Copy Book Archive

The Sign from Heaven Was it an over-excited imagination, or an answer to prayer?

In two parts

1847
Music: Sir William Sterndale Bennett

© Peter Barr, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source

About this picture …

The view from the window of North Lees Hall near Hathersage, Derbyshire. Charlotte stayed in Hathersage around the time she was writing Jane Eyre, and North Lees Hall may be ‘Thornfield Hall’.

The Sign from Heaven

Part 1 of 2

Jane Eyre has fled Edward Rochester’s house and arms in shame, after discovering he was hiding his insane wife in an attic. So when the Revd St John Rivers proposes a marriage of convenience followed by a life of self-sacrifice as missionaries in India, the heartbroken Jane gives the idea serious thought.

“WERE I but convinced that it is God’s will I should marry you, I could vow to marry you here and now — come afterwards what would!”

“My prayers are heard!” ejaculated St John.* He pressed his hand firmer on my head, as if he claimed me: he surrounded me with his arm, almost as if he loved me (I say almost — I knew the difference — for I had felt what it was to be loved; but, like him, I had now put love out of the question, and thought only of duty). I sincerely, deeply, fervently longed to do what was right; and only that.

“Show me, show me the path!” I entreated of Heaven. I was excited more than I had ever been; and whether what followed was the effect of excitement the reader shall judge.

The one candle was dying out: the room was full of moonlight. My heart beat fast and thick: I heard its throb. Suddenly it stood still to an inexpressible feeling that thrilled it through.

Jump to Part 2

When it is a Christian name (i.e. a personal name, like Richard or Edward) St John is pronounced sin-jun.

Précis

Thinking over a proposal of marriage that she knows is about duty, not love, on both sides, Jane Eyre prays for guidance. The man who has made it, St John Rivers, thinks God’s answer is clear enough already, but in the stillness of late evening, Jane is suddenly gripped by some wordless conviction of her own. (56 / 60 words)

Part Two

© Graham Hogg, Geograph. Licence: CC-BY-SA 2.0. Source

About this picture …

Moorland loneliness... Haworth moor in Yorkshire, near where Charlotte Brontë lived.

“WHAT have you heard? What do you see?” asked St John. I saw nothing, but I heard a voice somewhere cry —

“Jane! Jane! Jane!” — nothing more.

“O God! what is it?” I gasped.

I might have said, “Where is it?” for it did not seem in the room — nor in the house — nor in the garden; it did not come out of the air — nor from under the earth — nor from overhead.  I had heard it — and it was the voice of a human being — a known, loved, well-remembered voice — that of Edward Fairfax Rochester; and it spoke in pain and woe, wildly, eerily, urgently.

“I am coming!” I cried. “Wait for me!  Oh, I will come!” I flew to the door and looked into the passage: it was dark. I ran out into the garden: it was void.

“Where are you?” I exclaimed.

The hills beyond Marsh Glen sent the answer faintly back — “Where are you?” I listened.  The wind sighed low in the firs: all was moorland loneliness and midnight hush.

Copy Book

Précis

St John is startled by Jane’s behaviour: evidently, she had heard or seen something. Jane herself knows that what she has heard is the disembodied, anguished voice of the only man she has ever loved, Edward Rochester, but a frantic search of the house and lands around yields nothing. (49 / 60 words)

Source

Abridged from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë.

Suggested Music

1 2

Piano Concerto No. 2 in E-flat major, Op. 4 (1833)

2: Adagio espressivo

Sir William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875)

Played by Malcolm Binns (piano) with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite.

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Piano Concerto No. 4 in F Minor (1838)

3: Presto: Agitato

Sir William Sterndale Bennett (1816-1875)

Performed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra, with Malcolm Binns (piano) conducted by Nicholas Braithwaite.

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How To Use This Passage

You can use this passage to help improve your command of English.

IRead it aloud, twice or more. IISummarise it in one sentence of up to 30 words. IIISummarise it in one paragraph of 40-80 words. IVMake notes on the passage, and reconstruct the original from them later on. VJot down any unfamiliar words, and make your own sentences with them later. VIMake a note of any words that surprise or impress you, and ask yourself what meaning they add to the words you would have expected to see. VIITurn any old-fashioned English into modern English. VIIITurn prose into verse, and verse into prose. IXAsk yourself what the author is trying to get you to feel or think. XHow would an artist or a photographer capture the scene? XIHow would a movie director shoot it, or a composer write incidental music for it?

For these and more ideas, see How to Use The Copy Book.

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