Lesson video

Hello, everyone.

Welcome to our next lesson of "Jane Eyre." As you may remember from our last lesson, Jane has decided to leave Lowood School.

She wants to go and experience the world for herself.

Jane longs for adventure.

As you're going to see, Jane is going to get more adventure than she bargained for.

This part of the book that we're going to read now is going to get increasingly scary and increasingly weird, so let's begin.

For today's lesson, you will need an exercise book or paper, and a pen.

If you do not have this equipment, press the pause button on your video now, go and collect this equipment, and then we will begin our lesson.

Right.

Let's begin with a recap from our last lesson.

How has Jane changed so far throughout the novel? You have four options.

Option one, Jane has learnt to control her passions.

Option two, Jane has become bitter and sad.

Option three, Jane has become more angry at the injustices that she has suffered.

Or option four, Jane has become more anti-social.

Press the pause button on your video now and tell the screen the right answer.

I will now tell you the right answer, which is, of course, option one.

Jane has learnt to control her passions.

As you may remember from the start of the novel, Jane lacks self-control.

Her passions, her emotions often control her actions, but from our last lesson, we learnt that Miss Temple helped Jane to learn how to control her emotions, how to control her passions.

Well done if you got that right.

I will now tell you my plan for today's lesson.

First of all, we're going to learn about governesses.

Next of all, we're going to read our extract, and then we're going to answer this question.

How does Bronte create a tense atmosphere when Jane arrives at Thornfield? Now, first of all, we're going to learn about governesses.

So in our last lesson, we learnt that Jane decided to leave Lowood School.

She was a teacher in this place, and then she began looking for jobs elsewhere.

Well, Jane decides to become a governess at Thornfield Hall.

I will now explain to you what a governess is.

In Victorian times, governesses were employed by rich families to privately educate their children.

In many ways, a governess was a symbol of a family's status.

It was a sign that you're very rich, that you're able to employ these young women to privately educate your kids.

Now, Charlotte Bronte had her own experience of being a governess.

Once she had finished school, Charlotte worked as a teacher and governess in England and Belgium.

So when Jane, when Charlotte Bronte gets to this part of the novel, she is very much drawing upon her own experiences.

Now, being a governess, as Charlotte Bronte would know, was a very difficult job indeed.

First of all, it could be very lonely.

Governesses had to live with their families, and therefore, many governesses did not have much of a social life.

They often felt imprisoned and trapped in these houses far away from the rest of the world.

It could be a life of isolation and seclusion.

Next of all, governesses were not treated as a member of the family.

Even though they spent all their time with the family, they were still treated as an employed member of staff.

This was another reason that being a governess could be a very lonely job.

What was most difficult of all was the fact that governesses were in a rather ambiguous or unclear social position.

They were not treated as a member of the family, but they were also more important than servants.

They were sometimes expected to give orders to servants.

So governesses find themselves in a rather awkward position.

They were more important than servants, but less important than the rest of the family.

This awkward social position, being caught between the family and the servants, once again led to many governesses feeling rather isolated and lonely in their jobs.

Right.

Let's revise the key ideas we've been through.

Number one, during Victorian times, governesses were employed to privately educate the children of rich families.

Number two, this could often be a lonely job.

Governesses were not treated as members of the family.

Since they had to give instructions to staff members, governesses were also expected to avoid making friends with servants.

Press the pause button on your video now, revise these two ideas, and then we will test your memory.

Off you go.

Okay, let's now test your memory.

Press the pause button on your video now.

Go through these two ideas, filling in the words in blank.

Off you go.

I will now show you the right answers.

During Victorian times, governesses were employed to privately educate the children of rich families.

Number two, this could often be a lonely job.

Governesses were not treated as members of the family.

Since they had to give instructions to staff members, governesses were also expected to avoid making friends with servants.

Well done if you got all of those right.

Okay, we're now going to get ready to read our extract.

At the beginning of this extract, Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall.

She is here to begin her new job as a governess.

This is a picture of Thornfield Hall here.

As you can see, it's a rather old and neglected building, and Jane arrives at nighttime to make this place seem even more terrifying and scary.

Let's read.

"The roads were heavy, the night misty; my conductor let his horse walk all the way, and the hour and a half extended, I verily believe, to two hours; at last he turned in his seat and said, "You're noan so far fro' Thornfield now." Again I looked out: we were passing a church; I saw its low broad tower against the sky, and its bell was tolling a quarter; I saw a narrow galaxy of lights too, on a hillside, marking a village or hamlet.

