ENG 403 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Psychotic Break
Jane Eyre Class Discussion Questions 8/24/16
1) What is the significance of the first few pages?
Jane is a melancholy, solitary, imaginative child. She lives in a half dreamlike state and imagines wild
images as she reads. Additionally, her intellect surpasses those around her.
It is at this point that she begins to fight back for the first time. There is a certain loss of innocence and
transition to adulthood.
2) What do we know about Jane so far?
She's intelligent. There's a lot of anger in her character. She is good to people who are good, but she
feels she can't let those who are bad get their way. She's solitary both by choice and by fear—she chases
solitude in response to negative stimulus, which is why she'll still seek out Bessie and Helen.
3) What happens in the red room, and what does it signify?
Jane cannot deal with injustice—leads to a dramatic psychotic break. Changes even how she thinks
about herself—she barely recognizes herself in the mirror.
Why all of the red? Associated with violence, power, blood—metaphor for the transition into
womanhood.
Why the white bed? Perhaps in memory of the goodness of her uncle. Perhaps a symbol of rest, purity.
Perhaps a symbol of the promise of Mrs. Reed to take Jane in.
Seeing the ghost—always haunted in some way. Hints of self-doubt.
4) What is life like at Lowood for Jane?
Pretty grim, structured, sparse. Mr. Brocklehurst—hypocrisy of his family—cup and the platter reference
from the bible about what is inside being what matters. The school is not genuinely concerned with the
spiritual well-being of the students. Is there an actual concern with learning? Additionally, the hierarchy
of older and younger girls in fairly harsh and perpetuates former evils.
5) Who is Helen and what does she mean to Jane?
She is smart, curious, truly humble, strong. She quietly takes injustice as an act of strength. Helen allows
Jane's questions in a way that was never allowed for Jane previously. Both of them are somewhat
solitary, so they develop their own little world. Jane has respect for Helen, she perseveres with her
Christ-like attitude. "She can choose when to throw a punch and when to wait." Helen is the ideal of
Victorian womanhood. There is also a contrast between Jane and Helen.
Final thoughts: Keep in mind that the father of the Brontes was a curate—why are the religious figures
portrayed the way they are?
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Document Summary
She lives in a half dreamlike state and imagines wild images as she reads. It is at this point that she begins to fight back for the first time. There"s a lot of anger in her character. She is good to people who are good, but she feels she can"t let those who are bad get their way. Jane cannot deal with injustice leads to a dramatic psychotic break. Changes even how she thinks about herself she barely recognizes herself in the mirror. Associated with violence, power, blood metaphor for the transition into womanhood. Perhaps in memory of the goodness of her uncle. Perhaps a symbol of the promise of mrs. reed to take jane in. Mr. brocklehurst hypocrisy of his family cup and the platter reference from the bible about what is inside being what matters. The school is not genuinely concerned with the spiritual well-being of the students. She quietly takes injustice as an act of strength.
