woe, my frantic prayer, are all nothing to you?"
What unutterable pathos was in his voice! How hard it was to reiterate firmly, "I am going."
"Jane!"
"Mr Rochester!"
"Withdraw, then, - I consent; but remember, you leave me here in anguish. Go up to your own room; think over all I have said, and, Jane, cast a glance on my sufferings - think of me."
He turned away; he threw himself on the sofa. "Oh Jane! My hope - my love - my life!" broke in anguish from his lips. Then came a deep, strong sob.
I had already gained the door; but, reader, I walked back - walked back as determinedly as I had retreated. I knelt down by him; I turned his face from the cushion to me; I kissed his cheek; I smoothed his hair with my hand.
"God bless you, my dear master!" I said.'
Before you go onto the next page, make some notes about what you could write about in your essay:
- Think about the key words in the essay question: Jane's character, her principles.
- Think about how Jane adheres to her principles in this passage. Does she struggle? Why does she make the decision to leave Rochester?
- Think about Jane's personality and how Brontë presents and develops this.