About 10 minutes after, the driver got down and opened a pair of gates: we passed through, and they clashed to behind us.

We now slowly ascended and climbed a drive, and came upon the long front of a house: candlelight gleamed from one curtained bow-window; all the rest were dark.

The car stopped at the front door; it was opened by a maid-servant; I alighted and went in." Now, the person who opens the door here is Mrs. Fairfax.

She is the housekeeper or Thornfield Hall, and the housekeeper was basically responsible for maintaining the building.

As you're going to see, Mrs. Fairfax is a very kind and gentle old lady.

Then we're going to meet Miss Adele.

Adele is a French child that Jane will be teaching.

So Jane is going to be the governess to Adele.

Adele lives at Thornfield Hall, too.

Now, as we're going to see, the owner of Thornfield Hall is a man named Mr. Rochester, but there is something very mysterious about Mr. Rochester.

Mrs. Fairfax explains that Mr. Rochester often travels and does not spend much time at Thornfield.

Now, this is very odd.

Mr. Rochester's ancestors have always lived at Thornfield Hall.

This is their seat of power, if you like, and yet, for some strange reason, Mr. Rochester doesn't spend much time at Thornfield Hall at all.

I wonder why.

Later on in this novel, Jane is going to meet Mr. Rochester.

As you're going to see, he's a very complex and mysterious man.

Let's now revise these key ideas.

Number one, the housekeeper of Thornfield is called Mrs. Fairfax.

Number two, Jane is going to be teaching a French child called Adele.

Number three, the owner of Thornfield is Mr. Rochester.

Press the pause button on your video now, and revise these characters.

Off you go.

Let's now test your memory.

Now go through these three sentences, filling in the words in blank.

Off you go.

Okay, let's now test how many of those you have remembered.

Number one, the housekeeper of Thornfield is called Mrs. Fairfax.

Number two, Jane is going to be teaching a French child called Adele.

And number three, the owner of Thornfield is Mr. Rochester.

Well done if you got all of those right.

After Jane arrives at Thornfield, Mrs. Fairfax gives her a tour of the hall.

Now, Mrs. Fairfax explains that Mr. Rochester is a rather peculiar or strange character, but doesn't directly answer Jane's questions about him.

So Jane wants to know exactly what is it that makes this man so peculiar, but for some reason, Mrs. Fairfax doesn't want to reveal this.

It's clear that Mr. Rochester is a very mysterious man indeed.

Now, Mrs. Fairfax takes Jane up to one of the towers of Thornfield to take a look around the countryside which surrounds this hall.

She explains that the Rochesters have historically been a violent family.

We're now going to read our extract.

At the beginning of this extract, Mrs. Fairfax has just finished her tour with Jane.

They are about to climb through a trap door from one of these towers to go back into the main building of Thornfield.

Let's read.

"Mrs. Fairfax stayed behind a moment to fasten the trap-door; I, by drift of groping and finding my way in the dark, found the outlet from the attic, and proceeded to descend the narrow garret staircase.

I lingered in the long passage to which this led, separating the front and back rooms of the third storey: narrow, low, and dim, with only one little window at the far end, and looking, with its two rows of small black doors all shut, like a corridor in some Bluebeard's castle.

While I paced softly on, the last sound I expected to hear in so still a region, a laugh, struck my ear.

It was a curious laugh; distinct, formal, mirthless and without joy.

I stopped: the sound ceased, only for an instant; it began again, louder: for at first, though distinct, it was very low.

It passed off in a clamorous peal that seemed to wake an echo in every lonely chamber; though it originated but in one, and I could have pointed out the door whence the accents issued.

"Mrs. Fairfax!" I called out: for I now heard her descending the great stairs.

"Did you hear that loud laugh? Who is it?" "Some of the servants, very likely," she answered: "perhaps Grace Poole." "Did you hear it?" I again inquired.

"Yes, plainly: I often hear her: she sews in one of these rooms. Sometimes Leah is with her; and they are frequently noisy together." The laugh was repeated in its low, syllabic tone, and terminated in an odd murmur.

"Grace!" exclaimed Mrs. Fairfax.

