Biography
Emily Jane Brontë was born on 30th July 1818 in Thornton, Yorkshire, England; the fifth child of six born to Patrick and Maria Brontë- Maria, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Branwell, Emily and Anne.
In 1824, the Brontë sisters were educated at Cowan Bridge School, a semi-charitable institution, for the daughters of clergymen; there they suffered from undernourishment, as well as exposure to extreme cold and disease. The sisters were also subjected to bullying by the other girls at the school. They were all eventually withdrawn, however the health of Maria and Elizabeth had been severely damaged; and both their lives were claimed by tuberculosis in 1825.
At home, Emily and her remaining siblings often spent their spare time reading and telling each other stories. To entertain themselves, the Brontë children also began to pair up and write their own stories and poetry about imaginary worlds; Branwell and Charlotte wrote about their kingdom,“Angria”, whilst Emily and Anne created its rival, “Gondal”.
In September 1838, Emily became a teacher at Law Hill School in Halifax, however her stay was short; she returned home in April 1839 due to the stress of the profession. Back at home she helped with cooking, cleaning, ironing as well as teaching herself German and practising piano.
Emily and her two sisters dreamed of someday establishing their own school, so, in 1842, they travelled to Belgium, in order to study French, German and literature. However, when their aunt died, Emily returned home to live with her father; she was soon joined by her sisters in 1845, after they gave up their aspirations of opening a school. In 1846, Charlotte suggested that they publish their poems together. A year later, in 1847, Emily's novel "Wuthering Heights" was published. The book received mixed reviews; due to its cynical and dark plot, which challenged the values of society and what was deemed acceptable.
Emily Brontë died on 19th December 1848, after contracting a cold at her brother Branwell's funeral.
In 1824, the Brontë sisters were educated at Cowan Bridge School, a semi-charitable institution, for the daughters of clergymen; there they suffered from undernourishment, as well as exposure to extreme cold and disease. The sisters were also subjected to bullying by the other girls at the school. They were all eventually withdrawn, however the health of Maria and Elizabeth had been severely damaged; and both their lives were claimed by tuberculosis in 1825.
At home, Emily and her remaining siblings often spent their spare time reading and telling each other stories. To entertain themselves, the Brontë children also began to pair up and write their own stories and poetry about imaginary worlds; Branwell and Charlotte wrote about their kingdom,“Angria”, whilst Emily and Anne created its rival, “Gondal”.
In September 1838, Emily became a teacher at Law Hill School in Halifax, however her stay was short; she returned home in April 1839 due to the stress of the profession. Back at home she helped with cooking, cleaning, ironing as well as teaching herself German and practising piano.
Emily and her two sisters dreamed of someday establishing their own school, so, in 1842, they travelled to Belgium, in order to study French, German and literature. However, when their aunt died, Emily returned home to live with her father; she was soon joined by her sisters in 1845, after they gave up their aspirations of opening a school. In 1846, Charlotte suggested that they publish their poems together. A year later, in 1847, Emily's novel "Wuthering Heights" was published. The book received mixed reviews; due to its cynical and dark plot, which challenged the values of society and what was deemed acceptable.
Emily Brontë died on 19th December 1848, after contracting a cold at her brother Branwell's funeral.
Poetry
Emily Brontë was exposed to much grief and emotional hardship due to the deaths of many of her family members, from a young age. Maria Brontë (senior) died from cancer when Emily was just three years old; this death was closely followed by that of Emily's sisters Maria and Elizabeth, when Emily was seven years old. Furthermore, towards the end of Emily's life, her brother Branwell became an alcoholic and opium addict; the family had to deal with his frequent depression and wild mood swings.
These experiences are mirrored in much of Emily's poetry, through themes of death, grief and sadness. Her composition is highly personally reflective at times, and contains much emotive personification, used to convey the meaning of the poem.
These experiences are mirrored in much of Emily's poetry, through themes of death, grief and sadness. Her composition is highly personally reflective at times, and contains much emotive personification, used to convey the meaning of the poem.
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