How is "Wuthering Heights " a Gothic Novel?

0 facts about Emily Bronte Emily was the fifth of six children born into the Bronte family Her mother died when she was 2 She worked as a governess and a school teacher She was homeschooled with her siblings She was born at Thornton in Yorkshire on July 30th 1818 Only child to be given a middle name (Jane) She published under the pen name Ellis Bell She taught herself German and practised the piano She wanted to open a school with her sisters She died at 30 on 19th December 1948 Emily was familiar with tragedy. Was extremely close with her sisters. FATHER – church of England clergymen, emigrated from Ireland, oldest son of Irish labourer, hard struggle for education, entered Cambridge to read theology and become a ‘gentlemen’, was never rich, upwardly mobile (married above him) FAMILY TRAGEDY – mothers early death, 2 older sisters Maria and Elizabeth died, only brother Branwell died before his potential was realised FATHERS INFLUENCE – rapid rise to the status of gentlemen from his class was miraculous, published writer, was often absent -form deep emotional bonds together -made a make believe world which was their reality PERSONALITY- brilliant, uncommunicative, inward, shy, reserved -she never thrived anywhere but at home in Yorkshire -Currer, Ellis, Acton Bell, Charlotte, Emily, Anne Bronte -died a few (5) months later than her brother

  • Word count: 2057
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How is Linton Heathcliff presented in Wuthering Heights?

How is Linton Heathcliff presented in Wuthering Heights? Consider the narrative voice and Bronte’s language choices. Linton Heathcliff is a major character in the second generation of Emily Bronte’s novel ‘Wuthering Heights’. We are able to create an adequate picture of him in our minds due to the avid description provided by Ellen Dean – the narrative voice, and the language used by Bronte. He combines the worst characteristics of both parents and he uses his status as an invalid to manipulate the tender-hearted younger Catherine. After Isabella’s death, Edgar decides to care for his nephew described as “a pale, delicate, effeminate boy, who might have been taken for my master’s younger brother… but there was a sickly peevishness in his aspect that Edgar Linton never had.” The adjectives “pale”, “delicate” and “effeminate” give the audience an image of how unwell he looks. The noun “boy” suggests that Edgar doesn’t seem him as a nephew, but just as an ordinary boy. At this stage, the reader feels sympathetic towards Linton despite his peevish weakness since his dad Heathcliff is not caring for his son. The readers feels more sympathetic towards Linton is when making his refusal to let go of Nelly when the time comes for him to go back to his father one of the most touching scenes of the novel. Because he’s never seen his father

  • Word count: 954
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Madness in "Wuthering Heights".

Carolina Anzola Mrs. Smith AP Literature and Composition 7 August 2012 The Maddness of Wuthering Heights What is madness? It is defined as the state of having a serious mental illness, extremely foolish behavior, according to Oxford Dictionary. To an author, however, it can be so much more. In her novel, Wuthering Heights, Emily Brontë had a method behind the madness, so to speak, using it to make many main points throughout the novel. She employs this madness specifically in her character Heathcliff, whose own emotions driven him to insanity. Through what causes him to go mad, and his actions as a result, the story is develped Heathcliff’s madness derived from multiple factors but is rooted from hate shown by Hindley. When Mr. Earnshaw founb Heathcliff in the streets and took him in (page 36), he treated him like his son, sometimes even better than his own children. This created Hindley’s resentment for Heathcliff. Hindley did not like the attention Heathcliff recived from his father, therefore wanted to make Heathcliff as miserable as possible. When Hindley makes him a servant of the family, after Mr. Earnshaw’s death (page 43), he makes his distain know, with constasnt abuse and ill-treatment. It would give reason to Heathcliff’s loathing of Hindley. No one would agreeably go through that adversity without good reason. Therefore, it would seem reasonable

  • Word count: 716
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How is dialogue represented in "Wuthering heights"?

Sara Elkateep AS English Literature ‘Dialogue is an essential part of the interest of Wuthering Heights’ Reading the extract from the question we receive, we get a different perception from when we read it in the novel. Lockwood is an outsider, coming into a world in which he finds bewildering and hostile, he’s a city gentleman who has stumbled on a primitive uncivilised world which he doesn’t understand, but which fascinates him. Lockwood expresses his worry about not being able to ‘get home without a guide’ as the weather is terrible and it is dark. From Heathcliff’s reply of ‘No, no a stranger is a stranger, be he rich of poor- it will not suit me to permit any one the range of the place while I am off guard, we believe that perhaps he is worried for the safety of Lockwood. That is however not the case. Reading the small extract were are clearly able to observe that Lockwood is in no way welcome as none of the characters want to converse, or show any slight hospitality towards him, which indeed surprises Lockwood by the abruptness of his hosts. As Lockwood expresses his general distress on not being able to find his way home, the vulgarity and ignorant conducts of Heathcliff’s response illustrates his true impertinent attitude towards his guest as

  • Word count: 1175
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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How far in portraying Janes character does Charlotte Bronte present her as a lonely Cinderella and an exploited victim?

