Wuthering Heights
By: Emily Brontë
Reading, Analysis, Vocabulary, and
Study Materials
Honors English I

For Your Information: The entire text of Wuthering Heights can be found online at:
http://www.literature.org/authors/bronte-emily/wuthering-heights/

For a free chapter by chapter audio version of the novel on iTunes:
o Go to the “iTunes Store”
o Search Title: Wuthering Heights Artist: University of South Florida
Wuthering Heights- List of Assignments
 Take notes with each reading assignment (Post-its or notebook).
 Come prepared with questions and comments to add to
discussion.
 Be prepared for announced and unannounced reading quizzes.
For each chapter you read, use the novel’s context clues to help you define vocabulary words
(including part of speech).
#1- Read chapter 1
#2- Read chapter 2-3
#3- Read chapters 4-5
#4- Read chapters 6-7
#5- Read chapters 8-9
#6- Read chapters 10-11
 BE PREPARED FOR VOCABULARY QUIZ #1- CHAPTERS 1-9!
#7- Read chapters 12-13
#8- Read chapters 14-15
 BE PREPARED FOR VOCABULARY QUIZ #2- CHAPTERS 10-13!
#9- Read chapters 16-17
#10- Read chapters 18-20
#11- Read chapters 21-22
#12- Read chapters 23-25
 BE PREPARED FOR VOCABULARY QUIZ #3- CHAPTERS 13-21!
#13- Read chapters 26-28
#14- Read chapters 29-31
#15- Read chapters 32-33
#16- Read chapter 34
#17- Bring completed characters list, themes list, symbolism tracking chart, and literary style charts to class.
 BE PREPARED FOR VOCABULARY QUIZ #4- CHAPTERS 22-34!
#18- Literary Criticism Writing Assignment due (see handout for information and directions)
#19- Study for test:
 Characters- roles, quotes, interrelation with plot events
o Characterization- dynamic vs. static, round vs. flat, protagonist vs. antagonist
 The family tree
 Plot events
 Use of narrators and the impact of narration on the story
 Themes, Symbols, and Metaphors
o Representations / examples of themes in the story
o Symbolic associations to setting
o Metaphors (repeated through generations)
o Important quotes associated with themes, symbols, and metaphors
 Framework story and introductory notes
 Introductory Emily Bronte information and research
 Bring your book with Post-it notes or other notes
#20- Analytical Research Paper- source/ evidence cards, thesis, and works cited due
#21- Analytical Research Paper- outline and works cited due
#22- Analytical Research Paper- rough draft and works cited due
#23- Analytical Research Paper- finished product- DUE
Wuthering Heights Vocabulary Study
Word
Chapter 1
Misanthropist
Page
Num.
9
“A perfect misanthropist's Heaven -- and Mr.
Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the
desolation between us.”
Soliloquised
(Soliloquized)
10, 33
" ‘The Lord help us!’ he soliloquised in an undertone
of peevish displeasure, while relieving me of my
horse…”
Penetralium (sing.)
Penetralia (pl.)
10
“…I had no desire to aggravate his impatience,
previous to inspecting the penetralium.”
Sundry
11
“Above the chimney were sundry villainous old guns,
and a couple of horse-pistols, and, by way of
ornament, three gaudily painted canisters disposed
along its ledge.”
Physiognomy
12
“…I unfortunately indulged in winking and making
faces at the trio, and some turn of my physiognomy so
irritated madam, that she suddenly broke into a fury,
and leapt on my knees.”
Laconic
14
“He -- probably swayed by prudential considerations
of the folly of offending a good tenant -- relaxed, a
little, in the laconic style of chipping off his
pronouns…”
Chapter 2
Churlish
15
"… ‘you deserve perpetual isolation from your
species for your churlish inhospitality.”
Sagacity
18
" ‘Oh, indeed! Well then, I must trust to my own
sagacity.’"
