Today’s Blogger:
(Who is typing today?)
Today’s Facilitator:
(Who is leading the discussion today?)
Important Events:
(List the important events from each chapter of the reading you did for today. Talk about the significance of these events.)
Ch. 36
Ch. 37
Ch. 38
Important Passages:
(List at least one important passage from the reading you did for today. Talk about the significance of this passage.)
Focus Questions:
(Discuss all three of the following questions – but record only two.)
1. How does Rochester say he felt in Jane’s absence? What spiritual change has occurred in Rochester? Do Jane and Rochester still feel the same way about each other? In what way have the roles in Jane and Rochester’s relationship been reversed?
2. Do you think the story has a fairy-tale ending? Or is the situation at the end ironic? Are we glad to see them back together? What makes their relationship ring true for the reader?
3. The meaning of the ending of the novel has been much debated. Some readers see Thornfield – Rochester’s world, and Marsh End – St. John’s world – as representing different sides of Jane Eyre. Disagreement exists about whether these two aspects are reconciled at the novel’s end. Some argue that Jane’s marriage to Rochester at Ferndean represents a blending of these two worlds. Others point out the Rochester is now maimed and blind, everything he represents has been destroyed, and the author’s final words in the novel are devoted to St. John. Thus, one world outlasts the other. Discuss – what does your group think?
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Today’s Blogger:
(Who is typing today?)
Today’s Facilitator:
(Who is leading the discussion today?)
Important Events:
(List the important events from each chapter of the reading you did for today. Talk about the significance of these events.)
Ch. 36
Ch. 37
Ch. 38
Important Passages:
(List at least one important passage from the reading you did for today. Talk about the significance of this passage.)
Focus Questions:
(Discuss all three of the following questions – but record only two.)
1. How does Rochester say he felt in Jane’s absence? What spiritual change has occurred in Rochester? Do Jane and Rochester still feel the same way about each other? In what way have the roles in Jane and Rochester’s relationship been reversed?
2. Do you think the story has a fairy-tale ending? Or is the situation at the end ironic? Are we glad to see them back together? What makes their relationship ring true for the reader?
3. The meaning of the ending of the novel has been much debated. Some readers see Thornfield – Rochester’s world, and Marsh End – St. John’s world – as representing different sides of Jane Eyre. Disagreement exists about whether these two aspects are reconciled at the novel’s end. Some argue that Jane’s marriage to Rochester at Ferndean represents a blending of these two worlds. Others point out the Rochester is now maimed and blind, everything he represents has been destroyed, and the author’s final words in the novel are devoted to St. John. Thus, one world outlasts the other. Discuss – what does your group think?
Today’s Blogger: Eric
Today’s Facilitator: Katherine
Important Events:
Chapter 36 – Jane runs away from the Rivers and finds out what happened to
Thornfield
Chapter 37 – Jane is reunited with Rochester
Chapter 38 – Jane marries Rochester, and the book is concluded in a sort-of-
epilogue
Important Passages
In the beginning of Chapter 38, the reader is left with the knowledge of Jane’s complete happiness with her life.
Focus Questions
2.) The general consensus of our group is that Jane Eyre does NOT have a “fairy-tale-ending,” as the ending, though a little sappy, is still realistic.
3.) The worlds of Rochester and St. John reveal different sides of Jane, with Rochester’s expressing Jane’s love and St. John’s representing her sense of duty.
Today’s Blogger: Adriane
Today’s Facilitator: Claire
Important Events:
Ch.36 – After Jane heard Mr. Rochester’s voice, she decides to return to Thornfield to check up on Mr. Rochester. Upon arrival, she finds that the house has been burnt to the ground. That night she stays in an inn where she finds out that Thornfield was ruined in a fire by Bertha who then jumped off the roof. Mr. Rochester was able to escape with the servants.
Ch.37 – Jane goes to Ferndean where Mr. Rochester is staying and talks to Mary, who is the housemaid. Jane takes water on a tray to Mr. Rochester and reveals that she has come after a year. He believes her to be a hallucination or apparition, but once he is convinced they talk. Mr. Rochester re-asks Jane to marry him, but believes he is not worthy because of his age and new disabilities. Jane
Ch.38 – Jane and Mr. Rochester have a quiet marriage. Her relatives receive notice of her marriage and it is accepted by them, though she does not hear from St. John again. Adele is taken to a new school where she grew up to be an accomplished woman, and two years after their marriage Mr. Rochester partially gains his sight back and is able to see their son.
