Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre'
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can explain how Brontë uses a semantic field and pathetic fallacy to create a Gothic setting.
Key learning points
- A successful Gothic setting makes the reader feel uneasy and unsettled, but not necessarily frightened.
- A Gothic setting can be created through the use of semantic fields and pathetic fallacy.
- A semantic field is a group of words that all share similar meaning.
- Pathetic fallacy is when the weather reflects the mood (often of the main character).
- Brontë uses these methods in ‘Jane Eyre’ to characterise Lowood as a miserable and oppressive institute.
Keywords
To adhere to - to abide by/ to obey a set of rules or conventions
Oppressive - if something is oppressive, it makes people feel uncomfortable or it is cruel and unfair
Regimented - very strictly organised or controlled
Semantic field - a group of words that all share similar meaning
Pathetic fallacy - when the weather reflects the mood (usually of the main character)
Common misconception
Pupils think that Gothic settings have to be utterly terrifying to count as Gothic.
Gothic settings are not about frightening the reader as much as possible. They are about making the reader feel unsettled and creating an atmosphere of mystery and dark intrigue.
Teacher tip
Before getting students to complete learning cycle 2, if you have less-confident students, you could use one of the feedback slides as a model to show pupils how to annotate the quotations with the two questions in mind.
Equipment
You will need access to a copy of an 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 upsetting content
Depiction or discussion of sexual violence
Supervision
Adult supervision required
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Who wrote 'Jane Eyre'?
Q2.What is the key aim of Gothic literature?
Q3.The novel 'Jane Eyre' was set in the era.
Q4.What is Jane childhood relationship like with her Aunt Reed in 'Jane Eyre'?
Q5.What was the boarding school that Jane was sent to as a child called in 'Jane Eyre'?
Q6.Match the terminology up to its definition.
a group of words which all have similar connotations
when the weather reflects the mood
when two or more words begin with the same letter
comparing two things that are not the same using 'like' or 'as'
the associations we make with a given word
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following can be used as a synonym for 'oppressive'?
Q2.How are the gardens in 'Jane Eyre' described?
Q3. is when the weather reflects the mood - usually the mood of the main character.
Q4.A is a group of words that are related in meaning.
Q5.Which word would not belong in a semantic field of luxury?
Q6.Which weather could you use if you were using pathetic fallacy to suggest that your main character is heartbroken?
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 8 English lesson on: Lowood Institution: Gothic settings in 'Jane Eyre', 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.