fandomhigh | Heroism, Humanism & Hijinks: Literature in Action

Dummies' Guide to Jane Eyre (cast list and plot synopsis)

"Hello again. You should have read Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for this class. If you haven't, you don't need to be here, but you should come to my office hours next Monday to arrange a make-up assignment.

You'll notice that these classes are not standard high school English classes. Anyone with a basic understanding of written language can pick up a book, read it and then discuss the contents and form. By the time Christmas arrives, I want you to be able to grasp the importance of fiction and words in general.

Words are important and powerful. Used properly, they can create beautiful imagery or affect change. Used improperly, well, all you need do is look to your local politicians to see the effects.

Right," she said, looking around. "Split into two groups. Pair up. We're focusing on the mad woman in the attic today. That would be Bertha Mason. Mr Rochester kept Bertha in the attic. She has always been described as crazy, and on more than one occasion has shown her violent side. But she is still a fictional character. The best way to keep her confined and under control is through words, not brute force.

One of you will play the role of Bertha Mason. The other will play the role of Rochester. Gender isn't important here. Bertha, you want to escape your attic prison. Mr Rochester, you want to keep her there. The only tools at your disposal to attack and defend are words and the thesaurus on your desk. Choose your words wisely."

***

After the task was finished, Thursday was ready to dismiss them. "Next week is Alice in Wonderland. There will be a guest speaker, so please arrive on time."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"And how is staggering around blindly going to help things?"

Cameron blinked. "What? You'd rather I stand back and watch you burn yourself?"

"If you'd let me out I don't get burned and you don't get horribly disfigured," Zack argued.

"If I let you out, people will see you and realise that you're batshit crazy. Then I'll have to ship you off to some nuthouse and those really aren't pretty in this time period." Cameron totally didn't need a thesaurus for the word batshit.

"You're landed gentry, your entire class is batshit crazy. Besides I fail to see how keeping me locked up in an attic is any more humane."

"I bought you a Care Bear blanket," Cameron pointed out. "No one's cutting off your hair and you have a sane companion who's with you the entire day. If you'd rather go to an asylum, I can arrange something."

"You mean my drunken jailer?" Zack asked. "It's cruel to keep people locked up."

"It's also cruel to just marry someone off without letting them know who they're getting married to," Cameron replied. "I am doing everything I can to keep you safe."

"Hey, it wasn't like this marriage was my idea," Zack said. "You're just covering your ass."

"I am fulfilling my oath and taking care of both of us. How many other men do you think would still keep you around?" Cameron was starting to realise he wasn't good at this.

"If you just 'accidently' left the door open no one would blame you."

"I would blame me," Cameron said. "I have promised to take care of you and provide for you. This is the best way I can do that. It is not a prison, it is somewhere where you are safe and can't harm anyone, including yourself."

"If it's not a prison, I'll just go for a walk then."

"Sure. You can walk around the room. Do you want me to get you some new paintings to look at? For a change of view?"

"A walk outside, where I can feel the sun on my face, wind in my hair."

"There is no sun. Remember the storm?"

"There's wind at least."

"We'll have Grace make some wind for you with sheets," Cameron offered. "Care Bear blankets are really good at making fake wind."

"Why go to the trouble of making fake wind when there's perfectly good real wind outside?"

Cameron sighed. "Because fake wind is better than real wind. It tangles your hair less."

"But what if I want my hair tangled?"

"Grace will mess it up for you while you pretend to be frolicking," Cameron frowned.

"I don't want to pretend to frolic. I want to frolic in the fields with the flowers and birds and cartoon animals."

"You find more cartoon animals in here thanks to the Care Bear blankets," Cameron pointed out. "19th century England doesn't have too many cartoon animals in the wild."