Taciturn
18
“They could not every day sit so grim and taciturn…”
Guffaw
23
“…two hairy monsters flew at my throat, bearing me
down, and extinguishing the light, while a mingled
guffaw, from Heathcliff and Hareton, put the
copestone on my rage and humiliation.”
Chapter 3
Vapid
24
“In vapid listlessness I leant my head against the
window, and continued spelling over Catherine
Earnshaw…”
Asseverated
"Joseph asseverated, 'owd Nick' would fetch us as
sure as we were living; and, so comforted, we each
sought a separate nook to await his advent.”
26
Context
Definition
Part of Dictionary Definition
Speech
Word
Lachrymose
Page
Num.
27
“I suppose Catherine fulfilled her project, for the next
sentence took up another subject; she waxed
lachrymose.”
Garret
34
"All day had been flooding with rain; we could not go
garret…”
Orison
34
“…Hareton Earnshaw was performing his orisons,
sotto voce , in a series of curses directed against
every object he touched, while he rummaged a
corner, for a spade or shovel to dig through the
drifts.”
Sotto voce
34
“…Hareton Earnshaw was performing his orisons,
sotto voce , in a series of curses directed against
every object he touched, while he rummaged a
corner, for a spade or shovel to dig through the
drifts.”
Chapters 4-5
Vindictive
44
“He complained so seldom, indeed, of such stirs as
these, that I really thought him not vindictive -- I was
deceived, completely, as you will hear.”
Curate
45
“At last, our curate, (we had a curate then who made
the living answer by teaching the little Lintons and
Earnshaws, and farming his bit of land himself,) he
advised that the young man should be sent to
college…”
Reprobate
45
“He encouraged him to regard Hindley as a
reprobate; and, night after night, he regularly
grumbled out a long string of tales against Heathcliff
and Catherine; always minding to flatter Earnshaw's
weakness by heaping the heaviest blame on the last.”
Chide(d)
46
“The greatest punishment we could invent for her
was to keep her separate from him: yet, she got
chided more than any of us…”
Reproof(s)
46
“His peevish reproofs wakened in her a naughty
delight to provoke him…”
Chapter 6
Cant
51
" ‘Don't you cant, Nelly,’ he said…”
Vociferate(d)
“I did, though, I vociferated curses enough to
annihilate any fiend in Christendom, and I got a stone
and thrust it between his jaws, and tried with all my
might to cram it down his throat.”
52
Context
Definition
Part of Dictionary Definition
Speech
Word
Culpable
Page
Num.
53
“ ‘ “What culpable carelessness in her brother!”
exclaimed Mr. Linton, turning from me to
Catherine.’”
Chapters 7-8
Dour
58
“He managed to continue work till nine o'clock, and,
then, marched dumb and dour, to his chamber.”
Prognosticate
64
“ ‘I prognosticate for myself an obstinate cold, at
least.’ "
Askance
74
“The soft thing looked askance through the window -he possessed the power to depart, as much as a cat
possesses the power to leave a mouse half killed, or a
bird half eaten.”
Chapter 9
Vagaries
76
“He held the knife in his hand, and pushed its point
between my teeth: but, for my part I was never much
afraid of his vagaries.”
Perdition
78
" ‘Not I! On the contrary, I shall have great
pleasure in sending it to perdition, to punish its
maker,’ exclaimed the blasphemer, ‘Here's to its
hearty damnation!’ "
Sententiously
79
" ‘There are many things to be considered, before
that question can be answered properly,’ I said
sententiously…”
Expostulations
86
“…heedless of my expostulations, and the growling
thunder, and the great drops that began to plash
around her, she remained calling, at intervals, and
then listening, and then crying outright.”
Convalescent
89
“…when Catherine was convalescent, she insisted on
conveying her to Thrushcross Grange; for which
deliverance we were very grateful.”
Caprices
90
“He was rather too indulgent in humouring her
caprices.”
Munificent
90
“The former offered me munificent wages.”
*End of test 1
Chapter 10
Dilatory
91
“Oh, these bleak winds, and bitter, northern skies,
and impassable roads, and dilatory country
surgeons!”
