Tuesday, 27 September 2011
Thursday, 22 September 2011
Friday, 16 September 2011
Research task 4
Find and mark all descriptions of Jane’s dreams and paintings in the novel. Why are they included in her autobiography? What do they tell us about Jane, i.e. how do they contribute to characterisation? How do they operate as a narrative?
References of Jane’s paintings are found on...-Page 78: “That is one of my paintings over the chimney-piece.”
-Page 106, 107, 108: “Adele showed me some sketches this morning which she said were yours.”
-Page 110: “and had sent for my portfolio”
-Page 137: “and draw in chalk your own picture”
-Page 199: “One morning I fell to sketching a face”
-Page 314: “Had I done these pictures?”
-Page 315: “them I got my palette and pencils”
References to Jane’s dreams are found on...-Page 188: “that had not brought with it a dream of a infant”
-Page 207: “I dreamt of Miss Ingram all that night”
-Page 240, 241: “I continued in dreams the idea of a dark and gusty night.”
-Page 272: “I dreamt I lay in the red-room at Gateshead”
-Page 312: “I used to rush into strange dreams at night
Jane’s dreams play a significant role in explaining, to her, as well as to the reader, what her thoughts are occupied with. Her dreams act as a narrative to direct to the reader what emotions is hidden behind her morbid facial expression. It is a way to improve the reader’s understanding of her insecurities, her fears and the baggage she still carries with her from her past. Her imagination, being a noticeable part of her personality but also greatly fed by the books she has read, has a great influence on these dreams. Being a reader, shows her inquisitive mind; a mind maybe too inquisitive seeing as it fails to rest to rest at night. Jane’s nature is to wonder, to observe and to attempt at unravelling the ways of her society. The emphasize on her dreams help to correctly describe her personality and the previously referred to characteristics.
Furthermore, her love for painting also contributes to her eccentric personality. Through her paintings she is able to express her thoughts and feelings; otherwise kept bottled up.
Furthermore, her love for painting also contributes to her eccentric personality. Through her paintings she is able to express her thoughts and feelings; otherwise kept bottled up.
Research Task 3
1. Find out what “The Woman Question” referred to (see page 14)
The woman question referred to society’s uncertainty as to what the correct place of women, in the context of the time, were. Was it right for men to determine their wives’ fates by considering them to be their legal possessions? Was it the right thing to limit the extension of married women’s roles by preventing them from owning property, protecting their own wages or writing their own wills without having to ask for their husband’s permission? “The woman question” motivated people’s interest in whether or not a woman should be allowed to determine her own destiny.
2. Find and mark all references relating to being a governess in Jane Eyre.- Page 71: “she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and, latterly, companion.”
-Page 76: “and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess in her house.”
-Page 81: “A more reassuring introduction for a new governess could scarcely be conceived.”
-Page 82: “this is not like what I have heard of the treatment if governesses”
-Page 85: “he commissioned me to find a governess for her.”
-Page 88: “I suppose he had considered that these were all the governess would require for her private perusal.”
-Page 97: “I am the governess.”
-Page 137: “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor and plain.”
-Page 150: “Why, I suppose you have a governess for her”
-Page 230: I shall continue to act as Adèle’s governess”
3. Read and comment on excerpts from Poovey (see page 15)
The governess had to deal with putting aside her needs and desires as both a woman and human, in order to maintain a position that possibly could have promise for a somewhat more profitable life than the ordinary middle-class housewife. Although her goal was to attain as much independence as possible, the governess had to purposely boycott her personal liberty and still, after sacrificing that which was most important to her, she had to endure the ridicule
and criticism from the rest of society. Her situation exemplified inferiority due to the fact that the governess position was something between the “middle-class mother” and a “working-class woman”; thus not having significant importance or much worth of its own.
The woman question referred to society’s uncertainty as to what the correct place of women, in the context of the time, were. Was it right for men to determine their wives’ fates by considering them to be their legal possessions? Was it the right thing to limit the extension of married women’s roles by preventing them from owning property, protecting their own wages or writing their own wills without having to ask for their husband’s permission? “The woman question” motivated people’s interest in whether or not a woman should be allowed to determine her own destiny.
