Study Guide
English IV AG/Honors
Jenny Nelson
Name _____________________________________
I.
Narrative Frames and Wuthering Heights Narrators:
Wuthering Heights is a frame story . One part of the frame story involves the
"narrative present" --i. e. the present time frame of Lockwood being the new tenant at
Thrushcross Grange, located in the north of England. The first voice is that of
Lockwood. Lockwood is shocked and intrigued by his visits to Wuthering Heights, the home of his landlord, Heathcliff. Lockwood becomes very ill, and during his recuperation at Thrushcross Grange, he invites his housekeeper Nelly Dean to tell him the full history of the strange inhabitants of Wuthering Heights. Thus, the second and main narrator of Wuthering Heights is introduced: Nelly Dean, a participant in the "history".
She will relate her story to Lockwood, and to us, the readers of Wuthering Heights . Her story, of course, is the "narrative past."
II.
The following questions, presented in blocks of chapters arranged in blocks as the narrators change, will help you understand the novel as you read it. (I suggest that you read one or more chapters, then answer the questions while they are fresh in your mind. You will, of course, have to answer the questions on other paper.)

Chapters 1-3, and part of chapter 4, are narrated by Lockwood in the Narrative
Present. Nelly Dean begins her story in chapter 4 on page 35.
Don't worry too much in the first three chapters about names and relationships. These will become clearer as you read.
1.
Describe Heathcliff from Lockwood's point of view (see especially page 5), but also talk about Heathcliff's manner toward Lockwood.
2.
How is Heathcliff contrasted to "his abode and style of living" (p. 5)?
3.
How does Lockwood become ill?

Chapters 4-7: Narrative Past - narrated by Nelly Dean
1.
What mysteries are there about Heathcliff and his origins?
2.
What possible explanations might there be fore Mr. Earnshaw's favoritism for
Heathcliff?
3.
What attracts Catherine to Heathcliff? Why does Hindley hate him?
4.
In a key scene from chapter 7, Edgar and Isabella Linton visit Wuthering Heights.
Heathcliff tries to be presentable but Hindley banishes him to the garret (attic).
Catherine steals away to join Heathcliff, who vows revenge: "…I shall pay Hindley back."
5.
Contrast Edgar Linton and Heathcliff, particularly as seen through Cathy's eyes.

6.
What happens to Catherine at Thrushcross Grange?
7.
How is Catherine changed after spending five weeks with Edgar and Isabella Linton?

Chapters 7-10: Narrative Past - narrated by Nelly Dean
1.
Why does Cathy slap Nelly and Edgar?
2.
Heathcliff saves Hindley's child Hareton when his father drops him over the bannister. What does the narrator mean when she (Nelly) says that Heathcliff's look
"expressed, plainer than words could do, the intensest anguish at having made himself the instrument of thwarting his own revenge" (p. 74)?
3.
Why does Catherine marry Edgar Linton?
4.
Does Catherine's explanation to Nelly of her different feelings for Linton and
Heathcliff suggest she knows that she is making a mistake in marrying Linton?
5.
Why do you think that the character Joseph, whose dialect is so difficult, is included in the novel? What would be missing if he were left out?

Chapters 10-14: Narrative Past - narrated by Nelly Dean
1.
Describe Cathy's first reaction to Heathcliff's reappearance.
2.
What doubts does she develop about his transformation and intentions?
3.
After Edgar forbids Heathcliff to come again to Thrushcross Grange, how does
Catherine react?
4.
Cathy finally realizes that Nelly has been an enemy rather than a friend. What does she call her?
5.
Why does Heathcliff marry Isabella Linton?
6.
What does Isabella's letter to Nelly reveal about the "new bride's" reaction to
Heathcliff after their marriage?
7.
Describe Heathcliff's relationships with Hindley and Hareton.

Chapter 1: Narrative Present - (briefly--Lockwood's health) narrated by Lockwood

Chapters 1-3: Narrative Past - narrated by Nelly Dean
1.
Describe Catherine's death.
2.
Describe Heathcliff's reaction.
3.
What does Nelly do with the hair of Heathcliff and Edgar?
4.
What is Catherine's daughter's name? At this point, why do you think that Brontë uses so many duplicate names?
5.
Who is not the outright legal master of Wuthering Heights? What is his revenge plot now?

Chapters 4-11: Narrative Past - narrated by Nelly Dean
1.
Describe young Cathy's visit to Wuthering Heights.
2.
How does Heathcliff now pursue his revenge plot against Edgar Linton?
3.
How do Cathy and young Linton Heathcliff communicate?
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4.
What does young Cathy do when Nelly becomes ill?

