济南大学外国语学院英国文学史及选读课件 Critical realism（1）.ppt

Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) The Bronte Sisters(Charlotte, Emily and Anne) “that family of poets in their solitude yonder on the gloomy Northern moors.” ---Thackeray heather Emily Bronte(1818-1848) (1820-1849) Charlotte Bronte (1816-1855) Thematic Concerns All her works are about the struggle of some young middle-class woman for independence, equality, love and a happy life. She is a writer of critical realism combined with romanticism. Analysis of Jane Eyre Brief story Themes Genre Structure She goes through a lot of hardships. After nearly perishing on the moors of Marsh End, she is taken in and cared for by a parson, Rev. Rivers. Meanwhile, a great misfortune befalls Mr. Rochester: he loses his sight during a fire in the house, set by his mad wife who dies a tragic death by jumping off the roof in spite of his attempt to save her. At last, Jane returns to Rochester and becomes his wife at Ferndean. Themes 1. Sharp criticism of the religious hypocrisy of charity institutions like Lowood School. 2. A moral fable: People have to go through all kinds of physical or moral tests to obtain their final happiness. Jane has to suffer from maltreatment, loneliness, humiliation, cold and starvation, social discrimination, and seperation from the man she loves to achieve her personal happiness. And it is only by her intelligence, diligence, courage and moral uprightness that she succeeds. The same is true of Mr. Rochester. Themes 3. It started the English governess novel. In the novel, Charlotte successfully depicts an unconventional governess-heroine, who, despite her misfortune and plainness, fights her way in the lonely world, maintains her independence and dignity, and obtains her happiness. It contributes a lot to the women’s movement at the time. Genre A hybrid of four genres: Critical Realism; 2. Bildungsroman (narrates the story of a character’s internal development as he or she undergoes a succession