Calvino Essay, Blog #13 What rhetorical devices are used?

Calvino uses descriptive and imagery in the metaphors he uses. Such as: " but it is always the context in which we have to place ourselves forwards or backwards. "( Calvino, Page 9) Calvino is saying that you have to knwo from where you are reading the book. He says you will get mixed up and confused if you don't know where you are reading the book from.

Calvino also uses emotive language. For example, " But it is already an acheivement to hear the classics as a distant echo, outside the room which is pervaded by the present as if it were a television set on at full volume." (Calvino, Page 9) You can see in this passage Calvino's descriptive, emotive language. Calvino is describing here what it is like to reading a classic. All the information comes flooding into your brain similar to, as he says, listening to the tv on full volume.


Calvino, Italo. Why Read the Classics? New York: Vintage, 2000. Print.

Calvino Essay Blog #12 What is the author's tone?

Calvino's tone in this essay would definitely be persuasive. He tries very hard to prove his point to the reader with 14 different definitions of what a classic actually is. His argument is that unless you are a fully mature adult you have no reason to be reading the classics, young people simply do not understand them. I agree with this argument because before Jane Eyre , classic novels just bored me, I did not like them. He states that unless you are being forced to read a classic in school, young people just should not read them. This is a reasonable statement because if it was not an assignment to read classics I surely wouldn't have. When I grow older though, I kind of want to try reading some classics. Calvino seems to think that it is a completely different experience when you grow older. He would be happy to know, I think, that I agree with his argument.


Calvino, Italo. Why Read the Classics? New York: Vintage, 2000. Print.

Calvino Essay Blog #11 What is the thesis? Where is it? Is it explicit or implicit?

The thesis of Why read the classics is the statement that you can never fully enjoy a classic until you are fully an adult. Calvino doesn't believe that young people can truly understand a classic. The thesis is found at several points in the essay such as: "..it does not apply to the young, since they are at an age when their contact with the world, and with the classics which are part of that world, is important percisely because it is their first such contact. " (Calvino, Page 1) , "..whereas at a mature age one appriciates (or should appriciate) many more details, levels and meanings. "(Calvino, Page 4) and "..the reading we do when we are young can often be of little value because we are impatient, cannot concentrate, lack expertise in how to read, or because we lack experience in life." ( Calvino, Page 4) These examples of the thesis are just a few that I quickly picked out. The thesis of this essay is explicit because Calvino makes it very obvious with the way the essay is set up with the 14 different defintions of what a classic really is . He states many times that classics are only truly understood when you read or reread them at an age of full maturity.

Calvino, Italo. Why Read the Classics? New York: Vintage, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #10 Jane Eyre Character Description

Jane Eyre is of course the main character in the novel Jane Eyre . Jane is a very honest, caring, and humble person. She is honest because she tries to tell the truth in every situation. She begins to lie to herself when she makes us believe that she really has no feelings for Mr. Rochester. Then she admits to herself and the reader that she actually does have feelings and love Mr. Rochester. Jane is a caring person , you can tell this by her amazing forgiving capabilities. Jane forgives her evil aunt Miss Reed when she is on her deathbed. She tells her pretty much that everything is okay and she forgives her. Miss Reed was probably meaner to Jane than anyone ever has been in Jane's life but somehow she finds a way to forgive her. Her humble side shows in how she is always trying to hide from people and deny her talents. Such as the time when Mr. Rochester had all the guests in the house Jane would often hide behind the curtains so that no one would see her and try to start conversation. Jane is a very wonderful, caring person.


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #9 Mr. Rochester Character Description

Mr. Rochester is a very signifigant character in Jane Eyre. He's a powerful, strong, hideous, rude man. He keeps his crazy wife locked up in the attic and wants to marry another girl who is half his age. He is quite the character. Although on the other hand, he is caring, loving, and senseful. He truly loves Jane with all his heart, even though you doubt that for a while. He makes you think he is a big jerkface when you discover his other wife. He hurts Jane so bad, its kind of sad. He makes up for this though in the end when he marries Jane. You start to feel sort of bad for him when you find out he has lost his arm and his sight. Mr. Rochester is all together an okay man. (:

Jane Eyre Blog #8 How accurately does this novel reflect events in history? What responsibilities does the author believe exist between ect.

