Jane Eyre: Portrait of a Life (Twayne's Masterwork Studies)

By Maggie Berg

Book Overview

Written in an easy-to-read, accessible style by teachers with years of classroom experience, Masterwork Studies are guides to the literary works most frequently studied in high school. Presenting ideas that spark imaginations, these books help students to gain background knowledge on great literature useful for papers and exams. The goal of each study is to encourage creative thinking by presenting engaging information about each work and its author. This approach allows students to arrive at sound analyses of their own, based on in-depth studies of popular literature. Each volume: -- Illuminates themes and concepts of a classic text -- Uses clear, conversational language -- Is an accessible, manageable length from 140 to 170 pages -- Includes a chronology of the author's life and era -- Provides an overview of the historical context -- Offers a summary of its critical reception -- Lists primary and secondary sources and index

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805779558
• ISBN13: 9780805779554
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: Twayne Pub
• Length: 134 Pages
• Weight: 0.90 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.8" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Thrilling!

JANE EYRE has been my favorite novel for a long time, and I've read and enjoyed critical essays, but this book was truly exciting. Maggie Berg talks about how the character Bertha Mason represents Jane's alter ego, her dark side. Bertha manifests herself by laughing or by escaping from her room and destroying things whenever Jane feels or represses anger. When I read that my heart started beating faster. She also discusses the imagery of mirrors and windows, of shadows and images, among other things. Also, the character that represents Charlotte Bronte is not Jane herself, but Grace Poole, the overseer and moderator of unbridled passion, Berg argues. I now see a layer of genius in JANE EYRE that I couldn't see before. The copy of JANE EYRE: PORTRAIT OF A LIFE that I read was checked out from the library, but I've just ordered my own copy; I must reread it.