Phalanx
“ ‘Keep your fingers from that bitter phalanx of
vials.’ ”
92
Context
Definition
Part of Dictionary Definition
Speech
Word
Droll
Page
Num.
96
“Mrs. Linton eyed him with a droll expression -- half
angry, half laughing at his fastidiousness.”
Fastidiousness
96
“Mrs. Linton eyed him with a droll expression -- half
angry, half laughing at his fastidiousness.”
Degradation
“His countenance was much older in expression, and
decision of feature than Mr. Linton's; it looked
intelligent, and retained no marks of former
degradation.”
Presentiment
96,
101
98
“I mused -- I had a presentiment, in the bottom of my
heart, that he had better have remained away.”
Abjured
100
“…Mr. Linton had not only abjured his peevishness
(though his spirits seemed still subdued by
Catherine's exuberance of vivacity) but he ventured
no objection to her taking Isabella with her to
Wuthering Heights, in the afternoon…”
Reciprocation
101
“He would have recoiled still more had he been
aware that her attachment rose unsolicited, and was
bestowed where it awakened no reciprocation of
sentiment…”
Peremptorily
“Mrs. Linton peremptorily insisted that she should
get to-bed; and, having scolded her heartily,
threatened to send for the doctor.”
Impertinent
102,
118
102
" ‘You are an impertinent little monkey!’ exclaimed
Mrs. Linton, in surprise.”
Emphatically
103
" ‘I wouldn't be you for a kingdom, then!’ Catherine
declared, emphatically -- and she seemed to speak
sincerely.”
Mawkish
107
“ ‘You'd hear of odd things, if I lived alone with that
mawkish, waxen face; the most ordinary would be
painting on its white the colours of the rainbow, and
turning the blue eyes, black, every day or two; they
detestably resemble Linton's.’ "
Chapter 11
Propitiate
109
“Fit to cry, I took an orange from my pocket, and
offered it to propitiate him.”
Impudence
111
“There was another rapid glance at the house, and
supposing himself unseen, the scoundrel had the
impudence to embrace her.”
Presumptuous
“…Catherine angrily insisted on silence, and
threatened to order me out of the kitchen, if I dared to
be so presumptuous as to put in my insolent tongue.”
111
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Insolent
Page
Num.
111
“…Catherine angrily insisted on silence, and
threatened to order me out of the kitchen, if I dared to
be so presumptuous as to put in my insolent tongue.”
Approbation
112
" ‘He might spare himself the trouble,’ said
Heathcliff, ‘I could do as well without his
approbation…’ ”
Intractable
113
“The spirit which served her was growing
intractable: she could neither lay nor control it.”
Ignominious
114
“ ‘Three minutes' delay will render it involuntary and
ignominious.’ "
Derision
114
“Heathcliff measured the height and breadth of the
speaker with an eye full of derision.”
Stolidity
117
“The stolidity with which I received these instructions
was, no doubt, rather exasperating.”
Compunction
118
“Mr. Linton stood looking at her in sudden
compunction and fear.”
Chapter 12
Lethargy
120
" ‘Has he fallen into a lethargy, or is he dead?’ "
Countenance
“Trembling and bewildered, she held me fast, but the
horror gradually passed from her countenance; its
paleness gave place to a glow of shame.”
Paroxysm
123,
130
124
“ ‘I swept it along the carpet, and then, memory burst
in -- my late anguish was swallowed in a paroxysm of
despair -- I cannot say why I felt so wildly wretched -it must have been temporary derangement for there is
scarcely cause…’ ”
Haggardness
126
“He was silent; the haggardness of Mrs. Linton's
appearance smote him speechless, and he could only
glance from her to me in horrified astonishment.”
Smote
126
“He was silent; the haggardness of Mrs. Linton's
appearance smote him speechless, and he could only
glance from her to me in horrified astonishment.”
