Jane EyreJane Eyre

Charlotte BrontCharlotte Brontëë

Bronte Country is an area which straddles the West Yorkshire and East Lancashire Pennines in the North of England. A windswept land of heather and wild moors, it is hardly surprising that this region became the inspiration for the classic works of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne.

The Hawthorn Parsonage and ChurchThe Hawthorn Parsonage and Church

Charlotte BrontCharlotte Brontë ë (1816-55)(1816-55)

• Daughter of Maria Daughter of Maria Branwell and Patrick Branwell and Patrick BrontBrontë.ë.• Maria (1813-25)Maria (1813-25)• Elizabeth (1815-25)Elizabeth (1815-25)• Charlotte (1816-55)Charlotte (1816-55)• Branwell (1817-48)Branwell (1817-48)• Emily (1818-48)Emily (1818-48)• Anne (1820-49)Anne (1820-49)

• Charlotte was initially educated at home but was Charlotte was initially educated at home but was eventually sent to a boarding school for clergymen’s eventually sent to a boarding school for clergymen’s daughters at Cowan Bridge with her two elder sisters daughters at Cowan Bridge with her two elder sisters Maria and Elizabeth and Emily.Maria and Elizabeth and Emily.

• Both Maria and Elizabeth died from tuberculosis at the Both Maria and Elizabeth died from tuberculosis at the school in 1825.school in 1825.

• Their illness had been made worse by the lack of food Their illness had been made worse by the lack of food and unhealthy conditions at the school.and unhealthy conditions at the school.

• Charlotte and Emily were removed from the school Charlotte and Emily were removed from the school and stayed at home for several years.and stayed at home for several years.

• During this time Charlotte read widely with her family During this time Charlotte read widely with her family and invented an imaginary world called Angria with and invented an imaginary world called Angria with her brother Branwell. Charlotte, Emily, Anne and her brother Branwell. Charlotte, Emily, Anne and Branwell wrote a large amount of poetry, drama and Branwell wrote a large amount of poetry, drama and prose during this period (1829-31).prose during this period (1829-31).

• In 1831 Charlotte went to Miss Wooler’s school at Roe In 1831 Charlotte went to Miss Wooler’s school at Roe Head.Head.

• She became an assistant teacher at the school in She became an assistant teacher at the school in 1835. Charlotte disliked the work and between 1839 1835. Charlotte disliked the work and between 1839 and 1841 she attempted to make a living as a and 1841 she attempted to make a living as a governess. governess.

• She and her sisters had the long term ambition to She and her sisters had the long term ambition to open their own school.open their own school.

• To this end (with her aunt’s help), Charlotte and Emily To this end (with her aunt’s help), Charlotte and Emily travelled to Brussels in 1842 to study languages, but travelled to Brussels in 1842 to study languages, but they had to return by the end of the year due to her they had to return by the end of the year due to her aunt’s illness.aunt’s illness.

• Charlotte returned to Brussels in 1843 to work as an Charlotte returned to Brussels in 1843 to work as an English teacher.English teacher.

• Charlotte returned home in 1844 to help care for her Charlotte returned home in 1844 to help care for her father who was almost blind.father who was almost blind.

• By this time Charlotte had begun writing her own By this time Charlotte had begun writing her own verse and when she discovered Emily’s poetry in 1845 verse and when she discovered Emily’s poetry in 1845 she started to organise the publication of the poetry. she started to organise the publication of the poetry. In 1846 In 1846 Poems by Currer, Ellis and Acton BellPoems by Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell (assumed names of Charlotte, Emily and Anne) was (assumed names of Charlotte, Emily and Anne) was published.published.

• The verse did not sell well and Charlotte’s first novel, The verse did not sell well and Charlotte’s first novel, The Professor The Professor was not published until much later.was not published until much later.

• However, However, Jane EyreJane Eyre was was an immediate success an immediate success when it was published when it was published (in three volumes) by (in three volumes) by Smith, Elder & Co. in Smith, Elder & Co. in October 1847. October 1847.

• Volume I comprising Volume I comprising chapters 1 to 15chapters 1 to 15

• Volume II comprising Volume II comprising chapters 16 to 26chapters 16 to 26

• Volume III comprising Volume III comprising chapters 27 to 38.chapters 27 to 38.

• (Ellis Bell) Emily’s (Ellis Bell) Emily’s Wuthering HeightsWuthering Heights and (Acton Bell) and (Acton Bell) Ann’s Ann’s Agnes Grey Agnes Grey were published in the same year.were published in the same year.

• Branwell and Emily died and Ann’s Branwell and Emily died and Ann’s The Tenant of The Tenant of Wildfell Hall Wildfell Hall was published in 1848.was published in 1848.

• Anne died in 1849.Anne died in 1849.• Charlotte’s Shirley Charlotte’s Shirley ws published in 1849. this was ws published in 1849. this was

followed by followed by VilletteVillette in 1853 and in 1853 and The ProfessorThe Professor was was eventually published in 1857.eventually published in 1857.

• Charlotte visited London in 1849,1850, 1851 and 1853 Charlotte visited London in 1849,1850, 1851 and 1853 and made her mark on the literary circles of the day.and made her mark on the literary circles of the day.

• It was during this time that she met Thackeray, to It was during this time that she met Thackeray, to whom she dedicated whom she dedicated Jane EyreJane Eyre, G.H. Lewes and , G.H. Lewes and Harriet Martineau, and became friends with her future Harriet Martineau, and became friends with her future biographer Elizabeth Gaskell.biographer Elizabeth Gaskell.

• Although Charlotte was criticised for being ‘too strong-Although Charlotte was criticised for being ‘too strong-minded’ and coarse, she was generally recognised as minded’ and coarse, she was generally recognised as being a powerful and talented writer by her being a powerful and talented writer by her contemporaries.contemporaries.

• Charlotte received three marriage proposals during Charlotte received three marriage proposals during her lifetime.her lifetime.

• She finally married her father’s curate, Arthur Bell, in She finally married her father’s curate, Arthur Bell, in 1854.1854.

• She died during pregnancy a few months later in She died during pregnancy a few months later in March 1855.March 1855.