An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract
I can confidently analyse an unseen extract from Charlotte Brontë's novel ‘Jane Eyre’.
An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract
I can confidently analyse an unseen extract from Charlotte Brontë's novel ‘Jane Eyre’.
These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.
Lesson details
Key learning points
- When reading an unseen extract, use the information you are given to make predictions about the text.
- When thinking about how something is presented, it can helpful to imagine yourself describing it to someone else.
- The red-room from ‘Jane Eyre’ is presented as a grand, mysterious and isolated room.
- ‘Jane Eyre’ is a novel about a young, isolated girl who grows up, facing challenges along the way.
- Jane meets a wealthy man (Mr. Rochester) and falls in love with him but mystery and darkness seem to follow the couple.
Keywords
To analyse - to study the writer’s methods in detail, to learn more about the text
Grand - magnificent and impressive
To contrast - to position two opposite things close to one another to draw attention to their difference
Eerie - unsettling and ominous
Semantic field - a group of words that all share similar connotations
Common misconception
Students panic about unseen activities and think that there is a 'right' or 'wrong' answer.
The text is unseen - students are not supposed to be experts on it. They just need to read the text and give their opinions about it - any well-evidenced opinion is the 'right' answer.
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 8 english lesson on: An introduction to 'Jane Eyre': Analysing an unseen extract, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 english lessons from the A monster within: reading and writing Gothic fiction unit, dive into the full secondary english curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of the unseen extract from 'Jane Eyre' (Charlotte Brontë). This can be downloaded from the additional materials section of the lesson.
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of discriminatory behaviour
- Depiction or discussion of sensitive content
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
6 Questions
Exit quiz
6 Questions
Jane hears strange noises coming from Rochester's attic.
Bertha tears up Jane's wedding veil and sets Thornfield on fire.
Jane always felt lonely and neglected as a child.
Jane works at Thornfield Hall and attended Lowood School.
Jane constantly fights against injustice throughout the novel.