Chapter 13
Recompense
132
“…though Kenneth remarked that what he saved
from the grave would only recompense his care by
forming the source of constant future anxiety…”
Sanguine
“…hour after hour, he would sit beside her, tracing
the gradual return to bodily health, and flattering his
too sanguine hopes with the illusion that her mind
would settle back to its right balance also, and she
would soon be entirely her former self.”
132
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Despondency
Page
Num.
133
“We knew she was really better, and therefore,
decided that long confinement to a single place
produced much of this despondency, and it might be
partially removed by a change of scene.”
Obviate
133
“To obviate the fatigue of mounting and descending
the stairs, we fitted up this, where you lie at
present…”
Vouchsafed
137
“Mr. Earnshaw vouchsafed no answer.”
*End of test 2
Chapter 13 (continued)
Glowered
140
“…meanwhile, the infant ruffian continued sucking;
and glowered up at me defyingly, as he slavered into
the jug.”
Adjuration
141
“He made no reply to this adjuration.”
Festoons
141
“But they had evidently experienced rough usage, the
vallances hung in festoons, wrenched from their
rings.”
Proxy
143
“He told me of Catherine's illness, and accused my
brother of causing it; promising that I should be
Edgar's proxy in suffering, till he could get a hold of
him.”
Chapter 14
Ardent
143
“As soon as I had perused this epistle, I went to the
master, and informed him that his sister had arrived
at the Heights, and sent me a letter expressing her
sorrow for Mrs. Linton's situation, and her ardent
desire to see him.”
Wan
144
“Her pretty face was wan and listless.”
Importuned
145
“She wouldn't understand the hint, but followed me to
a sideboard, where I went to lay my bonnet, and
importuned me in a whisper to give her directly what
I had brought.”
Alacrity
147
" ‘He turns you adrift on the world with surprising
alacrity.’ "
Iteration
151
“…I tried to smooth away all disquietude on the
subject, by affirming, with frequent iteration, that,
that betrayal of trust, if it merited so harsh an
appellation, should be the last.”
Dree
“But here is Kenneth -- I'll go down, and tell him how
my history is dree, as we say, and will serve to wile
away another morning.”
152
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Chapter 15
Petulantly
Page
Num.
153
“At other times, she would turn petulantly away, and
hide her face in her hands, or even push him off
angrily.”
Chapter 16
Heterodox
162
“I declined answering Mrs. Dean's question, which
struck me as something heterodox.”
Decease
164
“Mrs. Linton's funeral was appointed to take place on
the Friday following her decease.”
Repose
164
“…Heathcliff spent his nights, at least, outside,
equally a stranger to repose.”
Chapter 17
Stanchions
172
“The stanchions stood too close to suffer his
shoulders to follow; and I smiled, exulting in my
fancied security.”
Preter-human
173
“ ‘He exerted preter-human self-denial in abstaining
from finishing him, completely.’ ”
Basilisk
175
“…his basilisk eyes were nearly quenched by
sleeplessness…”
Inveterate
182
“In that manner, Hareton, who should now be the
first gentleman in the neighbourhood, was reduced to
a state of complete dependence on his father's
inveterate enemy.”
Chapter 18
Lamentations
190
“Pausing in her lamentations, she surveyed him with
a glance of awe…”
Chapter 19
Effeminate
193
“A pale, delicate, effeminate boy, who might have
been taken for my master's younger brother, so strong
was the resemblance, but there was a sickly
peevishness in his aspect, that Edgar Linton never
had.”
Incipient
194
“…he put his fingers to his eyes to remove incipient
tears.”
Trepidation
195
" ‘I shall ask him what he wants first,’ I said, in
considerable trepidation.”
Chapter 20
Languid
“Not a morsel, I thought: surveying with regret the
white complexion, and slim frame of my companion,
and his large languid eyes...”
199
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Vestige
Page
Num.
199
“…surveying with regret the white complexion, and
slim frame of my companion, and his large languid
eyes... his mother's eyes save that, unless a morbid
touchiness kindled them, a moment, they had not a
vestige of her sparkling spirit.”
