Who, do we imagine, wrote this poem for the Church Missionary Gleaner (published September 1, 1847)? Who is its intended audience? What is its objective? What is the function of poetry as opposed to prose? Does this poem seem to espouse the same religious ideology as St. John Rivers? What beliefs does it teach?
In this article from Punch, the primary subject is a meeting of the London Missionary Society. What type of language does Punch use to describe this meeting? What connotations does it associate with the missionaries? We are accustomed to thinking of Punch as satirical: what is the subject of satire here? Could St. John be criticized for the same reasons as the missionaries are criticized here?
This prayer is not from Punch but from The Children's Missionary Magazine (published in London from March 1838 through December 1894). What type of religion does it depict? What type of child might be expected to say this prayer? In what type of household would he or she reside? Can you imagine children at Lowood School saying this type of prayer? Why or why not? What are the implications about the British empire in this prayer? What would it mean to have small children thinking about Madagascar, Jerusalem, and Ireland? Why these three places in particular (especially Madagascar and Ireland, since Jerusalem has obvious Biblical implications)? Can you compare the type of religious belief expressed here to that held by Bute Crawley, Mr. Pitt Crawley, Miss Temple, Mr. Brocklehurst, Helen Burns, or Jane herself? (April 1, 1847)
