GCSE Edexcel English Literature Jane Eyre: You should divide your time equa

Question

You should divide your time equally between parts (a) and (b) of the question.
Use this extract to answer Question 1.

Jane Eyre: Charlotte Brontë

In Chapter 15 Jane Eyre is awoken by strange and frightening noises.

This was a demoniacal laugh – low, suppressed, and deep – uttered, as it seemed, at the very keyhole of my chamber door. The head of my bed was near the door, and I thought at first the goblin-laughter stood at my bedside – or rather crouched by my pillow: but rose, looked round, and could see nothing; while, as I still gazed, the unnatural sound was reiterated; and I knew it came from behind the panels. My first impulse was to rise and fasten the bolt; my next again to cry out, 'Who is there?'

Something gurgled and moaned. Ere long, steps retreated up the gallery towards the third-story staircase; a door had lately been made to shut in that staircase: I heard it open and close, and all was still.

Was that Grace Poole? and is she possessed with a devil? thought I. Impossible now to remain longer by myself; I must go to Mrs. Fairfax. I hurried on my frock and a shawl; I withdrew the bolt and opened the door with a trembling hand. There was a candle burning just outside, and one on the matting in the gallery. I was surprised at this circumstance: something told me I was not to enter the quite dim, as if filled with breath, the air felt close and like a storm of burning.

I had now to push open a door ajar; and that door was Mr. Rochester's, and the smoke came from within. I thought no more of Mrs. Fairfax; I thought no more of the fire: I was myself in the chair, I was in the arm of the fire! Tongues of flame reached me as I turned and rushed to my own room, where I thought of all my horror and fear, and I was fighting for my own life, but I managed, and by God's aid, succeeded in extinguishing the flames which were devouring it.

'Wake! wake!' I cried. I shone towards the window and turned; the smoke had ceased. "Not a moment could be lost; the very sheets were kindling. I rushed to hit it—the sheets were metaphorically described as 'kindling' to describe how dry and ready to burn the bedding is.

Jane impulsively and bravely douses the fire with water from the 'basin and ewer.' Brontë uses religious imagery; 'baptized the couch' to convey her inner strength of faith: 'By God’s aid', succeeded in extinguishing the fire.

The extract begins slowly with Jane being awoken and gradually builds pace as Jane becomes aware of the danger as she 'flew back' for water; the first-person narrative provides the reader with Jane’s thoughts and reactions, showing how impulsive and brave her actions were.

You should divide your time equally between parts (a) and (b) of the question - Edexcel - GCSE English Literature - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 2

Worked Solution & Example Answer:You should divide your time equally between parts (a) and (b) of the question - Edexcel - GCSE English Literature - Question 1 - 2017 - Paper 2

How does Brontë present Jane as brave in the extract?

What is significant about Grace Poole in this extract?

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