Thursday, October 6, 2011

Jane Eyre

Source: wikipedia.com

Three sisters who became major figures of English Literature.

The three Brontë sisters, in a 1834 painting by their brother Patrick Branwell. From left to right: Anne, Emily and Charlotte. Between Emily and Charlotte used to be Patrick but, after a fight with his father, he painted himself out of this family portrait, leaving only a blurring pillar where he used to be.

Charlotte Bronte
Source: wikipedia.com

The first things that come to my mind when reading or watching something connected to Jane Eyre are the good old days at the university! My goodness... about twenty years ago, myself and a bunch of good old friends (remember, girls?) reading this timeless classic (and Villette, and Wuthering Heights...) ; How I wish those days were back - we had much more time to read, to meet, to have fun and had much more relaxed lives than today.....
Well, on this day (Oct 6) in 1847 and under the pen name Currer Bell, Charlotte Bronte published this classic story of an orphaned girl at an institution who grows up to become a governess. Now after so many editions and so many films and series, the last adaptation debuted last March and it is not bad. I had a nice time watching it, recalling the story, the characters and even the places Charlotte Bronte so vividly described.
Have a look at the trailer:

The movie opens with a grown-up Jane (played by Mia Wasikowska) fleeing across moors under very bad weather. Later, in flashbacks, we become aware of an orphaned Jane, mistreated by her cruel aunt, then sent to Lowood boarding school where she faces further harsh treatment but receives an education and then as a teenager seeking a position as a governess. She is employed at Thornfield by Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender) where she is treated with kindness and respect by Mrs Fairfax, the housekeeper (Academy award winner, Judi Dench). Though absent most of the time, readers / viewers learn a lot about Mr Rochester through what others convey about him and he and Jane end up falling in love. But that's not the end of it, much less a happy ending. When about to get married, Rochester's terrible secret is revealed, Jane runs away to become a school teacher but ends up coming back to him to find Thornfield in ruins and a blind Rochester...
Now that I've told you the story, you also remember it, right? It's a great book and a pleasant film, believe me! Here you can download the book to read it - so no more excuses to call off (re)reading it!!!
You might be asking yourself now how we can apply this for classes: well, not necessarily (for me it was much more a remembrance) but definitely landscape description at http://focusfeatures.com/slideshow/the_real_places_of_jane_eyre_s_world?film=jane_eyre
where you find the real places that inspired Charlotte Bronte; clothing description and female condition, submission, controlled emotions, the meaning of being "poor, obscure, plain and little" in the 19th century, social classes... more ideas?
Below are some more links that might also interest you:
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/jane-eyre-is-published
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1229822/
http://www.bronte.info/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=112&Itemid=122
Enjoy :)

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Saturday, October 1, 2011

International Older Persons Day

Youth, Day, Old Age and Night

Youth, large, lusty, loving-youth full of grace, force, fascination,
Do you know that Old Age may come after you with equal grace,
force, fascination?

Day full-blown and splendid-day of the immense sun, action,
ambition, laughter,
The Night follows close with millions of suns, and sleep and
restoring darkness.

Walt Whitman