The Discourse Analysis of an Extract from Jane Eyre

By Group 7

DA based on 5C’s DA based on 5C’s

Cohesion

Coherence

Culture

Critique

Context

Discourse Activity

Context

Context of situationSPEAKING setting : 1847

participants: Jane Eyre & fortune-teller(Mr. Rochester) ends: to test whether Jane Eyre loves him or not keys: serious instrumentalities: spoken channel norms: asking questions genre: conversation

Jane Eyre (1847) has enjoyed huge popularity since first publication, and its success owes much to its exceptional emotional power. Jane Eyre, a penniless orphan, is engaged as governess at Thornfield Hall by the mysterious Mr. Rochester. Her integrity and independence are tested to the limit as their love for each other grows, and the secrets of Mr. Rochester's past are revealed.

This extract is mainly about the conversation between Jane Eyre and the fortune-teller. In fact, Mr. Rochester disguises himself as the fortune-teller to test whether Jane Eyre loves him or not.

Cohesion

Grammatical cohesion: Reference Ellipsis Substitution

Lexical cohesion: Repetitions

Reference “ Well, and you want your fortune told?” she said, in a voice as

decided as her glance, as harsh as her features. I don’t care about it, mother; you may please yourself: but I ought to

warn you, I have no faith.” “It’s like your impudence to say so: I expected it of you; I heard it in

your step as you crossed the threshold.” “Did you? You’ve a quick ear.” “I have; and a quick eye and a quick brain.” “You need them all in your trade.” “I do; especially when I’ve customers like you to deal with. Why don't

you tremble?” “I'm not cold.” “Why don’t you turn pale?” “I am not sick.” “Why don’t you consult my art?” “I’m not silly.”

Ellipsis and substitution

“ Did you? You’ve a quick ear.” “I have and a quick eye and a quick

brain.”“You need them all in your trade.”“I do especially

when I’ve customers like you to deal with. Why don't you tremble?”

(a quick ear);

(need a quick ear, eye and brain);

Repetition

“You are cold; you are sick; and you are silly.” “Prove it,” I rejoined. “I will, in few words. You are cold, because you are alone: no

contact strikes the fire from you that is in you. You are sick; because the best of feelings, the highest and the sweetest given to man, keeps far away from you. You are silly, because, suffer

as you may, you will not beckon it to approach, nor will you

stir one step to meet it where it waits you.”

Conversation Analysis

Microstructure

Clause relations

Coherence

Conversation Analysis

“It’s like your impudence to say so: I expected it of you; I heard it in your step as you crossed the threshold.”

“Did you? You’ve a quick ear.” “I have; and a quick eye and a quick brain.”

Microstructure

“You are cold; you are sick; and you are silly.” (generalization) “Prove it,” I rejoined. “I will, in few words. You are cold, because you are

alone: no contact strikes the fire from you that is in you. (reason 1) You are sick; because the best of feelings, the highest and the sweetest given to man, keeps far away from you. (reason 2)You are silly, because, suffer as you may, you will not beckon it to approach, nor will you stir one step to meet it where it waits you. (reason 3)”

Clause relations (reason-result)

“I will, in few words. You are cold, because you

are alone: no contact strikes the fire from you that

is in you. You are sick; because the best of feelings,

the highest and the sweetest given to man, keeps

far away from you. You are silly, because, suffer

as you may, you will not beckon it to approach, nor

will you stir one step to meet it where it waits you.”

In the middle of 19th century, the British people were quite

superstitious and often sought answers from fortune tellers

when puzzled. Therefore, they were kind of afraid of the

fortune teller who knew their future.

“Well, and you want your fortune told?” she said, in a voice

as decided as her glance, as harsh as her features. “I don’t care about it, mother; you may please yourself: but I

ought to warn you, I have no faith.”

Culture

“I do; especially when I’ve customers like you to deal with. Why don't you tremble?” “I'm not cold.”“Why don’t you turn pale?”“I am not sick.” “Why don’t you consult my art?” “I’m not silly.”

Critique

Reaction to cohesion, coherence and culture

Exposition of power and ideology

In relation to inequalities and domination

R: “Well, and you want your fortune told?” she said, in a voice as decided as her glance, as harsh as her features.

J: “I don’t care about it, mother; you may please yourself: but I ought to warn you, I have no faith.”

R: “It’s like your impudence to say so: I expected it of you; I heard it in your step as you crossed the threshold.”

J: “Did you? You’ve a quick ear.” --- ---R: “You are cold; you are sick; and you are silly.” J: “Prove it.”

The fortune-teller shows her advantage and superiority over Jane as she shows to others through his words.

Power relations at this situational level help shape the discourse.

The fortune-teller asserts his influence and power and attempt to control/dominate the

conversation, yet Jane never gives way to her destiny; nor does surrender to the fate prediction told by the teller.

Discourse-based activity

Role play You will be divided into 6 groups. Please discuss and

play the roles of Jane Eyre and the fortune-teller. Try to show the inner feelings of Jane and the fortune-teller.

Your performance will be evaluated according to the following criteria.

Group:Criteria Max marks Group marks

Pronunciation 20

Intonation 20

Fluency 20

Facial Expression 20

Gesture 20

Total 100

Thanks for your attention!