I really did not expect any Grace to answer, for the laugh was as tragic, as preternatural a laugh as I have ever heard; and, but that it was high noon, and that no circumstance of ghostliness accompanied the curious cachinnation and laughter; but that neither scene nor season favoured fear, I should have been superstitiously afraid.

However, the event showed me I was a fool for entertaining a sense even of surprise.

The door nearest me opened, and a servant came out, a woman of between 30 and 40, a set, square-made figure, red-haired, and with a hard, plain face: any apparition less romantic or less ghostly could scarcely be conceived and imagined.

"Too much noise, Grace," said Mrs. Fairfax.

"Remember directions!" Grace curtseyed silently and went in.

"She is a person we have to sew and assist Leah in her housemaid's work," continued the widow, Mrs. Fairfax, "not altogether unobjectionable in some points, but she does well enough." So here's a picture of Grace Poole.

This is the servant that Mrs. Fairfax said was laughing there.

As you can see, it seems rather strange that a servant who looks just as plain and unremarkable as Grace Poole could produce such a terrifying laugh.

This is what makes Jane rather curious right now.

Could Grace Poole, this very normal servant, really produce a laugh like this? Okay, let's now revise the main ideas from that extract.

Mrs. Fairfax claims that Mr. Rochester is a peculiar man with a violent family history.

Jane hears an eerie laugh ringing through the corridors.

Mrs. Fairfax claims that this must have been Grace Poole, one of the servants.

Jane meets Grace and is surprised that such a strange laugh could come from her.

Press the pause button on your video now, read through these sentences again, and then we're going to test your memory.

Off you go.

Okay, let's now test your memory.

Go through these sentences, filling in the words in blank.

Off you go.

Okay, let's now take a look at our right answers.

Number one, Mrs. Fairfax claims that Mr. Rochester is a peculiar man with a violent family history.

Number two, Jane hears an eerie laugh ringing through the corridors.

Number three, Mrs. Fairfax claims that this must have been Grace Poole, one of the servants.

Number four, Jane meets Grace and is surprised that such a strange laugh could come from her.

Well done if you got those right.

Let's now consider this question.

How does Bronte create a tense atmosphere when Jane arrives at Thornfield? You may remember that Jane arrives at Thornfield at nighttime.

Right away, Bronte is creating a tense atmosphere here.

It's night.

It's very dark.

Thornfield is covered in shadows.

This darkness creates or establishes a gloomy and mysterious atmosphere around Thornfield.

Thornfield is covered in shadows.

This building perhaps holds some dark secrets.

Perhaps something evil is taking place in this building.

So right from the moment that Jane arrives at this building, Bronte is creating a tense atmosphere.

Press the pause button on your video now, and take some notes on this idea.

Off you go.

Next of all, Jane describes Thornfield's dark hallway "like a corridor in some Bluebeard's castle." So this is, the corridors as well, the corridors of Thornfield look very, very dark and very shadowy.

And then Jane says this.

She says it's similar to the corridor in Bluebeard's castle.

Now, this is a reference to the fairytale about Bluebeard.

Here is a picture of Bluebeard.

He's a rather terrifying-looking man.

Let me now explain what happens in the fairytale about Bluebeard.

So Bluebeard was a very rich nobleman who lived in a castle.

Bluebeard married many different women, and with each one of his wives, Bluebeard would kill them and then hide their body in a room in his castle.

So Jane is comparing Thornfield's dark hallways to the corridors of Bluebeard's castle.

What is she suggesting here? Well, I think she's suggesting that it seems like Thornfield perhaps holds some dark secret, right? Something really evil is taking place in this building, in much the same way as something very evil takes place in Bluebeard's castle.

Bluebeard is marrying these women, he's killing them, and then he's hiding their bodies in a secret room.

This reference to the Bluebeard fairytale reinforces the tense atmosphere that Bronte is creating.

Press the pause button on your video now, and take some notes on this idea.

Off you go.

Next of all, Bronte creates a tense atmosphere through portraying Mr. Rochester as a very mysterious character.

Even though Mr. Rochester is the owner of Thornfield Hall, we do not meet him in this extract, but we do learn a few things about him.

We learn that Mr. Rochester has abandoned Thornfield Hall.

He doesn't spend any time in this place, even though Mr. Rochester should be living in Thornfield.

All of his ancestors have lived in this hall.

It is the seat of his family's power.