2. Find and mark all references relating to being a governess in Jane Eyre.- Page 71: “she had stood me in the stead of mother, governess, and, latterly, companion.”
-Page 76: “and fixing that day fortnight as the period for my assuming the post of governess in her house.”
-Page 81: “A more reassuring introduction for a new governess could scarcely be conceived.”
-Page 82: “this is not like what I have heard of the treatment if governesses”
-Page 85: “he commissioned me to find a governess for her.”
-Page 88: “I suppose he had considered that these were all the governess would require for her private perusal.”
-Page 97: “I am the governess.”
-Page 137: “Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor and plain.”
-Page 150: “Why, I suppose you have a governess for her”
-Page 230: I shall continue to act as Adèle’s governess”
3. Read and comment on excerpts from Poovey (see page 15)
The governess had to deal with putting aside her needs and desires as both a woman and human, in order to maintain a position that possibly could have promise for a somewhat more profitable life than the ordinary middle-class housewife. Although her goal was to attain as much independence as possible, the governess had to purposely boycott her personal liberty and still, after sacrificing that which was most important to her, she had to endure the ridicule
and criticism from the rest of society. Her situation exemplified inferiority due to the fact that the governess position was something between the “middle-class mother” and a “working-class woman”; thus not having significant importance or much worth of its own.
Friday, 26 August 2011
English Research Task 2
Research Task 2 1. I couldn’t believe Jane was behaving in such an inappropriate manner as to hitting master John. She was completely acting out, showing no constraint or control over her actions. She seemed to have completely lost perspective as to the correct way of behaving; being in the position that she was, this was unimaginably strange. As instructed by Miss Reed, miss Abbot and I attempted to take Jane to the Red-room. Kicking and screaming we led her upstairs. As we entered the red-room, we placed her on the chair, hoping she would have calmed down by this time. Seeing that she has not, I instructed miss Abbot to lend me her garter to tie Jane down. She must have realised that being tied down will only make the punishment more unpleasant, because she decided to calm down. Miss Abbot and I then tried to explain to Jane that such behaviour was unacceptable and that she should understand what her place was in the house; a place inferior to the rest of the family. She should respect her caregivers and realize that she would be worth nothing without them. I tried to explain these things as subtle as possible, hoping Jane would realize the importance thereof, although miss Abbot felt the usual stern way would be appropriate.
We then left Jane there to continue with our other daily duties.
After quite some time, we heard a dreadful scream coming from the red-room. We ran to check whether the child was okay, and found an hysteric girl begging to leave. She desperately grabbed my hand, but at that moment Miss Reed entered the room. She was upset that we were with Jane, seeing as her orders was that she would attend to Jane later on herself. I tried to explain to Miss Reed what Jane had told me about the shadow/light she saw, but she was too upset to listen to any reason. She unsympathetically instructed another hour in the red-room for Jane and ignored the hysteric child begging for some other sort of punishment. We left Jane there, where she presumably passed out.
2. I agree with Adrienne Rich’s argument. The Red-Room incident lays out the foundation of the life and struggles Jane has to deal with. It contains the moment where she rationally sets out the events of her life and comes to realize the unfairness of her position.
3. Sandra M. Gilbert suggests that, “the incident of the Red-Room”, has been carefully set-out to serve the purpose of an sample in which the actual story is laid out. The circumstances of the Red-Room triggers the young Jane into realizing how unfairly she has been treated and in her statement, “I dared commit no fault; I strive to fulfil every duty; and I was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaking from morning to noon, and from noon to night”, it becomes clear that she realises the unjust of her situation. As she is labelled, at that age, inferior due to being an orphan; she realizes that this is the position she will fill for the rest of her life if she neglects to do something about it. Then other aspects, such as being a woman, her appearance and her upbringing will call attention to her position of being dependent.
In the Red-Room situation she sets out her thoughts and rationalizes the events of her life. This, unfortunately makes it clear to her that the life she lives, is one that forces her to walk the road alone; a thought she despises but is unable to change. Her revealing of her thoughts in the quote, “I was a discord in Gateshead Hall, I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage. If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them”, basically highlights the fact that she knows she is not wanted and simultaneously proves how she avoids feeling affection in an attempt to shield herself from further pain.
