Jane Eyre Discussion Questions English 9 Mrs. McDonald
As you readJane Eyre,
keep in the mind the following questions.
CHAPTER 1
1.Explain the significance in Jane’s choosing the
book, Bewick’s History of British Birds.
2.Why
doesn’t anyone take Jane’s side?
CHAPTER 2
1.Compare & contrast the treatment of Jane by bessie, Abbot and Mrs. Reed.
2.What really happened to Jane in the Red Room?
CHAPTER 3
1.Explain the significance of Mr. Lloyd’s
questioning of Jane.
2.Whydoes Mr. Lloyd treat Jane differently?
3.How does the ballad foreshadow Jane’s life?
CHAPTER 4
1.Describe Jane’s behavior toward/confrontation
with Mrs. Reed. Do you agree with the way Jane handled it and with what she
said? Why or why not?
2.Is Bessie softening? Contrast Bessie’s actions in this chapter
with her earlier actions (C 1 & 2)
3.What kind of school do you think Brocklehurst runs?
CHAPTER 5
1.Would Jane have been better off staying at Gateshead rather than going to Lowood?
Why or why not?
CHAPTER 6
1.Contrast the way Jane Eyre and Helen Burns react
to their surroundings.
CHAPTER 7
1.p. 55 “...You are aware that my plan in bringing up these
girls is not to accustom them to habits of luzury and
undulgence, but to render them hardy, patient,
self-denying...” Who says this? Explain the irony of this statement.
2.How was Jane able to endure Brocklehurst’s condemnation?
CHAPTER 8
1.What kind of an effect does Helen have on
Jane?
2.Explain the significance of Miss Temple’s
character.
3.Why was it so important that Jane be cleared
as a liar?
4.p. 67 “I would not now
have exchanged Lowood with all its privations for Gateshead and its daily luzuries.”
Who said this? Why? What does it mean?
CHAPTER 9
1.Does the opening of this chapter prepare you
for what is happening at Lowood? Why or why not?
2.Explain the significance of the wording on Helen
Burns’ grave marker: Resurgam (I will rise again.)
CHAPTER 10
1.Eight years have passed---was Jane happy
during those years? Why or why not?
2.Why does Jane leave Lowood?
3.p. 77 Jane dreams of
liberty but asks for a new servitude---What is the difference and why does she
change her plea?
4.Were you surprised at who visited Jane as she
left Lowood? How had this person’s attitude toward
Jane changed? What purpose did this visit serve?
CHAPTER 11
1.Why is Jane so confused about Mrs. Fairfax’s
treatment of her?
2.Describe the atmosphere created by the
description of Thornfield.
3.What is Jane able to find out about Mr.
Rochester?
4.What are your feelings about Jane’s future
now?
CHAPTER 12
1.Why is Jane so restless?
2.Why is the way Jane and Rochester meet appropriate?
CHAPTER 13
1.Describe your first impression of Mr. Rochester
and his treatment of Jane.
CHAPTER 14
1.Explain the importance of Adele’s presence.
2.Describe the frank discussion between Rochester
& Jane and explain its significance.
CHAPTER 15
1,Why does Rochester tell Jane
about Celine Varens?
2.Is something happening between Jane & Rochester? Explain.
3.What does the last paragraph foreshadow for
Jane?
CHAPTER 16
1.What story is given by Mrs. Fairfax about the
previous night’s fire?
2.Why does Jane think Grace Poole is allowed
to remain at Thornfield?
3.How does Mrs. Fairfax describe Blanche
Ingram?
4.What does Jane find out about Mr. Rochester
that surprises her?
For the folloiwng quote,
identify: Speaker: Significance: Spoken to:
“You,” I
said, “a favorite with Mr. Rochester? You gifted with the power of pleasing
him? You of importance to him in any way? Go! Your
folly sickens me.”
CHAPTER 17
1.What does Jane overhear about Grace Poole?
2.Contrast the attitudes of Jane and Adele toward
the company visiting Thornfield.
3.How does Jane describe Blanche (both
physically & personality)?
4.What does Jane admit to herself?
5.Describe Mrs. Ingram’s & her daughters attitudes
toward governesses.
CHAPTER 18
1.”No, she looks too stupid for any game of the sort.”
Spoken by: Spoken
about:
2.Was Jane jealous of Blanche Ingram? Why or
why not?
3.“You tiresome monkey.”
Spoken by: Spoken
about:
4.How does Jane describe Mr. Mason?
5.Who is Mother Bunches and what does she look
like?
6.How did Blanche describe her experience with
Mother Bunches? What did Jane notice about Blanche’s
behavior that indicated what she really thought?
CHAPTER 19
1.What does Mother Bunches tell Jane about her
future?
2.What does Mother Bunches tell Jane about Mr.
Rochester and Blanche Ingram?
3.Describe Mr. Rochester’s reaction to the news of
Mr. Mason’s arrival?
4.Who was Mother Bunches in reality?
CHAPTER 20
1.Why does Rochester ask Jane to help him
instead of asking Blanche Ingram or one of the gentlemen guests?
2.Contrast Jane’s & Rochester’s feelings toward
& descriptions of Thornfield.