Jane Eyre does a good job of reflecting the era of the 1800's . The book talks about the mistreatment of women and children. For example, when Jane is at the Lowood school it is often mentioned that the teachers and Mr. Brocklehurst don't treat the children very fairly. Somedays they got very little to eat and what they did get was burnt and unedible. This may have been what resulted in the Typhus fever that spread around that school and killed many. The Typhus fever was actually popular in the time frame that this book was written in. As well as mistreating children was.
Another example of Jane Eyre being authentic to its time is the mistreatment of women. This trait is noticed for example that the only job Jane can obtain is the title of a governess. She becomes Mr. Rochester's governess for a little child he is responsible for. Jane is not ever expected to talk to Mr. Rochester. When they announce their engagement, Miss Fairfax is actually shocked. She doesn't feel it is appropriate for a governess to marry her master. Also, Jane becomes the teacher at a school when she moves to the Moor House. In that time era, it must have been only accepted for women to be teachers if they must work. Jane Eyre does a nice job of portraying that.


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #7 What techniques does the author useto engage the audience and make the story effective? Give examples to support analysis

Charlotte Bronte uses writing techniques throughout the story to keep you engaged. Some of these techniques are cliffhangers, mystery, and soliloquies. She uses cliffhangers in points in the story like the time you abruptly find out about the fire at Thornfield Hall and Mr. Rochester severe injuries. ( Chapter 35) She suddenly ends the chapter and makes you want to read on to see if Jane continues her search for her beloved Jane Eyre.
Charlotte uses mystery when St. John, Diana, and Mary find out that their uncle has died and left them nothing at all in inheritence. It made me slightly wonder if they shared an uncle, which you do not find out for sure until at least fifty pages later in the story. The author tells you about St. John, Mary and Diana's uncle so that you will put it together that they share an uncle and are actually cousins. (Chapter 32)
Bronte uses soliloquies throughout the story to tell you what Jane is truly thinking. For instance, Mr. Rochester had all of those fancy people staying with them for quite some time in Thornfield Hall. The author would often have long passages in the text to tell you what Jane was thinking about these frivilous people such as Miss Ingram . (Chapter 20)


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #6 Why do we still read this book? What is so timeless about its message and characters? What can we learn from reading this novel?

Jane Eyre is still read for a countless number of reasons. One of those reasons being because it captures your attention. The book has a very good story line. Once I actually started to read it I couldn't put it down. It didn't necessarily have a voice like it was written in the 1800's which is why I think people still read it. The book first captivates the reader in the very beginning when Jane is being smacked by her cousin John. (Chapter 1, pg 10) And keeps you interested with the abuse of her Aunt, you automatically feel bad for this poor little girl and want to know what happens.

A second reason Jane Eyre is still read is because it a love story. Everyone loves a romantic story and the one of Mr. Rochester and Jane keep you wanting to read more. They have such a deep, true love, which gives you hope that such love is still possible even today . From this novel we can learn that inequality is just an obstacle in life. Jane overcame it, and so can anyone today. You aren't FORCED to do anything just because of your position in life. Jane Eyre would teach those that didn't already know that this .


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #5 How does this novel reflect history, behavior, and social issues of the time period and setting? ect.

Jane Eyre is set in the mid 1800's which the author, Charlotte Bronte, lived in. I took note of the cultural differences and setting differences. The major cultural difference is how different women are treated during this era. Jane Eyre does not particularly conform to these social rules. She acts as she pleases. Women in this era are supposed to be cute, little house wives. They are supposed to do nothing but cater to their husbands. It was not considered appropriate for women to have their own lives and thoughts. When St. John asks her to marry him, he just assumes that she is going to say yes because it was a women's duty then to marry. She shocks him and says no, she has to think quite hard about her final decision. She considers become the perfect little missionary wife to a man she does not love. She stops herself because it is not in her character to marry a man she doesn't love when she is in love with Mr. Rochester. I think this book symbolises to women in that era that it was okay to be different and think for themselves, just like Jane Eyre did.


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #4 Who is the hero in this book and what are some of his/her traits? What does he/she accomplish, and how is he/she portrayed? ect.

Jane Eyre is definitely the hero in this book. She is portrayed as forgiving, bold, frank, independant, stubborn and most of all, loving. In the end, she finally forgives Mr. Rochester for having a wife, and ends up marrying him. She is bold and frank because she speaks whatever is on her mind no matter how cruel or harsh it may be. She even says that Mr. Rochester is not attractive when he asks her so . She is independant because she left Lowood all on her own, had no idea where Thornfield was that she was going to and was not afraid. Also, she left Mr. Rochester and had no place to go but left anyway, and shortly she found a place for herself. She got herself a job and a place of residence. This shows great independece, especially when women in her day were supposed to just sit and sew all day and do whatever they were told . She is stubborn because if she doesn't want to do something she's not going to . For example, St. John practically beggs her to marry him but she holds her ground and keeps refusing him. Another example, after Jane found out on her wedding day that Mr. Rochester has a wife, he continually apologizes, but she won't have it. He keeps asking her despreatley that she still be his and he would find a way to marry her, still, she will not listen. She leaves early before anyone is even awake to know . (Chapter 27) Jane is loving as well. She comes back to Thornfield for her true love, Mr. Rochester, but Thorfield has been burnt down. When she finally finds her man, he is blind and missing his arm. They reunite, its very cute. He,again, asks Jane to marry him and this time they actually do get married. She takes care of him night and day. She is his eyes and guides him everywhere. If thats not loving, I don't know what is!

Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print .

Jane Eyre Blog #3 What universal themes does this book address? What does the author understand about human nature?

Jane Eyre has many universal themes. My personal favorite would be that "beauty is only skin deep". Which means that looks are only superficial and have no comparison to how good a person is. This theme is used in Jane Eyre a couple of times. Jane initially fell in love with Mr. Rochester even though he is a hideous person on the outside. She fell in love with him not his looks. The author, Charlotte Bronte, understands that most people would be revolted by the sight of Mr. Rochester and ,like Miss Ingram, would only marry him for his money and connections.

Jane was also purposed to by a quite handsome man, St. John. She refused several times before actually considering it. Then Jane remembered she was in love with Mr. Rochester when she heard his voice strangely coming from the sky . She abruptly left the Moor House the next day in search of Mr. Rochester. When she finds him, he's even uglier than before! , but she still agrees to marry him. (Chapter 37, page 667) Regardless of his blindness and missing limb. She's so nice. (:


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #2 What are the cases, gains, and losses of the conflict dealt with in this book?

Jane Eyre is just full of conflicts, such as: Jane living with her aunt and cousins and everything she does being wrong, Jane being in love with Mr. Rochester but having to leave him because he is married, her starvation/ jobless life when she runs away from Thornfield Hall, and her cousin wanting to marry her. The main conflict, I believe, is Jane being in love with Mr. Rochester but having to leave him.





The cause of Jane having to leave Mr. Rochester is that he already has a wife, living under the same roof with them even! This may not have been so bad if he had told Jane about it since his "wife" is a lunatic, but he did not . Jane had to find out on her wedding day at the alter when someone announced that her fiance was already married! She was very shocked, mad, sad, hurt, and upset, just as she should be. When they got home he tried to apologize but Jane wasn't allowing it. Jane ran away from Thornfield Hall early the next morning before anyone was up to see her go .





The gains of the conflict is Jane found 3 of her cousins! Jane was believed to have no family but stumbled upon Diane, St. John and Mary, her cousins! They were the nice people that took Jane in when she was starving and about to die. Jane did not know then that they were her cousins. She found out only when St. John and his sister's uncle had died , they got a letter that had said the uncle had left them nothing. Later, someone sends St. John a letter asking if he knew a Jane Eyre and where he might find her. He put two ans two together and figured out that this was the girl staying with them. She had inherited 20,000 pounds from their uncle! She was so happy to find out that these were her cousins! She even insisted upon giving each of them 5,000 pounds of her inheritance. How generous of her. (:





One of the losses of the conflict is that if Jane hadn't of left Thornfield hall she may have been able to prevent the fire that blinded and severed one of Mr. Rochester's limbs. Jane prevented the other fire that Bertha tried to start she could have done the same with this one, but she was not there. Also, Adele was sent to a bad school because Jane left and there was no one to teach Adele.





Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library, 2000. Print.

Jane Eyre Blog #1 What does the writing reveal about the author's writing and values? From what perspetive does he/she write?

Charlotte Bronte is a very talented and bold writer. At the time when Jane Eyre was published (1847) it was not socially correct for women to be so bold as to write a book like Jane Eyre. This reveal much about the author, Charlotte Bronte. Jane seems to be Charlotte's alter ego, like the person she deeply wanted to be and she portrayed that person through a book. Charlotte obviously believed in equal rights between men and women, she shows this by having Jane talk back to men several times throughout the book. For example, St. John asked Jane to marry him and she refused many times and even said " I scorn the counterfeit sentiment you offer: yes, St. John, and I scorn you when you offer it". (Chapter 34 Page 598)

Charlotte Bronte writes from the perspective of Jane,which would be in first person perspective. In this time it was not politically correct for women to be equal to men. However, Charlotte writes as though this were not the case. Jane always speaks her mind when something is wrong, whether it be a man or a women who she is correcting . For example, when Janes cousin John smacks her, she gets in trouble and tries to tell her aunt Mrs. Reed that it was John's fault not hers. She says he is "like a murderer". She is punished for acting as if she was John's equal. (Chapter 1, pg 15-17)


Bronte, Charlotte. Jane Eyre. New York: Modern Library,2000. Print.