As she is forced to stay in that enclosed room, she is once again physically isolated as many prior times in her life. Through the course of the book, she constantly finds herself in positions of isolation and seclusion. She emphasizes this by admitting that “[she] had no communication by letter or message with the outer world: school-rules, school-duties, school-habits and notions, and voices , and faces and phrases, and costumes, and preferences, and antipathies: such was what [she] knew of existence”. As restricted as her experience was, she had an inner urge to learn more and improve her worth. She attempted in rising above the rest at school but found that her achievements were constantly undervalued, thus society succeeded in keeping her from gaining too much knowledge and also independency. When Mr. Broklehurst questions her about her experience and knowledge she states that she has only “[read] such books as [come] in [her] way, and they have not been numerous of very”.
It is therefore clear that the red-room plays a key role in Jane’s struggle to escape the social norms which prevent her from living the life she dreams of.
We then left Jane there to continue with our other daily duties.
After quite some time, we heard a dreadful scream coming from the red-room. We ran to check whether the child was okay, and found an hysteric girl begging to leave. She desperately grabbed my hand, but at that moment Miss Reed entered the room. She was upset that we were with Jane, seeing as her orders was that she would attend to Jane later on herself. I tried to explain to Miss Reed what Jane had told me about the shadow/light she saw, but she was too upset to listen to any reason. She unsympathetically instructed another hour in the red-room for Jane and ignored the hysteric child begging for some other sort of punishment. We left Jane there, where she presumably passed out.
2. I agree with Adrienne Rich’s argument. The Red-Room incident lays out the foundation of the life and struggles Jane has to deal with. It contains the moment where she rationally sets out the events of her life and comes to realize the unfairness of her position.
3. Sandra M. Gilbert suggests that, “the incident of the Red-Room”, has been carefully set-out to serve the purpose of an sample in which the actual story is laid out. The circumstances of the Red-Room triggers the young Jane into realizing how unfairly she has been treated and in her statement, “I dared commit no fault; I strive to fulfil every duty; and I was termed naughty and tiresome, sullen and sneaking from morning to noon, and from noon to night”, it becomes clear that she realises the unjust of her situation. As she is labelled, at that age, inferior due to being an orphan; she realizes that this is the position she will fill for the rest of her life if she neglects to do something about it. Then other aspects, such as being a woman, her appearance and her upbringing will call attention to her position of being dependent.
In the Red-Room situation she sets out her thoughts and rationalizes the events of her life. This, unfortunately makes it clear to her that the life she lives, is one that forces her to walk the road alone; a thought she despises but is unable to change. Her revealing of her thoughts in the quote, “I was a discord in Gateshead Hall, I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with with Mrs. Reed or her children, or her chosen vassalage. If they did not love me, in fact, as little did I love them”, basically highlights the fact that she knows she is not wanted and simultaneously proves how she avoids feeling affection in an attempt to shield herself from further pain.
As she is forced to stay in that enclosed room, she is once again physically isolated as many prior times in her life. Through the course of the book, she constantly finds herself in positions of isolation and seclusion. She emphasizes this by admitting that “[she] had no communication by letter or message with the outer world: school-rules, school-duties, school-habits and notions, and voices , and faces and phrases, and costumes, and preferences, and antipathies: such was what [she] knew of existence”. As restricted as her experience was, she had an inner urge to learn more and improve her worth. She attempted in rising above the rest at school but found that her achievements were constantly undervalued, thus society succeeded in keeping her from gaining too much knowledge and also independency. When Mr. Broklehurst questions her about her experience and knowledge she states that she has only “[read] such books as [come] in [her] way, and they have not been numerous of very”.
It is therefore clear that the red-room plays a key role in Jane’s struggle to escape the social norms which prevent her from living the life she dreams of.
Friday, 19 August 2011
[english TASK 1]
1. Revisit the definitions of the following key terms: class, gender & feminism, and ideology.
A brief summary of Warwick’s “Key Critical Concepts” for Victorian Studies.
Class: “a group relation to the means of production; that is whether a group is made up of workers or owners, and share of the wealth created through work.” People were divided into groups (classes), depending on their wealth and power . The three main classes of the nineteenth century were the upper class, middle class and the working class. The class into which an individual would fall had an enormous influence on his “experience of existence.”
