Wuthering Heights
by Emily BrontëAnswers to Study Guide Part 1 - a Penny Culliton production
Chapters: 1-3 4-6 7 8 9-10 11-13 14-15 16-18
1. Who is Lockwood?
Heathcliff's new tenant; he's renting a house a few miles away that Heathcliff owns: Thurshcross Grange.
2. Describe the atmosphere at Wuthering Heights.
Very ancient, crude, wild, inhospitable, dark, unfriendly; guns all around; mean dogs and mean people.
3. Describe Heathcliff.
Morose, sullen, snarling; dark-skinned; arrogant; apparently heartless.
4. Whom does Lockwood go to visit in Ch. 2? What people does he meet on this visit?
He goes to Wuthering Heights again; he sees Heathcliff again and also makes the acquaintance (sort of) of Catherine and Hareton.
5. What does Heathcliff reply when Lockwood asks if the sullen woman is his wife?
That his wife is dead; he refers to her as possibly being a "ministering angel."
6. What happens as Lockwood attempts to leave the Heights?
It is snowing; no one will guide him back to Thrushcross Grange; he tries to take a lantern and Joseph sends the dogs after him!
7. To which room does Zillah take Lockwood in Ch. 3?
Catherine (Cathy) Earnshaw Linton's old room, which she occupied as a child and young woman.
8. What names are carved into the window ledge? Can you tell what the "purpose" of this might have been?
Catherine Earnshaw (the name she was born with); Catherine Heathcliff (she hoped to marry Heathcliff); Catherine Linton (she DID marry Edgar Linton eventually). She was a young girl trying out the last names of guys she was interested in.
9. What things are written in the book margins? By whom?
Cathy wrote about her relationship with Heathcliff, her childhood, and of how her brother Hindley mistreated Heathcliff and of how mean Joseph was to them.
10. Describe Lockwood's first dream.
He is about to be excommunicated. Joseph takes him to the local church where he is forced to listen to a sermon that goes on for hours. Finally the congregation gets into some sort of brawl.
11. Describe his second dream.
The ghost of Catherine "Linton" comes to the window, asking to be let in because she's been lost on the moor for 20 years!
12. When Heathcliff hears Lockwood's scream and comes to the room, what is his reaction to Lockwood's description of the second dream? What does he do at the open window?
He is furious that Lockwood would speak of Cathy to him; then he ignores Lockwood, throws open the window, and calls out for Cathy to come back to him once more, addressing her as "my heart's darling."
13. What does Lockwood think of Heathcliff's behavior? Does Heathcliff's behavior make sense to the reader? Explain.
Lockwood feels bad because he seems to have brought this all on with his dream - but, he says, "why, was beyond my comprehension." The reader can plainly see that Heathcliff and Cathy were in love. Lockwood is too run-of-the-mill to understand such passion.
1. Who is now the narrator of the main story?
Nelly, the housekeeper at the Grange (she used to work at the Heights, has worked for the family since she was a kid; she's about Hindley's age).
2. How has Heathcliff treated Hareton? Why?
Heathcliff has cheated him out of his proper place as master of Wuthering Heights, in order to get revenge on Hindley (Hareton's late father), who treated Heathcliff so badly (as seen in Cathy's old "diary" entry.
3. Summarize how Heathcliff got to Wuthering Heights in the first place and what others thought of this.
Old Mr. Earnshaw was on a trip to Liverpool (a seacoast city in the north of England). There, he found Heathcliff half-starved, wandering the streets. He felt sorry for him, picked him up, and took him home to Yorkshire. He arrived at Wuthering Heights with him, and everyone else resented him because they felt displaced, and/or inconvenienced. Also, Heathcliff is thought to be a Gypsy, which means he is part of an ethnic minority that is often the victim of discrimination. So, he looks different and is of a different social class.
4. Which person continued to hate Heathcliff? Why? Did Heathcliff deserve this, do you think?
Hindley continued to hate him; Heathcliff didn't deserve this because he couldn't help it if Mr. Earnshaw was fond of him or that Hindley resented this because Hindley was jealous.
