Chapter 7

Places:

1. How is the atmosphere different in Lowood when Mr. Brocklehurst comes around?

• The school becomes more strict than it already is, everybody has to be on their best behavior or face the consequence. Everybody is condescended and fearful of the "man".

     2.Why is the weather snowy and difficult to be outside the day Mr. Brocklehurst comes to visit?

• The weather is used as a foreshadow for an event soon to come. That event turns out to be the visitation of the head master, the one people at the school feared, Mr.Brocklehurst. The weather snowing and it being so cold characterizes what kind of person Brocklehurst is.

Summary:

• Jane is beginning to adjust to life at Lowood and thinks it to be okay since she is around other children that aren't constantly mean to her. She feels as if she is becoming accepted and has even made a new friend, Helen. This all changes when Mr. Brocklehurst returns. His presence makes Lowood even colder and there are more rules that are enforced. Jane is also worried about Mr. Brocklehurst's promise to Mrs. Reed about informing everyone that Jane is a liar. This unfortunately comes true when Jane accidentally drops her slate in class. She is forced to sit on a chair in front of the class while Brocklehurst tells everyone what a horrible child she is. Jane is painfully embarrassed and saddened by this. However, her present state is made slightly better as Helen smiles at Jane every time she sees her.
• Professor interpretation: Mr. Brocklehurst and his family's nice attire show that they are superficial and have no substance. They may all look nice on their exterior, but internally they are cold and ugly.

Personal Reactions:
1.)What was your reaction towards Mr. Brocklehurst at the ironic part when his richly dressed family walks in after his lecture on how the orphans should appear simple?

• I thought it showed a flawed Brocklehurst.  He allows his family to dress nicely.  It shows his selfishness.  He does not treat the girls as kindly as his family. (Nicole)
• I think it shows Mr. Brocklehurst as being sort of two-faced as he is not abiding by the standards he is setting for the girls. He wants to keep them in line and only wants to keep them feeling a sense of inferiority in life.  (Gloria)

2.)In your opinion, what punishment was worst: being locked up in the red-room or standing on the stool in front of peers?

• I thought being on the stool was the worst punishment since there were many witnesses of the event.  I thought it would be highly embarrassing. (Nicole)
• I think for Jane the public punishment was worse considering she was desperate to fit in and be liked. This could make her feel like she would be in the same type of situation as when she was at Gateshead.  (Gloria)

Vocabulary:

1. "...I have swallowed the remainder with an accompaniment of secret tears, forced from me by the exigency of hunger".
• exigency: n. an urgent need or demand.
2. "We had to walk two miles to Brocklebridge Church, where our patron officiated".
• officiated: v. act as an official in charge of something
3. "...in the same penurious proportion observed in our ordinary meals..."
• penurious: adj. extremely poor, poverty-stricken
4. "...it was the hebdomadal treat to which we all looked forward..."
• hebdomadal: adj. weekly (used esp. of organizations that meet weekly)
5. "I generally contrived to reserve a moiety of this bounteous repast for myself..."
• moiety: n. each of two parts into which a thing is or can be divided.
6. "...too well I remembered the perfidious hints given by Mrs. Reed about my disposition..."
• perfidious: adj. decietful and untrustworthy.

Chapter 7

• People: Rebecca
• Places: Ryan
• Summary: Gloria
• Personal Reaction: Nicole
• Vocabulary: Monica