Chapter XVI Practice Quiz — Jane Eyre
by Charlotte Bronte — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter XVI
What explanation do the servants give for the fire in Rochester's bedroom?
They say Rochester fell asleep reading with his candle lit, and the curtains caught fire.
What is Grace Poole doing when Jane finds her in Rochester's room the morning after the fire?
She is calmly sewing rings onto new curtains.
Where has Rochester gone when Jane expects to see him that evening?
He has gone to the Leas, Mr. Eshton's estate, ten miles from Millcote.
How long does Mrs. Fairfax expect Rochester to be away?
A week or more.
What two portraits does Jane resolve to draw at the end of the chapter?
A plain chalk self-portrait labeled "Portrait of a Governess, disconnected, poor, and plain" and an ivory miniature of Blanche Ingram labeled "Blanche, an accomplished lady of rank."
What does Jane tell Grace Poole about bolting her door?
She says she had not previously bolted it but will make sure to do so in the future.
Who is Blanche Ingram?
A beautiful, accomplished young woman of noble birth who is about twenty-five years old and whom Mrs. Fairfax describes as "the belle of the evening" at a past Christmas ball at Thornfield.
How does Mrs. Fairfax physically describe Blanche Ingram?
Tall, with a fine bust, sloping shoulders, long graceful neck, olive complexion, large black eyes, and raven-black hair arranged in thick plaits and glossy curls.
How does Grace Poole behave when Jane confronts her about the fire?
She remains perfectly calm and composed, showing no guilt or fear, and even cross-questions Jane about what she heard during the night.
What does Adele notice about Jane's appearance during lessons?
She notices that Jane's fingers are trembling and her cheeks are red as cherries.
Who are some of the guests at the house party Rochester attends?
Lord Ingram, Sir George Lynn, Colonel Dent, Mrs. Eshton and her three daughters, and the Honourable Blanche and Mary Ingram.
What internal "trial" does Jane conduct at the end of the chapter?
She arraigns herself at her own bar, with Memory and Reason as witnesses, and pronounces judgment that she has been a fool for indulging romantic hopes about Rochester.
What theme do the two contrasting portraits symbolize?
They symbolize the class divide between Jane (a poor, plain governess) and women of Rochester's social world, and Jane's attempt to use rational self-discipline to suppress her romantic feelings.
Why does Jane speculate that Rochester might be "in the power" of Grace Poole?
Because he has neither accused nor dismissed Grace despite apparently knowing she set the fire, suggesting some secret hold or past indiscretion binds him to her.
How does Chapter 16 develop the theme of appearance vs. reality?
The servants accept a false explanation for the fire, Grace Poole conceals her role with perfect composure, and Jane herself tries to suppress her true emotions behind rational discipline.
What extended metaphor does Bronte use when Jane judges her own feelings?
A courtroom metaphor: Jane "arraigns" herself at her own "bar," with Memory giving evidence and Reason telling "a plain, unvarnished tale," after which Jane pronounces a verdict.
What is the dramatic irony in Jane's suspicion of Grace Poole?
The reader eventually learns that Grace Poole is not the true culprit — she is the keeper of Bertha Mason, Rochester's secret wife, who actually set the fire.
How does Adele's French exclamation function as a literary device?
It serves as an external mirror, revealing Jane's inner emotional turmoil (trembling fingers, flushed cheeks) that she is trying to conceal.
What talent of Rochester's does Mrs. Fairfax reveal in this chapter?
He has a fine bass singing voice and an excellent taste for music — he once sang a duet with Blanche Ingram.
Why has Blanche Ingram not yet married, according to Mrs. Fairfax?
Because neither she nor her sister have very large fortunes, as their father's estates were chiefly entailed and the eldest son inherited almost everything.