5. How did Heathcliff keep Hindley from triumphing completely before Mr. Earnshaw died?
He said he'd snitch on Hindley and tell Mr. Earnshaw how Hindley beat him up and threatened to throw him out of the house once his father died.
6. Why did people begin to pamper Heathcliff?
To humor Mr. Earnshaw, who was very ill and dying.
7. Where is Hindley eventually sent?
To college, when he's 18.
8. Describe the character of Cathy Earnshaw.
She tried everyone's patience and was very high-spirited.
What is "the worst punishment" anyone could inflict upon her?
To separate her from Heathcliff.
9. Describe the relationship of Cathy and Heathcliff as it is portrayed in Ch. 5.
They are great companions and comfort each other when Mr. Earnshaw dies. They are about 11-13 years old at this time.
10. Whom does Hindley bring home with him in Ch. 6?
A wife - Frances, who seems to have tuberculosis.
11. Is Nelly Dean a reliable narrator? Should we take what she says at face
value? EXPLAIN!
No. She colors everything with her opinion. She is poorly educated (being a servant) and thus prejudiced/narrow-minded. She also has poor judgment; she says Frances seemed very healthy but then says she had a bad cough!
12. What is Heathcliff's place in the household after Hindley's return? Why?
Hindley turns him into a farm-hand, partly because Frances doesn't like him, but also because he's always hated Heathcliff and this is exactly the sort of thing he always threatened to do.
13. How does Cathy happen to come in contact with Thrushcross Grange?
She and Heathcliff went there to spy on the Lintons, a wealthy and important neighboring family. Edgar and Isabella, the two children who are about Cathy's and Heathcliff's own age, are seen fighting over a lap dog. They look like ridiculous little brats. Well, they hear a noise, tell their parents, and the Lintons end up setting their dogs on the "intruders." Cathy is bitten badly by one of the dogs.
14. What is the difference between the Lintons and the Earnshaws?
The Lintons are much wealthier than the Earnshaws; Mr. Linton has a big estate with tenant farmers; he hold elected office as a magistrate.
15. Why didn't Heathcliff stay with Cathy at the Grange?
They let Cathy stay to recover, but not Heathcliff because of his dark skin, his position as "servant" now in the Wuthering Heights household, and because he swears and looks dirty and disheveled.
16. What is Heathcliff now forbidden to do?
Speak to Cathy.
1. How has Cathy changed during her stay with the Lintons?
Frances has been going over to the Grange and making a "lady" out of Cathy. She now has fine clothes and elegant manners.
2. How has Heathcliff changed since Cathy went away? Why has this happened?
He has let his appearance and his demeanor deteriorate. He's slovenly and sullen because he has not been allowed to see Cathy.
3. Under what condition do the Lintons let their children come to Wuthering Heights?
Edgar and Isabella can come over as long as they are not allowed to come in contact with Heathcliff- that "naughty, swearing boy."
4. How does Heathcliff react to Cathy's return? Why?
He is ashamed of his low position and angry because he feels he's being laughed at, made fun of as an "inferior."
5. What advice does Nelly give Heathcliff?
Don't be so proud; you'll only make things worse for yourself. She also tells him he's much more of a man that Edgar Linton could ever be, so he shouldn't go around being so sullen and hateful.
6. What does Heathcliff vow to do after Hindley banishes him from the dinner?
Pay him back some day, no matter how long it takes.
7. What is Heathcliff's and Cathy's relationship like by the end of Ch. 7?
They still care for each other but she's becoming infatuated with Edgar and all his fancy mannerisms and his "conventional" good looks (his money and class don't hurt, either). Heathcliff is becoming more and more bitter.
1. What happens to Frances?
She dies after giving birth to a son, Hareton.
2. In what way is Cathy now leading a "double life" of sorts?
She is all ladylike and proper with the Linton kids and then as wild as ever at home when the upper-class people aren't around to see the "real her." She cannot be with Heathcliff (who knows the real Cathy) and Edgar (who certainly doesn't) at the same time.