Ague
200
“Heathcliff having stared his son into an ague of
confusion, uttered…”
Filial
201
" ‘No? What a shame of your mother, never to waken
your filial regard for me!’ ”
Chapter 21
Salubrious
208
“His features were pretty yet, and his eye and
complexion brighter lustre borrowed from the
salubrious air and genial sun.”
Mitigated
208
“Linton's looks and movements were very languid,
and his form extremely slight; but there was a grace
in his manner that mitigated these defects, and
rendered him not unpleasing.”
Paltry
209
“ ‘I'll pit him against that paltry creature, unless it
bestir itself briskly.’ ”
Bathos
211
“And he'll never be able to emerge from his bathos of
coarseness, and ignorance.”
Chagrin
213
“Next day it all came out, sadly to my chagrin.”
Copious
217
“Gradually however they expanded into copious love
letters, foolish as the age of the writer rendered
natural, yet with touches, here and there, which I
thought, were borrowed from a more experienced
source.”
Epistle
217
“…but I succeeded in abstracting the epistle…”
Supplicated
219
“She earnestly supplicated that I would spare her one
or two.”
*End of test 3
Chapter 22
Diurnal
“I esteemed it a duty to supply its lack, as much as
possible, with mine; an inefficient substitute, for I
could only spare two or three hours, from my
numerous diurnal occupations, to follow her
footsteps, and then, my society was obviously less
desirable than his.”
220
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Blanched
Page
Num.
221
" ‘No,’ she repeated, and continued sauntering on,
pausing, at intervals, to muse over a bit of moss, or a
tuft of blanched grass, or a fungus spreading its
bright orange among the heaps of brown foliage;
and, ever and anon, her hand was lifted to her
averted face.”
Bugbear
224
“ ‘And invent bugbear stories to terrify her from my
door-stones?’ ”
Credulity
226
“What use were anger and protestations against her
silly credulity?”
Chapter 23
Conjectured
233
“ ‘Happily, as Mr. Heathcliff conjectured, he'll not
win twenty!’ ”
Chapter 24
Interdict
244
“In vain she wept and writhed against the interdict.”
Chapter 25
Intimated
247
“…so, instead of penning his peculiar personal
sufferings, and distresses, the themes constantly
uppermost in his thoughts, he harped on the cruel
obligation of being held asunder from his friend and
love; and gently intimated that Mr. Linton must allow
an interview soon, or he should fear he was purposely
deceiving him with empty promises.”
Chapter 26
Pettishness
249
“The pettishness that might be caressed into
fondness…”
Solace
250
“…Cathy began to seek solace in looking for
bilberries…”
Chapter 27
Fain
252
“Catherine, we would fain have deluded, yet, but her
own quick spirit refused to delude her.”
Affectations
255
“ ‘I desire an explanation -- playing and trifling are
completely banished out of my mind: and I can't
dance attendance on your affectations, now!’ "
Attenuated
255
“ ‘But my father threatened me,’ gasped the boy,
clasping his attenuated fingers, ‘and I dread him -- I
dread him! I dare not tell!’ ”
Magnanimity
255
“Her magnanimity provoked his tears.”
Conceit
“ ‘I've a very good mind to shake you severely, for
your contemptible treachery, and your imbecile
conceit.’ "
260
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Chapter 28
Notwithstanding
Page
Num.
271
“Her accomplice suffered for his share in the escape,
notwithstanding his timid contrivances.”
Chapter 29
Musing
271
“Now musing mournfully, one of us despairingly, on
our loss; now venturing conjectures as to the gloomy
future.”
Chapter 30
Evinced
277
“Catherine evinced a child's annoyance at this
neglect.”
Chapter 31
Adroitly
284
“…and, as I fancied, adroitly dropped Mrs. Dean's
note onto her knee, unnoticed by Hareton -- but she
asked aloud…”
Emulous
286
" ‘He is not envious but emulous of your attainments
-- He'll be a clever scholar in a few years!’ "
Conflagration
287
“ ‘Yes, that’s all the good that such a brute as you
can get from them!’ cried Catherine, sucking her
damaged lip, and watching the conflagration with
indignant eyes.”
