Charlotte Brontë. 21 April 1816 – 31 March 1855 She was an English novelist and poet.

Charlotte Charlotte Brontë.Brontë.

21 April 1816 – 31 21 April 1816 – 31

March 1855March 1855 She was an English She was an English novelist and poet. novelist and poet.

Early life Early life and and

educationeducation..

Charlotte was born in Thornton, Yorkshire in 1816, the Charlotte was born in Thornton, Yorkshire in 1816, the third of six childrenthird of six children. . In 1820 her family moved a few In 1820 her family moved a few miles to the village of Haworthmiles to the village of Haworth. . Her mother died of Her mother died of cancer on 15 September 1821cancer on 15 September 1821, and then Charlotte and , and then Charlotte and her sisters were sent to ther sisters were sent to the Clergy Daughters' Schoolhe Clergy Daughters' School by by their father. The school conditions were poor, it was too their father. The school conditions were poor, it was too hard too live there, and her two sisters hard too live there, and her two sisters died of died of tuberculosis in June 1825. Aftertuberculosis in June 1825. After the deathsthe deaths her father her father removed Charlotte and Emily from the schoolremoved Charlotte and Emily from the school. . Between Between 1831 and 1832 Charlotte continued her education at 1831 and 1832 Charlotte continued her education at Roe Head in MirfieldRoe Head in Mirfield..

Roe Head School.

Jane EyreJane Eyre..

IIn August 1847n August 1847Jane Eyre: Jane Eyre: An AutobiographyAn Autobiography, was , was publishedpublished.. It tells the It tells the story of a plain governess story of a plain governess (Jane) who, after early (Jane) who, after early life difficulties, falls in life difficulties, falls in love with her employer, love with her employer, Mr Rochester. They Mr Rochester. They marry, but only after marry, but only after Rochester's insane first Rochester's insane first wife (of whom Jane wife (of whom Jane initially had no initially had no knowledge) dies in a knowledge) dies in a dramatic house fire. dramatic house fire.

Jane Eyre.Jane Eyre.

Charlotte believed art was most convincing when Charlotte believed art was most convincing when based on personal experiencebased on personal experience. I. In n Jane EyreJane Eyre she she transformed the experience into a novel with transformed the experience into a novel with universal appeal. Commercially it was an instant universal appeal. Commercially it was an instant

successsuccess.. The book's style was innovative, combining The book's style was innovative, combining

naturalism with gothic melodrama, and broke new naturalism with gothic melodrama, and broke new ground in being written from an intensely first-ground in being written from an intensely first-person female perspective.person female perspective.

However sales of However sales of Jane EyreJane Eyre continued to be strong, continued to be strong, and may have increased as a result of the novel and may have increased as a result of the novel

developing a reputation as an 'improper' bookdeveloping a reputation as an 'improper' book..

BibliographyBibliography.. NovelsNovels.. Jane EyreJane Eyre, published 1847 , published 1847 ShirleyShirley, published in 1849 , published in 1849 VilletteVillette, published in 1853, published in 1853 The ProfessorThe Professor

EmmaEmma, unfinished, unfinished Poetry.Poetry. Poems by Currer, Ellis, and Poems by Currer, Ellis, and

Acton BellActon Bell (1846) (1846) Selected Poems of The Selected Poems of The

BrontësBrontës, Everyman Poetry , Everyman Poetry (1997) (1997)

Life. Marriage.Life. Marriage. Charlotte received a proposal of marriage from Charlotte received a proposal of marriage from

Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's curate who had Arthur Bell Nicholls, her father's curate who had long been in love with her. She initially turned long been in love with her. She initially turned down his proposal, and her father objected to the down his proposal, and her father objected to the union at least partly because of Nicholls' poor union at least partly because of Nicholls' poor financial status. Elizabeth Gaskell, who believed financial status. Elizabeth Gaskell, who believed marriage provided 'clear and defined duties' that marriage provided 'clear and defined duties' that were beneficial for a woman, encouraged Charlotte were beneficial for a woman, encouraged Charlotte to consider the positive aspects of such a union, to consider the positive aspects of such a union, and tried to use her contacts to engineer an and tried to use her contacts to engineer an improvement in Nicholls' financial situation. improvement in Nicholls' financial situation. Charlotte meanwhile was increasingly attracted to Charlotte meanwhile was increasingly attracted to the intense attachment displayed by Nicholthe intense attachment displayed by Nichollls, and s, and by January 1854 had accepted his proposal. They by January 1854 had accepted his proposal. They gained the approval of her father by April, and gained the approval of her father by April, and married in June. They took their honeymoon in married in June. They took their honeymoon in Ireland.Ireland.

Death.Death. Charlotte became pregnant soon after Charlotte became pregnant soon after

the marriage but her health declined the marriage but her health declined rapidlyrapidly. . Charlotte died with her Charlotte died with her unborn child on 31 March 1855, aged unborn child on 31 March 1855, aged 3838. There are many suggestions why . There are many suggestions why she may have died. And nobody know she may have died. And nobody know exactly what happened with her. exactly what happened with her.

Charlotte's first-written novel, Charlotte's first-written novel, The The ProfessorProfessor, was published , was published posthumously in 1857. posthumously in 1857.