3. How old are Cathy and Heathcliff now?
He's 16 and she's 15.
4. What is Heathcliff like now?
He deliberately makes himself look and act repulsive. Since Hindley prevented him from getting an education after his father died, Heathcliff is also ignorant and somewhat coarse. He no longer feels at all superior to anyone (though he will regain his feeling of superiority later in the novel).
5. Describe what happens the day Hindley goes away for the afternoon.
Edgar and Cathy fight after Heathcliff and Cathy do. But Edgar and Cathy also make up.
6. What now is the relationship between Edgar Linton and Cathy Earnshaw?
They confess themselves lovers.
Should the reader view this in a positive or a negative light? Explain.
A negative one, because Cathy obviously belongs with Heathcliff. Edgar is no match for her! Now Heathcliff is left out in the cold.
1. How does Hindley treat his son?
Terribly - even when he hugs Hareton, he's rough.
2. What almost happens to Hareton? Who saves him? Why?
Hindley almost drops Hareton from the top of the stairs. Heathcliff saves him, but only by accident.
3. What does Cathy confide to Nelly?
She is marrying Edgar but really loves Heathcliff.
4. What is your opinion of Cathy at this point?
She is a gold-digger and a snob. She also does NOT understand human nature very well.
5. What reason does Cathy give for marrying Edgar Linton when it is obvious even to her that she belongs with Heathcliff?
Money and social position. Also Edgar is "pretty."
What does Nelly say to all this?
That Cathy is horrible to do this.
6. What happens to Heathcliff in Ch. 9?
He runs off after hearing Cathy say it would degrade her to marry him.
7. What happens to Cathy (where does she go, etc.)? Why?
She waits out in the rain for Heathcliff to return. She gets very sick because of this. Heathcliff doesn't come back.
8. What is the symbolic significance of the coincidence of Cathy's visit to the Lintons and the deaths of the elder Lintons?
She comes from Wuthering Heights and therefore has a malignant, disruptive influence on the inhabitants of Thrushcross Grange. Whenever the two houses/families come in contact with each other, disaster ensues.
9. Why do you suppose Cathy waits three more years before marrying Linton?
She is waiting to see if Heathcliff returns, with better prospects, perhaps.
10. What did Heathcliff do and how did he change during these three years?
He now looks very distinguished. No one knows exactly what he has been doing, but he has money now, and somewhat better manners.
11. What is Linton's attitude towards Heathcliff?
That Heathcliff is a Gypsy and a ploughboy.
12. What had Heathcliff originally planned to do immediately upon his return? Why? Why didn't he do so?
Have one last look at Cathy, then kill Hindley, and then kill himself. Cathy's warm welcome stops him from doing this.
13. Where is Heathcliff staying now? Why do you suppose he is doing this?
He's staying at the Heights, probably to try to ruin Hindley by some method or other.
14. What happens to Isabella?
She falls "in love" with Heathcliff!
15. What does Cathy tell Isabella about Heathcliff? Does this seem odd coming from Catherine? Explain!!
She tells her Heathcliff is NOT a nice guy, and she has no business even thinking about being "in love" with him. He could never love a Linton! Cathy knows Heathcliff better than anyone, and she is of course correct. But she also wants every man's attention to revolve around her.
16. What does Heathcliff ask Cathy about Isabella? What is the significance of this question? (What is Heathcliff planning to do?)
"She's her brother's heir, is she not?" This shows Heathcliff is planning to pretend to love Isabella to get her to marry him and then have control of the property.
17. What do you think of Nelly's appraisal of the situation at the end of Ch. 10?
She says Heathcliff is like an evil beast waiting to spring and destroy. This may be so in a way, but those whom he plans to destroy are the ones who treated him with such contempt when he was thrust out as a servant; in the case of Hindley, the whole thing is Hindley's doing, since he's the one who made Heathcliff into a servant when Mr. Earnshaw died. She they all deserve whatever he plans to give them, in a sense.