Saturnine
288
“With Mr. Heathcliff, grim and saturnine, on the one
hand, and Hareton absolutely dumb, on the other, I
made a somewhat cheerless meal…”
Chapter 32
Malappropriated
290
“She seemed willing to do her best; though she thrust
the hearth-brush into the grates in mistake for the
poker, and malappropriated several other articles of
her craft…”
Obstinate
296
“When Hareton was there, she generally paused in
an interesting part, and left the book lying about -that she did repeatedly; but he was as obstinate as a
mule…”
Automatons
296
“…they sat like automatons, one on each side of the
fire…”
Chapter 33
Impracticable
300
“…speedily found it would be impracticable to retain
my charge beside me, as heretofore.”
Discretion
301
“…to-day, she stole nearer to Hareton, and I
presently saw she would have no more discretion in
her friendship, than she had in her hostility.”
Waxing
“Catherine was waxing cross at this.”
304
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Word
Antipathy
Page
Num.
305
“She showed a good heart, thenceforth, in avoiding
both complaints and expressions of antipathy
concerning Heathcliff.”
Chapter 34
Misgivings
315
“It was too irksome to lie up there, harassing my
brain with a hundred idle misgivings.”
Levity
“ ‘I believe the dead are at peace, but it is not right to
speak of them with levity.’ ”
320
Context
Definition
Part of
Speech
Dictionary Definition
Tracking Characterization throughout the Novel
Character
Heathcliff
Mr. Lockwood
Joseph
Hareton Earnshaw
Cathy Linton
Heathcliff
Ellen “Nelly” Dean
Zillah
Catherine Earnshaw
Edgar Linton
Isabella Linton
Hindley Earnshaw
Frances Earnshaw
Description
Traits / Personality
Evidence / Quotes /
Support from Novel
Possible Themes within Wuthering Heights:
(This is not an exhaustive list.) Provide
an explanation of how the theme operates within the novel. Use complete sentences and specific
examples / quotes to support your conclusions.
THEME
Make sure to interpret your quotes.
THEME
THEME
1. The conflict between good and evil
2. The nature of love
3. The darkness of the human soul
4. Civility (rationality) versus passion
5. The clash between different social classes
6. The search for a higher emotional existence
7. The patriarchal family (family hierarchy) and the role of children
8. The effects of intense suffering and emotional pain
9. Confinement and escape from circumstances
10. Displacement and exile
11. Communication and understanding
Now list and support your own themes from the story:
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
**To see how these themes (and others) relate directly to Wuthering Heights, visit the excellent
Internet site from which some of this information was derived:
http://academic.brooklyn.cuny.edu/english/melani/novel_19c/wuthering/themes.html
Tracking Symbolism throughout the Novel
Directions: Complete the chart for Wuthering Heights. An example is provided for you.
SYMBOL
CHAPTER #
ACTION /
CONTEXT
WITHIN
NOVEL
QUOTATION AND
PARENTHETICAL
CITATION
INTERPRETATION /
EXPLANATION OF
MEANING
II
Lockwood
arrives at
Wuthering
Heights a
second time.
“…on that
bleak hill-top
the earth was
hard with a
black frost…”
The bleak nature of the
landscape mirrors the
harshness of its
inhabitants.
BOOKS
KEYS /
LOCKS
DOORS /
WINDOWS
NATURE
GHOSTS
PROPERTY
Tracking Historical Literary Style and Authorial Motivation
throughout the Novel
Gothic Elements in Wuthering Heights:
Gothic Element /
Characteristic
Quote and Parenthetical Citation
Interpretation / Explanation
Romantic Elements in Wuthering Heights:
Romantic Element /
Characteristic
Quote and Parenthetical Citation
Interpretation / Explanation
Authorial Motivation- Connections / Similarities to Emily Brontë’s Life:
Connection / Similarity
to Emily Brontë’s life
Quote and Parenthetical Citation
Interpretation / Explanation