Alquin Emily Bronte: Wuthering Heights

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• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 6

Emily Brontë

1818-1848

• Her mother died when she was only 3 years old. 
• Horrible school time: 2 sisters died. (described in Charlotte's novel Jane Eyre) 
• The rest of her life she mostly spend living at the family home. 
• shy and introverted personality

The Brontë sisters:

Charlotte, Emily and Anne

pseudonyms: Currer, Ellis and Acton Bell

What name did Emily Brönte use as alias?

1. Emile Bell
2. Ellis Brönte
3. Ellis Bell
4. Ethan Bell

Wuthering Heights:

introduction

Wuthering Heights:

Summary

Tekst

Cathy?

Cathy (Catherine) names her daughter: Cathy. 

Wuthering Heights:

Characters

Wuthering Heights

Excerpt 1

page 4

Assignments page 20 - Excerpt 1

16. possible title:  Mr Lockwood’s Nightmare

 

17. Dreams and reality intermingle:  The fir branch tapping against the window, blown by the wind (6-7) and the soldered hook (line 9).

18. How did Mr. Lockwood attempt to free himself from the grasp of the ghost's hand?  He pulled the hand back and forth through the broken glass, until it bled.

 

19.  What did Mr. Lockwood learn about the ghost? 

That she had been haunting the place for twenty years.

20. Why was 'the yell not ideal'? 

Lockwood realised that Heathcliff would find him as a result

Wuthering Heights

Excerpt 2

page 5

Assignments page 20 - Excerpt 2

21. Possible title? How Heathcliff Came to Live With the Earnshaw Family / Heathcliff’s Introduction to the Earnshaws.

22. Which of Mr. Earnshaw's characteristics are described in lines 1-37? 

Devout (11), composed and reasonable (18), highly social (20) and strict (36) with anyone who disobeyed his orders.

23. Heathcliff's background: He was found on the streets in Liverpool, houseless, starving, as good as dumb and in all probability a gipsy (dark hair, filthy, dressed in rags).

24. What does this excerpt tell you about the name Heathcliff?

Heathcliff was the name of one of the Earnshaws’ children who had died previously. Mr Earnshaw therefore decided to give the boy he found the same name, although it was both his first name and surname in this case.

Assignments page 20 - Excerpt 2

25. How did Heathcliff cause a rift in the Earnshaw family? 

Mr Earnshaw and Catherine immediately welcomed Heathcliff into the family. Mrs Earnshaw, however, and in particular their son, Hindley, made Heathcliff’s life a misery: Hindley beat the little boy, and his mother did nothing to stop him.

26. Nelly Dean's attitude in this excerpt: 

she is the story’s narrator and she plays an active role in the events described.

As the narrator, she reflects on her own actions, and clearly regrets her attitude: She took Hindley’s side, and even went so far as to pinch little Heathcliff. Nor did she make any effort to make a decent bed for the child the first evening. Only afterwards, when Heathcliff lay ill in bed, did her attitude change slightly.

Wuthering Heights

Excerpt 3

page 8

Assignments page 20 - Excerpt 3

27. Possible title: Heathcliff Overhears Catherine and Nelly’s Conversation about a Marriage Proposal.

28. Why is Nelly's criticism remarkable? 

Nelly is only a servant, who is in a vulnerable position, as she could easily be dismissed at any time. In this excerpt, however, she acts as though she were Catherine’s equal, contradicting her in an act of defiance.

29. Which remark undermines her decision?  Line 82: ‘In my soul and in my heart……..’

30. Which remark did Heathcliff happen to hear, which will cut him to the depths of his soul? Lines 116-117: ‘It would degrade ………..’

31. Why does Nelly refer to Catherine as 'ignorant of the duties or else wicked and unprincipled"? Because Catherine declared that she would never leave Heathcliff behind, and that Edgar Linton would simply have to accept that she had to protect Heathcliff from her brother Hindley.

Wuthering Heights

Excerpt 4

page 12

Assignments page 20 - Excerpt 4

32. Possible title:  Heathcliff’s Final Encounter with the Dying Catherine.

33. Heathcliff's responce to Catherine's accusation of breaking her heart: 

Lines 82 and 83: ‘I have not broken your heart …….’; and line 34: ‘You know you lie ……….’

34a. Catherine's attitue in the first 35 lines? 

Selfish (36), vindictive (27), self-pitying (14 & 20-23), capricious (11). (capricious = grillig) 

34b. Is this behaviour different to that in excerpts 2 and 3? 

Not really. In these excerpts, Nelly describes her as selfish and capricious.

35. What is striking in lines 40-44? 

Change of tone. Catherine even goes so far as to ask Heathcliff to forgive her.

36. a. Which word is very bitterly repeated by Heathcliff? 

Degradation (line 81) as opposed to ‘it would degrade me…..’ (Excerpt 3, line 115).

36b. How did Catherine break his heart? 

By acting the way she did, she ultimately broke her own heart. And this in turn broke his heart.

Wuthering Heights

Excerpt 5

page 17

Assignments page 20 - Excerpt 5

37. Possible title:  Heathcliff’s death.

38a. Heathcliff's frame of mind: Restless, agitated, wounded, walking to and fro.

38b. What is the reason for this according to Nelly Dean? A lack of food and rest.

39. Nelly's advice and Heathcliff's response? To call the vicar as soon as possible, in order to save his soul if at all possible. He ignores her advice (line 49: godless indifference).