1. What is Heathcliff doing to Hareton?
Teaching Hareton to swear - at his "devil Daddy." Heathcliff is winning over Hareton by taking the boy's side when Hindley is cruel to him. Heathcliff doesn't really care for Hareton; he's just doing this to alienate the son from the father, as part of his pan of revenge. He wants to take away ALL that is Hindley's - including any bond with his son.
2. About what do Cathy and Heathcliff argue?
Heathcliff's courting of Isabella.
3. What happens between Heathcliff and Edgar?
Edgar attempts to ban him from the Grange; Cathy prevents Edgar's men from throwing Heathcliff out; Edgar and Heathcliff sort of fight and Heathcliff leaves after breaking the lock (which Cathy threw the key to into the fire.).
4. What does Cathy threaten to do if she can't see Heathcliff?
She will break her own heart - implication is suicide.
5. What choice does Edgar demand Cathy make?
Choose between him and Heathcliff.
6. What is her reaction?
She takes a fit and orders Edgar to leave her alone.
7. What does Edgar tell Isabella?
If she takes up with Heathcliff, he will disown her and she'll be out of the family as far as he's concerned.
8. Cite three misjudgments that Nelly Dean makes in Ch. 11.
Telling Edgar about Cathy and Heathcliff's argument and urging him to put Heathcliff's visits on "another footing"; not telling Edgar anything because she does not understand that although Cathy has stated her intention of making herself sick, this doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with her; telling Edgar there's nothing wrong with Cathy.
9. What does Nelly think of Cathy's illness?
It's all a fake.
10. What does Cathy imagine herself saying to Heathcliff?
"I won't rest till you are with me."
11. On her way to get the doctor, what does Nelly find? Who probably did
this? Why? (What early episode concerned a pet dog?)
Isabella's dog is hanging from a bridle hook. The fight between Edgar and Isabella over the lap dog - this first time we ever see them in the novel. Later in the book, Hareton is described hanging a litter of puppies from the back of a chair.
12. Where has Isabella gone?
She's eloped with Heathcliff.
13. What is Edgar's reaction?
He just says it was her right, and that in doing this she has disowned him, since she was warned of the consequences of a union with Heathcliff.
14. What does Edgar do for Cathy in Ch. 13? Why hadn't he done this when she was first ill?
He nurses her; he didn't do this before because Nelly had kept Cathy's condition a secret from him.
15. What is Cathy's condition now?
She's pregnant but very ill.
16. What do Isabella's letters say?
How awful life at the Heights is, with Joseph, Hindley, Hareton and Heathcliff for "company"!
1. What reason does Nelly give for Linton's staying with Cathy? What does
Heathcliff say to this?
Nelly says it's out of "duty" and "humanity." Heathcliff calls it "pity" and "charity"
2. What request does Heathcliff make of Nelly?
Arrange a secret visit between him and Cathy.
3. What contrasts does Heathcliff make between his feelings for Cathy and Edgar's feelings for her?
He would let Cathy see Edgar if their positions were reversed. And he'd never treat Edgar as Edgar has treated him.
4. What is Nelly's behavior like during this visit?
Foolish-she says Heathcliff shouldn't go to Cathy since she has "forgotten" all about him.
5. How is Heathcliff treating Isabella?
He bullies her, makes fun of her.
6. In your opinion, does Isabella deserve this treatment? Why or why not?
Yes, as a kid, she and Edgar made fun of Heathcliff. Also, she was attracted to him only after he became rich.
7. How is Heathcliff keeping Isabella from leaving him?
In front of Nelly, he gets her to say that she'd like Heathcliff to kill her or she'd like to see him dead. He then declares that, based on these statements, she's insane and he can prove it in court since he has a witness. Then, he would be her guardian and have even more control over her than a husband would normally have.
8. What does Heathcliff tell Nelly will happen if she does not grant his
request?
He will see Cathy anyway, and if Linton happens to be there, they will no doubt fight. So Nelly had better arrange it so Linton ISN'T there when Heathcliff comes over.
9. What does Nelly agree to?
She'll bring a letter to the Grange for Cathy from Heathcliff and will get Cathy to consent to a visits.
