Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte

Dear Year 12,

Over the next 6 weeks we will be studying Wuthering Heights as one of your exam texts. As this is the first novel that we will read together, I wanted to outline some of the themes and important characteristics.

Reading schedule:

   Week 1: Chapters 1 - 5
   Week 2: Chapters 6 - 10
   Week 3: Chapters 11 - 15
   Week 4: Chs 16 - 20

• Write a summary of each chapter that you read so that you can locate aspects of the book;
• Keep notes about each of the main characters, including key quotations;
• Research Emily Bronte and Romanticism so that you have background information about the novel.

• civilisation v savagery
• family relationships
• mankind v nature
• spirituality: freedom beyond the grave
• 'true' love
• superstition and supernatural
• childhood and innocence
• human psychology

The novel has a very complicated time frame because it depends upon flashbacks to tell its story. Watch out for the following:

- the storyline may withhold events and obscure others

- time structure may move backward/forward/stay still

- the narrators may be removed from the events of the story or biassed in their account of events

- there are gaps, emphases and evasions in the narrative - you have to piece together the truth!

Imagery: especially concerning the natural world.

Symbolism: wild/tame, fierce/gentle, dark/fair.

1. How are gender stereotypes enforced and subverted in Wuthering Heights?

2. Monster v Hero. How far is Heathcliff justified in his treatment of other characters?

3. What role does violence play in the Victorian family ideal?

4. Does a character's childhood affect their ability to interact successfully in adult society?

5. Can the reader trust Nelly and Lockwood as narrators?

6. How does Bronte create an effective setting and atmosphere which reflects the characters' psychologies?

Enjoy!