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The Comfort of Home
‘Leeds from the Meadows’, by Joseph Rhodes (1782-1854). Charlotte tells us that on her return to Thornfield Hall, Jane took a coach to ‘Millcote’ and walked the rest of the way: Millcote (implying ‘mill cottages’) is Leeds or Bradford in the days when the Industrial Revolution was getting underway, but before the sprawl of Victorian times. Rhodes, working in 1825 when Charlotte was nine, lets us see the how the urban landscape was already encroaching on the rural.
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‘Leeds from the Meadows’, by Joseph Rhodes (1782-1854). Charlotte tells us that on her return to Thornfield Hall, Jane took a coach to ‘Millcote’ and walked the rest of the way: Millcote (implying ‘mill cottages’) is Leeds or Bradford in the days when the Industrial Revolution was getting underway, but before the sprawl of Victorian times. Rhodes, working in 1825 when Charlotte was nine, lets us see the how the urban landscape was already encroaching on the rural.
“PASS, Janet,” said he, making room for me to cross the stile: “go up home, and stay your weary little wandering feet at a friend’s threshold.”
All I had now to do was to obey him in silence: no need for me to colloquise further. I got over the stile without a word, and meant to leave him calmly. An impulse held me fast — a force turned me round. I said — or something in me said for me, and in spite of me —
“Thank you, Mr Rochester, for your great kindness. I am strangely glad to get back again to you: and wherever you are is my home — my only home.”
I walked on so fast that even he could hardly have overtaken me had he tried. Little Adèle was half wild with delight when she saw me. Mrs Fairfax received me with her usual plain friendliness. Leah smiled, and even Sophie bid me “bon soir” with glee.* This was very pleasant; there is no happiness like that of being loved by your fellow-creatures, and feeling that your presence is an addition to their comfort.
* Mrs Fairfax was the housekeeper, a position of considerable responsibility, and even more than usual, as we learn when her true function at the Hall is revealed; Leah was a housemaid. Adèle was Mr Rochester’s natural daughter, born in France and primarily French-speaking, and Sophie her French nurse. Bon soir is, of course, French for ‘good evening’.
1. What is the author aiming to achieve in writing this?
2. Note any words, devices or turns of phrase that strike you. How do they help the author communicate her ideas more effectively?
3. What impression does this passage make on you? How might you put that impression into words?
Based on The English Critic (1939) by NL Clay, drawing on The New Criticism: A Lecture Delivered at Columbia University, March 9, 1910, by J. E. Spingarn, Professor of Comparative Literature in Columbia University, USA.
Mr Rochester sends Jane on her way so kindly that she cannot help turning to thank him for the home she has found with him. Reaching the Hall, she is welcomed rapturously by Adèle and calmly by Mrs Fairfax, but so sincerely by all that there seems no higher pleasure than to bring comfort into the lives of others. (59 / 60 words)
Mr Rochester sends Jane on her way so kindly that she cannot help turning to thank him for the home she has found with him. Reaching the Hall, she is welcomed rapturously by Adèle and calmly by Mrs Fairfax, but so sincerely by all that there seems no higher pleasure than to bring comfort into the lives of others.
Variations: 1.increase the length of this precis to exactly 65 words. 2.reduce the length of this precis to exactly 55 words. 3.introduce one of the following words into the precis: about, because, despite, if, just, must, or, whether.
Jigsaws Based on this passage
Express the ideas below in a single sentence, using different words as much as possible. Do not be satisfied with the first answer you think of; think of several, and choose the best.
Spinners Find in Think and Speak
For each group of words, compose a sentence that uses all three. You can use any form of the word: for example, cat → cats, go → went, or quick → quickly, though neigh → neighbour is stretching it a bit.
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Comfort. Eye. Overtake.
2 I. Present. Rather.
3 Feel. Make. She.
Variations: 1. include direct and indirect speech 2. include one or more of these words: although, because, despite, either/or, if, unless, until, when, whether, which, who 3. use negatives (not, isn’t, neither/nor, never, nobody etc.)
Verb and Noun Find in Think and Speak
Many words can serve as noun or verb depending on context: see if you can prove this with the examples below. Nouns go well with words such as the/a, or his/her; verbs go well after I/you/he etc..
This exercise uses words found in the accompanying passage.
1 Power. 2 Back. 3 Walk. 4 Notice. 5 Room. 6 Purpose. 7 Present. 8 Hold. 9 Use.
Variations: 1.if possible, use your noun in the plural, e.g. cat → cats. 2.use your verb in a past form, e.g. go → went. 3.use your noun in a sentence with one of these words: any, enough, fewer, less, no, some.
High Tiles Find in Think and Speak
Make words (three letters or more) from the seven letters showing below, using any letter once only. Each letter carries a score. What is the highest-scoring word you can make?
Your Words ()
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