Jane Eyre chapter summaries

Chapter 1

We see Jane’s life at Gateshead, and her mistreatment from her family- she gets locked in the red room.

Chapter 2

Jane struggles in the red room- theme of supernatural high.

Chapter 3

Mr Lloyd suggests that Jane be sent away to school.

Chapter 4

Jane meets Mr Brocklehurst, and has an outburst at her aunt’s treatment of her. We see a gentle moment with Bessie and Jane at the end.

Chapter 5

Jane arrives at Lowood- we see her fall into routine and meet Helen Burns.

Chapter 6

Jane struggles to understand how Helen is so calm and she shares her religious beliefs.

Chapter 7

Jane reveals how bad the conditions are, and Brocklehurst punishes Jane for her behaviour.

Chapter 8

Helen and Miss Temple treat Jane kindly, and assure her that people don’t hate her. Jane watches Miss Temple and Helen have an intellectual conversation. Jane is cleared of her charges- happy at Lowood.

Chapter 9

More than half the students fall ill, and Helen Burns is stricken with tuberculosis. Helen dies in Jane’s arms, happy to believe they will meet again in the afterlife.

Chapter 10

8 years later, Jane is now a teacher at Lowood and has modelled herself after Miss Temple. Jane advertises for a governess job, and is offered one by Miss Fairfax, but before she leaves Bessie visits.

Chapter 11

Jane arrives at Thornfield and meets everyone. When Mrs. Fairfax gives Jane a tour, she hears the laughter of Grace Poole.

Chapter 12

Jane settles into Thornfield and meets Rochester- not realising that it is him.

Chapter 13

Jane has tea with Rochester, and learns more information on his family from Mrs. Fairfax.

Chapter 14

Jane talks to Rochester while he is drunk, they talk of class and sin.

Chapter 15

Rochester explains where Adele came from. Jane realises she’s spending a lot of time with Rochester and she can see good qualities in him. Bertha sets Rochester’s room on fire and Jane helps save him.

Chapter 16

Jane is surprised that Grace Poole hasn’t been dismissed or punished. She learns that Rochester is at a party with Blanche Ingram and paints pictures of herself and Blanche.

Chapter 17

The guests arrive, Jane’s passionate feelings return and Blanche talks insultingly about governesses. Jane slips away and Rochester follows but lets her go.

Chapter 18

Jane realises Blanche is pursuing Rochester. Mr Mason arrives and explains that he knew Rochester in the West Indies. A fortune teller insists on reading Jane.

Chapter 19

The gypsy presses Jane about Blanche and Rochester, but Jane realises it’s Rochester and tells him about Mason.

Chapter 20

Rochester asks Jane to come stay with Mason who is bleeding. Rochester and Jane go on a walk and he tells her about his past.

Chapter 21

Jane learns that John Reed has died and Mrs. Reed want to meet with her. Her aunt expresses no remorse for how she treated Jane and shows her a letter she received from her uncle who tried to find her and share his fortune, but Mrs. Reed claimed Jane was dead.

Chapter 22

Jane returns to Thornfield and spends more time with Rochester.

Chapter 23

Rochester tells Jane he will soon marry and she is sad, but he reveals that it is her he intends to marry. The chestnut tree they were sitting under is struck by lightning and split in half in the night.

Chapter 24

Mrs. Fairfax doesn’t seem pleased. Jane thinks about how much more at ease she would feel if she had her own money.

Chapter 25

Jane recalls a dream sequence- Bertha wearing her veil and ripping it and Rochester convinces her that she was experiencing a mixture of dreams and reality.

Chapter 26

Jane and Rochester go to get married but Mr Briggs and Mr Mason intervene, revealing that Rochester is already married. Rochester takes everyone to see Bertha who attacks Rochester and tries to bite him. Jane realises she needs to leave.

Chapter 27

Rochester begs Jane not to leave, but despite forgiving him in her heart, she knows she must leave.

Chapter 28

Coach takes Jane as far as Whitcross. She tries to find work in a village but ends up begging for food and sleeping outdoors. She meets the Rivers and they take her in.

Chapter 29

The Rivers nurse Jane back to health, but Jane doesn’t reveal anything about Thornfield.

Chapter 30

Jane becomes close with the Rivers and St. John offers Jane a teaching job. The Rivers learn that their uncle has died and left his money to an unknown relative.

Chapter 31

Jane describes her new life and St. John comes to visit. Jane witnesses St. John attempting to resist Rosamond.

Chapter 32

Jane is happy, but she is troubled with dreams of Rochester. St. John reveals that Rosamond wouldn’t make a good wife for a missionary and he doesn’t want to quit. St. John finds a scrap with Jane’s name written on it.

Chapter 33

St. John reveals that he knows who Jane is and that the fortune had been left to her. Jane choses to split her inheritance.

Chapter 34

St. John and Jane start learning a language together. Jane writes to Mrs Fairfax but gets no response. St. John asks if Jane will come with him to India, she says no.

Chapter 35

St. John and Jane distance, as she would only want to be his assistant not his wife. Jane hears Rochester calling her and realises she wants to return.

Chapter 36

Jane finds Thornfield burnt down, Bertha is dead and Rochester is now blind. She immediately organises to go to Ferndean.

Chapter 37

Rochester reunites with Jane and they are happy that they are equals now. They decide to get married again.

Chapter 38

They get married and are happier than ever. Rochester slowly regains his eyesight.