Chapter 11: Brief return to Narrative Present, in which Nelly Dean informs Lockwood that "These things happened last winter." Lockwood vows to leave the area.

Chapters 11-16: Narrative Past - narrated by Nelly Dean
1.
Why does Heathcliff keep his son Linton's illness secret?
2.
Does Cathy believe Linton's professed feelings for her? Why is Linton desperate to make her believe him?
3.
What does Heathcliff force Cathy to do?
4.
Why is Cathy so desperate to escape to Thrushcross Grange?
5.
Is Cathy's father able to change his will? Why not?
6.
What does Heathcliff confess to Nelly Dean that he has done with Catherine's corpse?
7.
Who must Nelly rely upon for reports of the activities at Wuthering Heights?
Describe this person.
8.
What does Cathy say when Linton dies? Does this prove to be true?
9.
How is Heathcliff's second revenge plot fulfilled?
10.
What is Cathy's initial attitude toward young Hareton?

Chapters 16-17: Return to Narrative Present: "Thus ended Mrs. Dean's story."
Lockwood has recovered and plans to leave the Grange and return to London. He visits his landlord Heathcliff to tell him his plans.

Chapters 18-20: Narrative Present and Immediate Past - Nelly provides Lockwood with the "sequel of Heathcliff's history." (Some time has passed.)
1.
What is the status of Cathy and Hareton's relationship? Why?
2.
How does this parallel the original Cathy and Heathcliff in their youth?
3.
What is Heathcliff's reaction to the relationship between Cathy and Hareton?
4.
Does Heathcliff see the parallels between himself and the original Catherine in the relationship that Cathy and Hareton have formed? Find a quote from Heathcliff that proves this point.
5.
Who is Heathcliff talking about when he says to Cathy "Well, there is one who won't shrink from my company! By God! she's relentless" (page 331)?
6.
Describe Heathcliff's death.
7.
Who mourned Heathcliff? Why do you think he did?
8.
Where is Heathcliff buried?
9.
What do the country folk swear takes place?
10.
What are Cathy and Hareton's plans?

Chapter 20: Narrative Present and Conclusion - narrated by Lockwood
What does Lockwood wonder as he visits the graves of Edgar, Catherine, and Heathcliff?
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III.
As you can see, an understanding of how the narrators interact and form the frame story is vital to the understanding of Wuthering Heights.
After you read the novel, answer the following:
 What sort of person is Lockwood? How does his own experience color his account? Is
 his illness related to his visits to Wuthering Heights?
 Characterize Nelly Dean. Why do you think Brontë chose her to narrate the story?
Is Nelly Dean a reliable narrator? Does she misrepresent of omit information in her
 story? Does she cause any significant events to happen?
What is the purpose of having two narrators--Lockwood and Dean--as the "narrative frame" of Wuthering Heights ?
IV.
Themes:
Theme: The Role of Social Class

Describe the social class of the Earnshaws, the Lintons, and Heathcliff. Which are of a higher social class? Why is this significant?

How does social class motivate Catherine's actions? How does she try to change her class?

How does Heathcliff's social class influence the way he is treated and his own actions?
How does Heathcliff's class change?

What is the role of class in the novel? How do tensions in the book result from class struggles?

What role do the servants Nelly, Joseph, and Zillah play in the novel?
Theme: The Significance of Setting (nature, weather, houses, etc.)

Describe the setting of the Yorkshire moors.

Describe the houses Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange. Include descriptions of architecture and the surrounding landscape. How do Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross
Grange differ as physical places?

What do these differences suggest about their symbolic role in the novel? Is it reasonable to characterize them as opposites?

How do the houses reflect their inhabitants?

How do the houses symbolize their inhabitants? Give examples.

How do the settings influence the novel's characters?
We will talk about the following themes in class:
Theme: Effects of love on ideas of selfhood and identity
Theme: Physical and Emotional Boundaries
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V.
Characterization
Briefly identify the roles and the social class of the following characters:

Heathcliff

Catherine Earnshaw

Hindley Earnshaw

Edgar Linton

Isabella Linton

Cathy Linton

Hareton Earnshaw

Linton Heathcliff

Nelly Dean

Joseph

Lockwood
VI.
Does Wuthering Heights seem to be Catherine's story or Heathcliff's? Or would you argue that the novel has two protagonists? Do you sympathize with either of both of them? What motives and desires drive these two characters?
VII.
Write a character analysis of both of the following:

Heathcliff (Consider his name, his origin and his status as an outsider, how he
"reinvented" himself, his relationship to Catherine and to Isabella, and his relationship with his son.)

Catherine Earnshaw (She is Catherine Earnshaw, Catherine Linton, and Catherine
Heathcliff. How do these three identities reveal the fragmentation in her character and in her life?)
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