8 PRACTICE TEST 2
Question 2
In this passage from the 1847 novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, Jane is a young woman
employed as a governess by Mr. Rochester, the owner of a great estate in England. Mrs.
Fairfax, the housekeeper, has disturbed Jane with vague explanations about strange noises
in the large house and the odd behavior of Grace Poole, a servant.
Read the passage carefully. Then write a well-organized essay that explains how the
passage uses the suspense and urgency of the scene to develop the characterization and
relationship of Jane and Mr. Rochester, including his reaction to Jane's explanation at the
end of the passage. You may wish to consider literary techniques such as tone, imagery,
figurative language, word choice, or other devices.
Something creaked; it was a door ajar; and that door was Mr.
Rochester's, and the smoke rushed in a cloud from thence I thought no
more of Mrs. Fairfax; I thought no more of Grace Poole or the laugh: in
an instant I was within the chamber. Tongues of flame darted round the
bed; the curtains were on fire. In the midst of blaze and vapor Mr.
Rochester lay stretched motionless, in deep sleep.
Wake! Wake! I cried I shook him, but he only murmured and
turned: the smoke had stupefied him. Not a moment could be lost: the
very sheets were kindling. I rushed to his basin and ewer7; fortunately,
one was wide and the other deep, and both were filled with water. I
heaved them up, deluged the bed and its occupant, flew back to my own
room, brought my own water-jug, baptized the couch afresh, and, by
God's aid, succeeded in extinguishing the flames which were devouring
it.
The hiss of the quenched element, the breakage of a pitcher which I
flung from my hand when I had emptied it, and, above all, the splash of
the shower-bath I had liberally bestowed, roused Mr. Rochester at last-
Though it was now dark, I knew he was awake; because I heard him
fulminating strange anathemas at finding himself lying in a pool of
water.
Is there a flood? he cried.
"No, sir," I answered; "but there has been a fire: get up, do, you are
quenched now; I will fetch you a candle."
"In the name of all the elves in Christendom, is that Jane Evre?" he
demanded. "What have you done with me, witch, sorceress? Who is in
the room besides you? Have you plotted to drown me?"
"I will fetch you a candle, sir; and, in Heaven's name, get up.
Somebody has plotted something: you cannot too soon find out who
and what it is."
5
a vase-shaped pitcher
20
There! I am up now; but at your peril you fetch a candle yet: wait
two minutes till I get into some dry garments, if any dry there be-yes.
here is my dressing-gown. Now run!"
I did run; I brought the candle which still remained in the gallery.
He took it from my hand, held it up, and surveyed the bed, all blackened
and scorched, the sheets drenched, the carpet round swimming in
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water.
"What is it? and who did it?" he asked.
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