Plot and Action
Plot summary: What happens in Jane Eyre?
Chapters 1–4: Gateshead – The orphaned early years, Chapters 5–10: Lowood – school, Chapters 11–27: Thornfield – life and love begin, Chapters 28–35: Marsh End – adulthood and the road to knowledge, Chapters 36–8: The journey home, Revision focus: Plot developmentChapter 1: The young Jane is isolated and alone
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Isolation, Key character: Jane, Key quotation: Jane’s character, Top tip: Writing about languageChapter 2: Jane in the red-room
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key quotation: The theme of fairness, Aiming high: The symbolism of the red-roomChapter 3: Jane receives some kindness
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key form: Narrative style, Key theme: FairnessChapter 4: Jane meets Mr Brocklehurst
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key language: Mr Brocklehurst, Exam focus: Writing about key moments, Key language: Metaphor, Top tip: Writing about themesChapter 5: Jane journeys to Lowood School
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Helen Burns, Aiming high: JourneysChapter 6: Jane makes friends with Helen Burns
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Religion, Top tip: Writing about JaneChapter 8: Jane’s reputation is restored
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key form: Narrative perspective, Revision focus: Jane’s developmentChapter 9: Helen Burns dies
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key language: Helen’s death, Aiming high: Helen’s roleChapter 10: Jane becomes an adult
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key structure: Narrative hints, Key quotation: JaneChapter 11: Jane arrives at Thornfield Hall
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key quotation: Jane’s appearance, Exam focus: Writing about the effects of narrative style, Key setting: Thornfield HallChapters 12 and 13: Jane meets Mr Rochester
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Aiming high: Writing about languageChapter 14: The developing relationship between Jane and Rochester
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Equality, Key context: Jane’s social statusChapter 15: Jane saves Rochester from a fire
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Jane, Key language: Opposing forcesChapter 16: Jane tries to curb her feelings
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Jane, Top tip: Reading beyond the narratorChapter 17: Blanche Ingram
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key language: Rochester’s language, Key quotation: Jane about RochesterChapters 18 and 19: The mysterious fortune-teller
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Top tip: Writing about equality, Exam focus: Writing about the key moments, Key quotation: The ‘gypsy’ describes Jane’s character, Aiming high: Interpreting ideasChapter 20: Richard Mason is attacked
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key context: Gothic elements, Key quotation: Rochester’s feelings for JaneChapter 21: Jane returns to Gateshead Hall
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key structure: Narrative hints, Key language: Imagery of Jane’s dream, Aiming high: Religious ideasChapter 22: Jane returns to Thornfield
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key language: Use of tense, Key quotation: JaneChapter 23: Rochester proposes
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key quotation: Jane, Exam focus: Writing about the effects of character presentation, Key setting: Pathetic fallacy, Key language: Use of symbolismChapter 24: Wedding plans
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Jane, Key theme: EqualityChapter 25: A hint of danger
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key form: Narrative perspective, Key setting: The use of pathetic fallacyChapter 26: The marriage is prevented
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key form: Narrative plots coming together, Aiming high: The feminist critical readingChapter 27: Jane decides to leave Thornfield
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key quotation: Jane’s morality and belief in god, Exam focus: Writing about context, Top tip: Writing about opinionsChapters 28 and 29: Jane finds Marsh End
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Religious integrity, Key language: Use of descriptionChapter 30: Life at Moor House
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: St John Rivers, Aiming high: Links and connectionsChapter 31: Jane becomes a teacher at Morton
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Jane, Key theme: Christian duty, Revision focus: Female charactersChapter 32: St John and Jane discuss Rosamund Oliver
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key theme: Leading a religious life, Key quotation: St John RiversChapter 33: Jane receives her inheritance and her family
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key character: Jane, Key theme: Justice and fairness, Key language: Imagery and St JohnChapter 34: Another proposal of marriage
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Key quotation: Jane, Key language: Imagery of fireChapter 35: Jane hears Rochester’s call
Summary, Why is this chapter important?, Aiming high: Analysing key moments, Key context: PassionCharacters
Jane Eyre
Jane’s role in the novel, Jane’s importance to the novel as a whole, Top tip: Writing about Jane, Exam focus: Writing about Jane, Aiming high: Jane’s social status, Key quotation: Jane’s characterMr Rochester
Mr Rochester’s role in the novel, Rochester’s importance to the novel as a whole, Aiming high: Rochester’s development, Exam focus: Writing about Rochester, Top tip: Writing about imageryThemes, Contexts and Settings
Themes
Overview, Love and marriage, Revision focus: Tracking the theme of love and marriage, Key quotation: Internal beauty, Religion, Key quotation: Fulfilment, Female independence, Key quotation: Jane’s character, Aiming high: Writing about Jane, Social statusForm, Structure and Language
Form
Overview, Bildungsroman, Key quotation: Jane on journeys, The Gothic, Aiming high: Charlotte Brontë’s use of romanticismProgress Booster
Planning your answer
Plan quickly and efficiently, Stage 1: Generate ideas quickly, Stage 2: Jot down useful quotations (or key events), Stage 3: Plan for paragraphs