Important Passages:
“Choose then, sir-her who loves you best.”
“I will at least choose-her I love best. Jane, will you marry me?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A poor blind man, whom you will have to lead about by the hand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“A crippled man, twenty years older than you, whom you will have to wait on?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Truly, Jane?”
“Most truly, sir.” (476)
Focus Questions:
1. Mr. Rochester felt depressed that Jane left, and his personality made a drastic change. No longer does he strive to be social, having friends over for weeks at a time. Jane and Mr. Rochester are both still as in love with each other than before, but now, it’s more of an advanced and mature love. Before, their love was rash and Mr. Rochester was more of the caretaker of Jane and her benefactor, but now Jane has more status and has a role in taking care of the disabled Mr. Rochester.
2. The story has a fairy tale ending that is slightly dulled. After the short time of tribulations, Jane returns to her love without the problem Bertha posed, and has a happy life forever onward. The ending is slightly ironic because the entire story follows Jane’s religious path and her struggle to find salvation in God, but at the end she runs back to Mr. Rochester and the reader is not informed any more about Jane’s beliefs. Their relationship is more believable because even though Mr. Rochester is blind and has a bad hand, Jane does not care and is willing to care for him. Mr. Rochester is also willing to let Jane to care for him.
Today's Blogger: Cassandra
Today's Facilitator: Monica
Important Events: Jane returns to Rochester and finds him crippled and blinded. They marry, Rochester regains some eye sight, and they have kids.
Important Passages:
"It is you-- is it, Jane? You are come back to me, then?"
"I am"
Jane comes back to the crippled Rochester and he is bewildered at her arrival.
Focus Questions:
1. Rochester has missed Jane wildy and he has become more humble. They do still love each other very much but now Rochester is dependent on Jane instead of she on him.
2. The ending is happy like a fairy tale but more realistic in that Rochester has changed through experience. He is no longer a womanizer. It's semi-ironic, only because their roles are reversed. We were glad to see them back together; they are obviously still in love.
Today’s Blogger:
Hayley
Today’s Facilitator:
Elise
Important Events:
- St. John leaves Jane note, telling her that when he returns in a fortnight he expects her answer to be yes
- Jane leaves for Thornfield
- Arrives to find Thornfield is burned to the ground
- Learns that Bertha started fire and was killed in it, Rochester lost a hand and an eye and is blind
- Jane visits the house were Rochester is being taken care of
- Rochester realizes Jane is present, and the two vow their undying love for each other
- Rochester proposes again and Jane says yes
- Rochester and Jane are married, Rochester begins to regain sight in his eye
- Have a baby boy
Ch. 36
Ch. 37
Ch. 38
Important Passages:
“All my heart is yours, sir: it belongs to you; and with you it would remain, were fate to exile the rest of me from your presence forever” (page 475)
Focus Questions:
1. Rochester said that he felt empty and terrible without Jane, and he was lonely without her. Rochester changed, no more burdens, a sense of freedom. Handicap made him humble. Jane and Rochester’s feelings are the same, have always been crazy about each other. Jane is the strong one now because Rochester has to rely on her.
2. Fairy-tale ending, Jane and Rochester overcome many struggles and end up together in the end. Glad to see them back together, knew it was going to end that way. All troubles are out of the way, Bertha is gone, Jane has money. Everything worked out.
Today’s Blogger:
Yami Simpson-Banda
Today’s Facilitator:
Shannon
Important Events:
Jane leaves and finds out that Bertha set the house on fire. She finds a blind and handless Mr. Rochester. They get married and have a baby boy, and upon the birth Mr. Rochester regains his sight.
Important Passages:
Then he stretched his hand out to be led. I took that dear hand, held it a moment to my lips, and then let it pass round my shoulder: being so much lower of stature than he, I served both for his prop and guide. We entered the wood and wended homeward.
Focus Questions:
1. How does Rochester say he felt in Jane’s absence? What spiritual change has occurred in Rochester? Do Jane and Rochester still feel the same way about each other? In what way have the roles in Jane and Rochester’s relationship been reversed?
Rochester says he feels betrayed in the way Jane left. They still love each other. Jane now has the money and she has to help Rochester who is blind and handicapped.
2. Do you think the story has a fairy-tale ending? Or is the situation at the end ironic? Are we glad to see them back together? What makes their relationship ring true for the reader?
I do think this book has a fairy tale ending and I am glad to see them back together. I am happy that she is happy. Their relationship “rings true” because the couple has gone through struggles and not everything was perfect.
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