Gender & Feminism : John Ruskin lays out the difference between men and women by emphasizing that men work in the open world, where they face danger and risk getting wounded or hardened.
Their duties are to protect women whom may not face danger, temptation or cause any offence. Women remain sources of moral and spiritual support because of their distance from the public arena. In order to prevent moral “fall” they were isolated from too much activities and knowledge. Men had control over this aspect.
Ideology: Although an ideology is defined as “a set of beliefs”, it does not exist merely out of ideas. An ideology takes a concrete form in the social establishments that direct people’s general behaviour.
A brief summary of Warwick’s “Key Critical Concepts” for Victorian Studies.
Class: “a group relation to the means of production; that is whether a group is made up of workers or owners, and share of the wealth created through work.” People were divided into groups (classes), depending on their wealth and power . The three main classes of the nineteenth century were the upper class, middle class and the working class. The class into which an individual would fall had an enormous influence on his “experience of existence.”
Gender & Feminism : John Ruskin lays out the difference between men and women by emphasizing that men work in the open world, where they face danger and risk getting wounded or hardened.
Their duties are to protect women whom may not face danger, temptation or cause any offence. Women remain sources of moral and spiritual support because of their distance from the public arena. In order to prevent moral “fall” they were isolated from too much activities and knowledge. Men had control over this aspect.
Ideology: Although an ideology is defined as “a set of beliefs”, it does not exist merely out of ideas. An ideology takes a concrete form in the social establishments that direct people’s general behaviour.
2. What do you think motivated Bronte to write this Preface? Comment on the argument she presents. Why does she write as Currer Bell?
To inform the reader about the precise content of the Norton Critical Edition
To inform the reader about the value of the content eg. When which articles was last edited or updated and by whom
To explain how this edition differs from others and in what ways has been improved
To highlight that the footnotes has been made more “reader-friendly” in an effort to improve students interest
To thank the people who assisted in the production of this edition and to give recognition to those who deserve it
She gives an detailed argument about why she feels this edition is a definite improvement of the previous one. Her argument is strong due to the usage of facts, supplying reasons for the changes and acknowledging the people who was involved. Her argument is logically laid-out and includes detail on all the important aspects as to why this edition is worth reading.
Currer Bell was the name she used to disguise herself as the writer. She distances herself to avoid personal judgement as well as to prevent emotion from clouding it, by working from an unconcerned, rational point of view.
To inform the reader about the precise content of the Norton Critical Edition
To inform the reader about the value of the content eg. When which articles was last edited or updated and by whom
To explain how this edition differs from others and in what ways has been improved
To highlight that the footnotes has been made more “reader-friendly” in an effort to improve students interest
To thank the people who assisted in the production of this edition and to give recognition to those who deserve it
She gives an detailed argument about why she feels this edition is a definite improvement of the previous one. Her argument is strong due to the usage of facts, supplying reasons for the changes and acknowledging the people who was involved. Her argument is logically laid-out and includes detail on all the important aspects as to why this edition is worth reading.
Currer Bell was the name she used to disguise herself as the writer. She distances herself to avoid personal judgement as well as to prevent emotion from clouding it, by working from an unconcerned, rational point of view.
Still, “every word she utters offends [them]” which has a significant influence on their impression of the story. This is proven in the sentence, “ There is an intimate acquaintance with the worst parts of human nature, a practiced sagacity in discovering the latent ulcer, and a ruthless rigour in exposing it, which must command our admiration, but are almost startling in one of the softer sex.”
Wednesday, 17 August 2011
starting a blog baby!! starding a BLOG !!
my eerste official post!! lol,, dis nou afhangend van wat gebeur wanneer ek "Add" druk__ keep your fingers crossed :) :)
___mysiekint has clicked on "Add"...
___ lol,, what a fail!!
ah-ha!! orange pop-up button called "PUBLISH POST"... mmm,,, lets try that one ;)
___mysiekint has clicked on "Add"...
___ lol,, what a fail!!
ah-ha!! orange pop-up button called "PUBLISH POST"... mmm,,, lets try that one ;)
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