10. Describe the visit of Heathcliff to Cathy. How is this behavior both unusual but typical of these two characters?
They are very passionate, both in affection and in quarreling. Most people would act more reserved, but this is the only way these two people know how to express their feelings.
11. How is Nelly behaving? How is this typical of her?
She stays in the room and keeps reminding them that Linton will be returning soon. Obviously, she should have left them alone, but Nelly has to be in on everything.
1. What happens after Cathy gives birth to Catherine?
She dies two hours later.
2. Who will now inherit the estate after Edgar's death?
Isabella; old Mr. Linton willed it to his own daughter, not to his son's daughter, though his son's son would have gotten it.
3. How does Heathcliff react when Nelly comes out to the garden to speak
with him?
He tries to hide his grief but cannot. He is also still mad at Cathy for betraying her heart. Finally, he calls out to Cathy to haunt him, to be with him always. He says he cannot live without his "life" and his "soul."
4. Explain what happens with the locket.
Heathcliff takes out the lock of Edgar's hair that's in it and replaces it with a lock of his own. Nelly sees this and puts Edgar's back but doesn't remove Heathcliff's. She entwines the two locks of hair together and closes the locket.
5. Where is Cathy buried? Why is this appropriate?
Not near the other Lintons, but in a part of the churchyard right near the moors. It's appropriate because she was wild like the moors, and not anything like the Lintons.
6. What does Isabella do in Ch. 17? Why?
She runs away from Heathcliff because she has the opportunity at this point; she's wanted to leave for ages.
7. What did Heathcliff do to Hindley?
He hits, kicks, and cuts him when Hindley attempts to kill him.
8. Describe the scene as Isabella escaped from Wuthering Heights. How do Hareton's actions at the time recall a past incident? Who taught him to do this, do you suppose?
The scene is chaos. First Isabella tells Heathcliff that if he's married Cathy, he'd have been just as cruel to Cathy. A brawl ensues, including a scene in which Heathcliff throws a knife at Isabella. As she escapes, she sees Hareton hanging puppies from the back of a chair. No doubt Heathcliff taught him to do this; it's what he did t Isabella's dog the night they "eloped." It also may recall the lapdog incident spied by Cathy and Heathcliff the first time they ever went to TG.
9. Who is Linton Heathcliff?
Isabella's son by Heathcliff.
10. What happens to Edgar? To Hindley?
Edgar becomes a virtual hermit and Hindley drinks himself to death.
11. Why doesn't Edgar lay claim to his nephew, Hareton, now?
Heathcliff says if Edgar tries, Heathcliff will just bring in Linton to take Hareton's place. Edgar figures since Hareton is toughened up already by enduring life at WH, he might as well stay there; it would be much worse for Linton Heathcliff to be there!
12. What does Heathcliff intend to do with Hareton?
Make him like Hindley made Heathcliff: rough, uneducated, and bitter. Hareton also has nothing because his father, Hindley, mortgaged it all to Heathcliff through gambling.
13. What is young Catherine like?
Beautiful and sweet, but sometimes willful. She's compassionate, though.
14. What happens to Isabella?
She dies when her son is around 12 and a half or 13.
15. Where does Edgar go for three weeks?
To someplace outside of London, to see Isabella before she dies.
16. While he is gone, what experiences does Catherine have?
She goes to the Heights for the first time, and Hareton guides her around.
17. What does the argument between Catherine and Hareton recall?
Hareton (like Heathcliff) has been brought low by Heathcliff, just as Heathcliff was brought low by Hindley years ago. in both scenarios, Cathy (mother and daughter) is something of a snob. Hareton's situation vis-a-vis Cathy is similar to what Heathcliff's was.
18. What information does Catherine give Hareton? Why is this bad? (Why shouldn't people at the Heights know about this?)
That Edgar has gone to London to get her REAL cousin (Linton)- now Heathcliff will try to get his hands on Linton and force a match between him and Cathy; in this way he'll gain the Grange property when Cathy marries his son.
This Wuthering Heights study guide was found at www.englishresources.co.uk