Charlotte Bronte

1816-1855

Charlotte Bronte Charlotte Bronte was born on was born on April 21, 1816 in April 21, 1816 in Yorkshire. She is Yorkshire. She is the third born of the third born of six children to six children to Reverend Patrick Reverend Patrick and Maria and Maria Branwell Bronte.Branwell Bronte. Charlotte, Emily, and Anne

Bronte

In 1820 In 1820 Charlotte Charlotte

Bronte’s father Bronte’s father was appointed was appointed

to the position of to the position of curate. curate.

Therefore the Therefore the family was family was

relocated to relocated to Haworth Haworth

parsonage.parsonage.

The Bronte’s home

The following year The following year Charlottes’ mother died. Charlottes’ mother died. Mr. Bronte was left with Mr. Bronte was left with six young children to six young children to raise.raise.

““Speak of the North! A Lonely Speak of the North! A Lonely Moor”Moor”

Speak of the north! A lonely moorSpeak of the north! A lonely moorSilent and dark and tractless swells,Silent and dark and tractless swells,

The waves of some wild streamlet pourThe waves of some wild streamlet pourHurriedly through its ferny dells.Hurriedly through its ferny dells.

Profoundly still the twilight air,Profoundly still the twilight air,Lifeless the landscape; so we dreamLifeless the landscape; so we dream

Til like a phantom gliding near Til like a phantom gliding near

A stag bends down to drink theA stag bends down to drink the stream. stream.

And far away a mountain zone,And far away a mountain zone,

A cold, white waste of snow-drifts lies.A cold, white waste of snow-drifts lies.

And one star, large and soft and loneAnd one star, large and soft and lone

Silently lights the unclouded skies.Silently lights the unclouded skies.

By Charlotte BronteBy Charlotte Bronte

He soon discovered the talent that his children possessed for writing. He then decided to find proper education for his them.

The four eldest The four eldest daughters (Maria, daughters (Maria, Elizabeth, Elizabeth, Charlotte, and Charlotte, and Emily) were Emily) were enrolled as pupils enrolled as pupils of Clergy of Clergy Daughter’s Daughter’s School at Cowan School at Cowan Bridge.Bridge.

After becoming seriously ill with After becoming seriously ill with a cough Maria dies in May 1825. a cough Maria dies in May 1825. Shortly after her death Elizabeth Shortly after her death Elizabeth died. Her death was some what died. Her death was some what controversial. It was said that controversial. It was said that she was pushed down a flight of she was pushed down a flight of stairs after being scolded by a stairs after being scolded by a schoolmaster, because she told schoolmaster, because she told him that she wasn’t feeling well him that she wasn’t feeling well enough to attend her class.enough to attend her class.

Charlotte Charlotte witnessed the witnessed the tragic accident tragic accident that happened that happened to her sister. A to her sister. A final tribute to final tribute to her sister is her sister is found in found in several pages several pages of of Jane EyreJane Eyre..

Jane Eyre

I still recoiled at the dread of seeing a corpse. “Helen!” I whispered softly; “are you awake?” She stirred herself, put back the curtain, and I saw her face, pale, wasted, but quite composed; she looked so little changed that my fear was instantly dissipated. “Can it be you Jane?” she asked, in her won gentle voice. “Oh!” I thought, “she is not going to die; they are mistaken; she could not speak and look so calmly if she were.”

I got on to her crib and kissed her: her forehead was cold, and her cheek both cold and thin, and so were her hand and wrist: but she smiled as of old…

Chapter 9

Mr. Bronte then pulled Mr. Bronte then pulled Charlotte and Emily from Charlotte and Emily from Cowan Bridge, and are then Cowan Bridge, and are then brought home. At the age of brought home. At the age of nine Charlotte finds herself nine Charlotte finds herself as a mother figure for Emily, as a mother figure for Emily, Branwell, and Anne. Branwell, and Anne. Charlotte arranges her Charlotte arranges her bedroom into a school room bedroom into a school room to teach her younger to teach her younger siblings. At age eleven siblings. At age eleven Charlotte and her siblings Charlotte and her siblings start a four volume epic tale.start a four volume epic tale.

In 1839, Charlotte accepted a position as governess in the Sidgewick family, but left after three months and returned to Haworth.In 1841, she became governess of the

White family, but after nine months left once again.

Publication of Charlottes’ Writings

In 1846, Charlotte discovered Emily’s poems, and decided to publish a selection of the poems from all three sisters.

Charlottes’ The Professor was rejected for publication.

However, her work Jane Eyre, Emily’s Wuthering Heights, and Anne’s Agnes Grey were all published.

Charlottes’ WorksCharlottes’ Works• 1847-1847-Jane EyreJane Eyre• 1849-1849-ShirleyShirley• 1853-1853-VilletteVillette• 1857-1857-The ProfessorThe Professor• 1925-1925-The Twelve Adventures and The Twelve Adventures and

Other StoriesOther Stories• 1971-1971-Legends of AngriaLegends of Angria

Bronte as a FeministBronte as a Feminist

The novel The novel Jane EyreJane Eyre by Charlotte by Charlotte Bronte, is frequently viewed as the Bronte, is frequently viewed as the earliest major feminist novel. earliest major feminist novel. Although there is not a hint in the Although there is not a hint in the book that relates to political, legal, book that relates to political, legal, educational, or even intellectual educational, or even intellectual equality between the sexes.equality between the sexes.

• On June 29, 1854 On June 29, 1854 Charlotte married Charlotte married A.B. Nicholls.A.B. Nicholls.

•On March 31, 1855 Charlotte dies.

After Charlotte’s DeathAfter Charlotte’s Death• In 1857, Mrs. Gaskell’s In 1857, Mrs. Gaskell’s Life of Charlotte BronteLife of Charlotte Bronte was was

published, and in June published, and in June The ProfessorThe Professor was published was published posthumously.posthumously.

• The works from her juvenilia were also published The works from her juvenilia were also published posthumously such as: posthumously such as:

• The Twelve Adventures and Other StoriesThe Twelve Adventures and Other Stories• The nineteen volumes of The nineteen volumes of The Shakespeare Head The Shakespeare Head

BronteBronte are the most complete edition of the are the most complete edition of the works of Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell.works of Charlotte, Emily, Anne, and Branwell.

• Legends of AngriaLegends of Angria

The End…The End…By:By:

Michelle Michelle HertenlehnerHertenlehner