Cliffs Notes on Bronte's Jane Eyre

by Mary Ellen Snodgrass, Emily Brontë, CliffsNotes

The original CliffsNotes study guides offer expert commentary on major themes, plots, characters, literary devices, and historical background. The latest generation of titles in this series also feature glossaries and visual elements that complement the classic, familiar format.Question Victorian -- and present-day -- society as you study Charlotte Bronte's popular novel with "CliffsNotes on Jane Eyre." What is women's position in society? What is the relationship of dreams and fantasy to reality? What is the basis of an effective marriage? Bronte tackles all these questions and more through the story of her heroine Jane Eyre.

CliffsNotes provides detailed plot summaries, critical commentaries, and a helpful character map to help you uncover all the insight this novel has to offer. Make your study of this timeless novel a success with "CliffsNotes on Jane Eyre." Other features that help you study includeCharacter analyses of major playersCritical essaysA review section that tests your knowledgeBackground on the author, including career highlights

Classic literature or modern modern-day treasure -- you'll understand it all with expert information and insight from CliffsNotes study guides.

Genres: Fiction, Reference

96 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1961

About the author

Mary Ellen Snodgrass is an American educator and writer of textbooks and general reference works.

Reviews

[Sarah]

Read this hoping to understand why people find it so romantic. My previous opinions remain and are strengthened.

___________________________

To explain more, I have to go back to high school.

When I was a teenager, I got this book from the library as a book on CD. I also happened to tell a friend I was doing this and she told me not to waste my time. She also told me about Rochester being married and I was horrified! Having not gotten very far into the book, it wasn't hard to take her warming and stop.

Through the years, I consistently hear that Mr. Rochester is one of the most romantic men in literature and his and Jane's love story is so beautiful. I even hear this from Christian women! How can people say that when he is married and falling in love?! I do not want to devote the time to wade through the book so I decided to read the CliffsNotes version. I thought maybe there were nuances I was missing that might help me understand. There are nuances but they do not help.

I'm sorry that Rochester is married to a crazy women. That's sad. But that does NOT allow him to fall in love with, much less PROPOSE TO AND ALMOST MARRY Jane. Poor Jane. She is innocent in all this as far as I can tell. She's an orphan who has had a nearly loveless existence so it's natural that she'd fall in love with the first man who is kind to her. I can forgive Rochester for his feelings but he must keep them to himself and fight them because he is married, for better or for worse. I feel that he treated Jane horribly with his behavior. That she forgave him and married him later... well, she's a better woman than I think I'd be.

I can see that we are supposed to feel sorry for Rochester but I don't. His end shows great grace, that's for sure. He certainly does not deserve the blessings he gets.

So, yeah, I still don't see why this is such a great piece of literature and such a romantic story. I certainly don't want a man like Mr. Rochester.

[Amalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The French translations are provided here. I recommended this to use with Spark Notes and Coles Notes. With the combination of these 3 and your own response, it'll do wonders. For teaching and study purposes.

[Ashley · Rating 5 out of 5]

this book was a help in translating the French and exploring deeper into the classic novel