London Literature Map

Submitted by Ashley Nadeau on

As a class we will be using the resources of COVE to create a collaborative Digital Humanities project in which we plot the historical sites that inform and shape British literature and culture. Each of you will be responsible for choosing a historical location or site in Great Britain to research and add to our class map. Your contribution should provide a brief overview of a significant and interesting cultural or political event, as well as a brief reflection that connects that event to our course themes and texts.

Geneva, Germany

Geneva, Switzerland is one of Europe's most cosmopolitan cities. The large city juts into France, being a European cultural center for urban life, politics, diplomacy, and language. The city is also known for its luxury jewelry and watch industry, as well as its large tourist population. The city has many languages, with a quarter of the permanent residency having English as a second language, with the primary languages being German, French, and Italian.

The Belgian Congo

From 1908 to 1960, a large portion of the Congo was under the rule of Belgium. It was established by the Belgian parliament to replace the previous Congo Free States, as there was international outrage with the abuse of power the private citizens had over the natives. The Belgians view Africans as children who needed to be cared for and taught how to be civil which is known as paternalism. This “parent-child” relationship was heavily exploited by the Belgians as they drained the nation of gold, diamonds, copper, tin, cobalt, zinc, and ivory.

Lowood Boarding School

Lowood Boarding School is an important location within Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre. Lowood is the boarding school her aunt sends her to and where she has her most formative years. At Lowood, she develops her morals, witnesses the first death she remembers, creates relationships that affect her throughout the rest of the book, is shamed and humiliated, and develops a deep love for learning and scholarship. Lowood School is heavily inspired by the school Bronte attended as a child, Cowan Bridge, which was a very traumatic experience.

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