Charlotte Bronte's Childhood Influences to Become a Writer

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Charlotte Bronte's Childhood Influences to Become a Writer

Charlotte was born to in 1816 in Yorkshire to Patrick Bronte and his

wife. She was one of six children, an averaged size family in those

days. The family were moved to Haworth (a small village in the west

Yorkshire moors) in 1820. Sadly a year later Mrs Bronte died leaving

the six children in her sisters care. Charlotte had to cope with the

death of a mother when she was very young and the death of her two

elder sisters a few years later. She had to learn to care for herself

and to be more independent. This may have helped Charlotte to be able

to empathise with the feelings that arise when somebody dies. In later

years she was then able to use these feeling in her novels. Having to

be independent may have helped her to be able to make up the character

Jane Eyre as she was in a similar situation to as Charlotte, having to

learn to care for herself and having to cope with the death of a

parent.

In 1824 Charlotte was sent to boarding school with three of her four

sisters. The appalling conditions at the school had a long term affect

on the two elder sisters and this is where Maria and Louisa died.

After the death of Maria and Louisa Charlottes father brought all his

children home. Charlotte made this school the model for Lowood

institute in Jane Eyre. So although she had been through horrible

times she was able to use them to her advantage.

After their mother and two eldest children had died, Charlotte was

left with her sisters Emily and Anne and brother Branwell to the care

of their father, and their strict, religious aunt, Elisabeth Branwell.

The children created imaginary kingdoms, which were built around

Branwell's toy soldiers, and which inspired them to write stories

about the fantasylands of Angria and Gondal. Charlotte had a very big

imagination at an early age and having a brother and sister that

shared this imagination helped her to expand on it. All of Mr Brontes

children were encouraged to read widely.The Bronte children were avid

readers and they loved to make up stories and then share them with

each other.

In later life Charlotte started a new school and after she had left

the school she then returned to it a few years later as a teacher. She

was able to practice her writing skills and learn how to teach them to

others. In 1841 Charlotte became a pupil at the Maison d'education

pour les jeunes, in Brussels.

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