1. In Girl with a Pen, Kyle describes Charlotte's reactions to Queen Victoria and the celebrations surrounding the English queen's visit to King Leopold.

Using library reference sources, compare Charlotte's impressions with accounts of the celebrations associated with this state visit. Why was Queen Victoria such an appealing figure to Charlotte?

2. Some critics contend that Jane Eyre is largely autobiographical. Read the novel and perhaps another biography of Charlotte Bronte, then discuss which elements of her life and personality the novel reflects.

3. Most critics today prefer Emily's Wuthering Heights to Charlotte's Jane Eyre, while nineteenth-century critics preferred Charlotte's works. Read both novels, and explain which you prefer.

4. Although Jane Eyre is the best known of Charlotte's novels, she wrote three others. Read The Professor, Villette, or Shirley. How do the incidents, themes, and characters reflect parts of Charlotte's life?

5. Some of...