40. Who is Heathcliff referring to in line 61: "There is one ... "? Catherine (who is now dead), his one true love.

41. Heathcliff's demise: He spends the day locked up in his room, denying everyone access, including the doctor. Nelly Dean finds his body the next day, lying by the open window, soaked wet with rain.

42. Hareton Earnshaw's reaction: Much to Nelly’s amazement, Hareton was very sad and emotional. He looked on lovingly, as Heathcliff was buried in accordance with his last wishes.

Wuthering Heights

assignments page 20

Assignments page 20

1. In what regard is Wuthering Heights a Gothic novel?

ghostly apparitions, the desolate location of the farm on the sprawling moors and the strong influence of the weather (gales and rain).

The ghosts are symbolic of the past within the present.

2.  Why a conflict between nature and culture forms a backbone of this novel. 

 Wuthering Heights symbolises the wildness of the landscape: infinite, hilly, marshy and dangerous. Nature is closely associated with the Earnshaw family.

Thrushcross Grange is symbolic of culture. The Linton family has a great sense of civilisation, refinement, good manners and politeness. However, its characters are also weak, foolish and even despicable. In stark contrast to the rugged moors, their house is surrounded by a well-kempt garden.

Assignments page 20

3a What is the benefit of using 2 narrators?

The story is told from different perspectives. This also makes it seem more authentic.

3b In what respect do Mr Lockwood's and Nelly Dean's roles differ?

Lockwood listens, enquires and recounts; Nelly Dean not only tells, but is also often

actively involved in the story. Lockwood’s part of the story both commences and

concludes in the present; Nelly Dean recounts events in the past, while also updating

Lockwood by providing information.

Furthermore, Lockwood is a city dweller, an outsider in search of peace and tranquillity, whereas Nelly Dean comes from the area and has a vested interest in events that take place there. She served both Catherines.

Assignments page 20

4.  Why is the passionate love between Catherine and Heathcliff  the novel's central point? 

This love lasts longer than any other emotion. However, it is also the cause of all conflicts

5a. The novel actually compromises two parts, each with its own love story. 

Part 1:  Heathcliff and Catherine, part 2: Hareton and Cathy.

5b What are the differences between the two love stories?

The degree of passion  

They end differently (unhappily in the first case and happily in the latter).

There are also differences in terms of development and progress (the first generation achieves no progress, while Hareton and Cathy certainly develop). Hareton changes from a harsh and cruel boy into a sincere man, while Cathy goes from loathing Hareton to loving him.

Assignments page 20

6a Edgar Linton 

We should actually sympathise with Edgar: he is incapable of dealing with the force of the emotions he witnesses. While he is a sympathetic, kind and civilised person, he is also cowardly. He is highly rational and therefore cannot comprehend Catherine’s passion in the slightest.

b. Is Catherine actually in love with him?

Not really, in the traditional sense. She hopes to become the district’s most prominent lady simply by marrying Edgar.

7. Why did Heathcliff and Catherine not commit adultery? 

The family was the cornerstone of society during the Victorian Era. If Heathcliff and Catherine had had a ‘fling’, then the author would have antagonised the majority of readers, and the book would not have been accepted

Assignments page 20

8. Why did Isabella and Heathcliff marry? 

Heathcliff married Isabella to take vengeance on Catherine.

Isabella is still in love with Heathcliff at this stage and she wants to annoy her family. 

9. Why is Heatcliff a difficult character for the reader to define?

Because malicious deeds can easily be blamed on unrequited love. Furthermore, readers expect him to possess some hidden virtue, as is often the case with romantic heroes. However, Heathcliff has no such virtues.

10. Which two mysteries surrounding Heathcliff does the novel fail to resolve?

• his background as an abandoned child.
• his three-year absence + education
• his accumulated wealth 

Assignments page 20

11. Where was Catherine buried? Why remarkable?

Catherine was buried in a pleasant spot on the Yorkshire Moors, where she loved to stroll while still alive. This is remarkable, given that both the Lintons and the Earnshaws had their own family tombs in the parish church.

12. In which era is the entire story set?

During the latter half of the 18th century. It concludes following the death of Heathcliff (April 1802)

13. Are there any humorous passages in the novel?

At the beginning, when Mr Lockwood mistakenly refers to Cathy as Mrs Heathcliff; and at the

end, when the elderly servant, Joseph, jokes about Heathcliff’s demise.

Assignments page 20

14. In what regard does the rising action differ from that of a standard novel?

Firstly, it involves two love stories and two generations, which implies that there are also two episodes of rising action, each of which concludes in a climax.

And secondly, it is rather extraordinary that the novel practically begins at the end. From the moment the story begins, the events described are almost all in the past.

15. What is the cause of Catherine's death?

In the first case, childbirth. In the second, the combined effects of a broken heart, a lung disease and too little food.

Wuthering Heights

Extra materials

moors?

heide 

Who didn't have a relationship in this book?

1. Cathy/Linton
2. Catherine/Edgar
3. Earnshaw/Isabella
4. Cathy/Hareton

How did Heathcliff take revenge on Edgar?

1. By setting his horses free
2. By sabotaging his marriage with Catherine
3. By stealing Wuthering Heights
4. By marrying Isabella

Who did NOT die in this story?

1. Lockwood
2. Mister Earnshaw
3. Catherine
4. Linton