And yet, for some mysterious reason, Rochester has abandoned this place.

We do not know why.

We do not know what has happened to Rochester at Thornfield Hall to make him run away from this place.

Next of all, we learn that the Rochester family have a violent family history.

That's what Mrs. Fairfax says.

So we get a sense, maybe Mr. Rochester is similarity violent or evil as his ancestors have been.

And then Mrs Fairfax says that Mr. Rochester is a peculiar, or that means strange man, but she doesn't explain why Rochester is peculiar.

So Bronte is raising all of these questions about Mr. Rochester, but providing us, as the reader, very few answers.

Press the pause button on your video now and take some notes on these ideas.

Off you go.

Let's now take a look at the final way in which Bronte creates a tense atmosphere in this extract.

We have this bizarre laugh that Jane hears in the corridor, and the question is could this eerie, this really strange laugh really come from Grace Poole.

As I said, Grace Poole seems like a very plain, ordinary servant.

Could this really ordinary servant really make such a bizarre, terrifying, insane laugh? So once again Bronte is creating a sense of uncertainty around the events happening at Thornfield Hall.

This sense of uncertainty reinforces the tension that the reader feels.

Press the pause button on your video now and take some notes on this idea.

Okay, let's now get ready to write about these ideas.

This is the question that you're going to be answering in a few minutes.

How does Bronte creates a tense atmosphere when Jane arrives at Thornfield? Now I'm going to give you a bit of a paragraph structure to help you write your answer.

You could begin with this sentence.

Jane first sees this country hall when it is covered in darkness.

And then you could expand upon this idea and how the darkness creates a tense atmosphere.

Then you could say this.

Indeed, Jane claims that the dark corridors of Thornfield belong "in some Bluebeard's castle." And then you could talk a little bit about the fairytale around Bluebeard and how he took his wives and murdered them and kept their bodies in a secret room in his castle.

Then you can talk about this.

The mystery around Mr. Rochester is further emphasised by a number of unanswered questions about this character.

And you can talk about these unanswered questions around Rochester's character.

And then you could write this.

Bronte further creates a tense atmosphere through describing an eerie laugh ringing through the dark corridors of Thornfield.

And you can talk about the effects of this laugh, and how it once again creates a tense atmosphere.

Here is a list of key words and phrases and the quotation that you could use to help you write your paragraph.

Press the pause button on your video now and write your paragraph in your book or on your page.

Off you go.

I will now show you an exemplar paragraph.

Jane first sees this country hall when it is covered in darkness.

The writer uses this opening description of Thornfield to establish a gloomy atmosphere.

This old, neglected building appears to be a place of mystery and hidden evils.

Furthermore, Jane claims that the dark corridors of Thornfield belong "in some Bluebeard's castle." Bronte is alluding here to the fairytale about Bluebeard, a rich nobleman who murdered each of his wives and kept their mutilated corpses hidden in his castle.

Perhaps the owner of Thornfield, Mr. Rochester, is hiding a similarly disturbing secret of his own.

The mystery around Mr. Rochester is further emphasised by a number of unanswered questions about this character.

Jane ponders why he inexplicably decided to abandon this hall, the historical seat of his family's power.

The protagonist also struggles to understand Mrs. Fairfax's vague comment that her employer is a peculiar man.

At any rate, there is a worrying sense that Rochester may share the violent tendencies that define his family's history.

Bronte further creates a tense atmosphere through describing an eerie laugh ringing through the dark corridors of Thornfield.

This manic, ear-piercing laugh sounds like it comes from some pitiful soul going insane, but then Mrs. Fairfax claims that it was Grace Poole, a rather unremarkable looking-servant, who was making such bizarre sounds.

Jane doesn't know whether to believe this.

Bronte thus cleverly creates tension through introducing a mounting number of unnerving mysteries to her readers.

Having read that exemplar, you may have come up with some ideas about how you can improve your own answer.

If you would like to improve your answer, press the pause button on your video now and improve your work.

Off you go.

Okay, so we're coming to the end of the lesson.

Here's the list of the credits for the pictures that I've used in this lesson.

Well, that brings us to the end of our lesson.

Well done for working so hard today.

Join us in our next lesson, when Jane goes for a walk outside Thornfield Hall and then she meets a very mysterious man.

I wonder who this could be.

I'll see you next time.

And before you go, make sure you complete the end-of-lesson quiz.