3.Why does Rochester emphasize the difference
between an error and a crime?
4.What is Rochester asking of Jane when he
tells her of his past?
CHAPTER 21
1.What are presentiments?
2.Give an example of another instance of
superstition. What does it foreshadow?
3.What role does Robert’s appearance serve?
4.”Does that person want you?”
Spoken by: Spoken about: Spoken
to:
5,What was Rochester’s reaction to
the above quote?
6.Describe the scene & atmosphere when Jane
& Rochester part.
7.How does Jane describe Rochester to Bessie?
8.Describe Eliza & Georgiana now.
9.Upon seeing Mrs. Reed, what does Jane do that
she vowed against as a child? What does this tell us about Jane?
10.What does Mrs. Reed wish had
happened to Jane and why?
11.What has become of cousin John
Reed? Why?
12.What happens between Jane &
her cousins that never happened when they were children?
13.What 2 wrongs does Mrs. Reed
confess to committing against Jane?
14.”Love me, then, or hate me, as you will. You have my full
and free forgiveness: ask now for God’s and be at peace.”
Spoken by: Spoken
to:
When was
this sai
CHAPTER 22
1.What happens to Eliza and Georgiana?
2.How did Jane feel about returning to Thornfield?
3.”I am strangely glad to get back again to you; and
wherever you are is my home---my only home.”
Spoken by: Spoken
to:
Significance of quote:
4.What is strange about Rochester’s behavior?
CHAPTER 23
1.Describe the setting/atmosphere.
2.What are Jane’s reactions when Rochester
tells her she must leave?
3.Why does Jane want to stay at Thornfield?
4.What does Rochester ask of Jane, and what is
her reply?
5.What is the significance of the lightning
striking the tree and splitting it in half? What does this foreshadow for Jane
& Rochester?
CHAPTER 24
1.What does Rochester want to buy Jane and what
is her reaction?
2.What is Mrs. Fairfax’s reaction to the news?
3.How does Jane plan to spend the month before
the wedding?
CHAPTER 25
1.Describe Jane’s dreams & any significance
they might have.
2.What happens to Jane’s veil?
3.How does Rochester explain what happened to
Jane’s room?
CHAPTER 26
1.Give an example of foreshadowing during the
wedding ceremony.
2.What reason does the stranger give for
objecting to their marriage?
3.What is the secret of Thornfield
Hall?
4.How did Richard Mason find out about their
marriage?
5.Explain the irony of Jane’s letter to her uncle
John Eyre.
6.Describe Jane’s reaction to all the events that
take place on her wedding day.
7.”Be not far from me, for trouble is near; there is none to
help.”
Spoken by: When?
CHAPTER 27
1. Why didn’t Rochester keep Bertha Mason at Ferndean Manor?
2.What is Jane’s solution to the problem?
3.Why did Rochester marry Bertha?
4.What did Rochester do after he returned to
England with Bertha?
5.”Do as I do: trust in God and yourself. Believe in heaven.
Hope to meet again there.”
Spoken by: Spoken
to: When?
6.Why does Jane refer to herself as an
“instrument of evil to what you wholly love”?
CHAPTER 28
1.How was Jane able to survive?
2.Describe what Jane sees through the window of the
house.
3.Why does Jane use an alias? What was it?
CHAPTER 29
1.What do Mary & Diana think of Jane?
2.Describe St. John (pronounced Sinjun).
How do his looks contrast with Rochester’s?
CHAPTER 30
1.Contrast St. John with his sisters and their
treatment of Jane.
2.What job does St. John offer to Jane?
CHAPTER 31
1. Describe Jane’s reaction toward her students.
2.Jane asks herself, “Which is better?” What
does she decide?
3.Compare Jane’s misery to St. John”s.
4.How does Jane describe Rosamond Oliver?
5.Describe St. John’s reaction to Miss Oliver.
CHAPTER 32
1.How is Jane getting on in Morton?
2.Describe Mr. Oliver’s attitude toward St. John.
3.What does Jane get St. John to discuss?
4.What does St. John allow himself to do for 15
minutes?
5.Why won’t St. John marry Rosamond?
6.What curious thing does St. John do before he
leaves Jane?
CHAPTER 33
1.What does Jane find out about her
relationship with the Rivers family?
2.Who does Jane inherit from?
3.How much does she inherit?
4.What does she plan to do with her
inheritance?
CHAPTER 34
1.What proposal does St. John make to Jane?
2.What is Jane’s reaction to it?
CHAPTER 35
1.What does Jane decide to do about St. John’s
proposal?
2.What is Diana’s reaction to the proposal and
her advice to Jane?
3.What strange happening occurs in this chapter
which decides for Jane what she must do?
CHAPTER 36
1.Explain in full what had occurred at Thornfield and to Rochester since Jane had left?
2.Who gave this information to Jane?
CHAPTER 37
1.Where does the reunion take place?
2.In what condition does Jane find Rochester in?
3.What does Jane plan on doing?
4.How does Rochester react to this at first?
Why?
5.Explain the difference between Rochester and St.
John in their relationships with other people.
CHAPTER 38
Explain in full what has happened to Jane & Rochester in
the 10 years which have passed.