For the most part, I thought Jane Eyre was a pretty decent book. It was killer to read but the story was super interesting. There was so much going on throughout the novel. Some parts were great while others definately could have been left out.
I think it was an appropriate addition to our unit because it is a true coming of age tale. And unlike Catcher in the Rye, it was from the perspective of a young girl. That was refreshing. It worked with the theme and tied in ideas nicely. I can't find any reason why it didn't fit into the unit.
I did enjoy this book and do think that it should be taught in college literature courses. In college. Not high school. It would be great in Women's Lit. Or just a freshman english course. Jane Eyre just isn't one of those novels you can do justice in high school.
Your comments are spot on in my opinion. I think that a high school that doesn't teach Jane Eyre is depriving their students of a normal thread of society. On the other hand, people that pick it up as a leisurely read are a little weird in my mind.
ReplyDeleteI agree that Jane Eyre would fit well in a college class, but I'm glad we suffered through it. It makes me feel smart when I hear accomplished adults talk about Jane Eyre and I am able to join in the conversation. And if Jane Eyre taught us anything, it is that we will eventually have to deal with difficult texts in college, so we might as we adjust to it now.
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