How far in portraying Jane’s Character does Charlotte Bronte present her as a lonely Cinderella and an exploited victim? Jane is represented as an exploited victim and a lonely Cinderella in a number of ways throughout the first four chapters of the book. It comes with the way Bronte writes as Jane being the narrator but also in the way the events in Jane’s childhood unfold. There are many incidents where the reader pities and feels for Miss Eyre that is continuous throughout the book. A key point of isolation for Jane is following the incident with John Reed where she is locked within the Red Room. Bronte tells the reader this outright as if coming from Jane as narrator in relfection. She states that “I was discord in Gateshead hall: I was like nobody there; I had nothing in harmony with Mrs Reed or her children” this shows to the reader the get lengths that the family have taken to exile her. Although being brought up by this family they are decided on despising her to the point of non-existence. Furthering this Jane proposes that they regarded her as “ a useless thing incapable of serving their interest” here she is almost portrayed as a toy that a young child has grown out of or began to find tedious. Moreover here wish to be isolated from her current situation is paramount. Bronte makes the reader feel sympathy for this poor lowly creature, who is

  • Word count: 465
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Is Catherine Earnshaw a Nineteenth Century Heroine?

Cathy is a nineteenth century heroine. * With reference to appropriately selected parts of the novel, and relevant external contextual information, give your response to the view above. By definition, a heroine is a woman who would typically encompasses the qualities of nobility, courage, independence and strength. Nineteenth century English women would have struggled to accomplish any of these particular acts of heroism within their social environment as ultimately, their roles within civilisation saw them becoming a good wives and mothers and before that, obliging and caring daughters. Catherine Earnshaw appears to begin her life free-spirited, rebellious and with a wild nature. However, her inner desire craves social ambition which, in turn, shows her slowly representing culture and civilisation. Cathy certainly displays some of those characteristics which are present in a nineteenth century heroine in the early stages of the novel, such of that as rebellion and the desire to reject the conformities expected of her. The first time we are introduced to Catherine is through Lockwood who observes that, ‘The ledge… was covered in writing, scratched on the paint’. It is obvious that Cathy was the one to deface the window ledge as it is her name that is etched across it, ‘in all kinds of characters, large and small- Catherine Earnshaw, here and there varied to

  • Word count: 850
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Edgar Linton has more right than Heathcliff to be called the hero in "Wuthering Heights". Discuss.

Edgar Linton has more right than Heathcliff to be called the hero of Wuthering Heights. The word hero conjures an image in one’s head of a valiant, courageous, strong individual; one who puts the needs of others before their own, a being who defies evil with their handsome charm and fearless nature. However, this stereotypical image does not accurately depict the full extent to which the term hero covers, as there are many different types of hero including the Byronic Hero, Classic Hero, Medieval Hero, and Romantic Hero. Classic Heroes are those in Greek and Roman literature; they are often of royal birth or even like the Titan Prometheus; half mortal, half god. Although Edgar Linton is not of royal descent, he is from a family of the highest social class throughout the country which allows him to fall loosely into this category of noble birth. Heathcliff on the other hand, is from a discernible background and is brought into the household at Wuthering Heights as a ‘gipsy brat’ after Mr. Earnshaw saw, ‘it starving, and houseless, and as good as dumb in the streets of Liverpool.’ Another characteristic of a Classic Hero is that they perform extraordinary feats. Throughout the novel Edgar Linton displays no obvious signs of having done anything extraordinary; he is a calm, weak natured individual who avoids conflict and allows himself to be easily overpowered both

  • Word count: 847
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Wuthering Heights accurately reflects the sharp class divisions of nineteenth century England. Discuss

Wuthering Heights accurately reflects the sharp class divisions in nineteenth-century English society. In the Victorian Era, the three main classes in society were the elite class, the middle class, and the working class; however, further divisions existed within these three class distinctions. In addition, social class was not solely dependent upon the amount of money a person had; money, manners, speech, clothing, education, and values also contributed to a person’s position in the social hierarchy. This is made evident in the novel as when Heathcliff returns to the Grange following his three year absence as a nouveau riche, having money is not enough for Edgar to consider him a part of acceptable society. This is because of Heathcliff’s non-noble birth which is reminiscent of Oliver from Dickens’ novel, ‘Oliver Twist’; a child who could have been of noble birth but because he lived on the streets he was automatically placed at the bottom of society. Unlike the Lintons, Heathcliff was born and abandoned as an orphan on the streets of Liverpool and ‘seeing it starving, and houseless, and as good as dumb’, Mr. Earnshaw brought him home to raise as a son amongst his two legitimate children. As an abandoned orphan, Heathcliff belonged to the lowest station in society. During this time, it was unheard of for a middle class family to raise someone of lower statute

  • Word count: 897
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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Wuthering heights

Examine the reasons for destructive relationships in Wuthering heights Bronte's Wuthering heights displays several characteristics of destructive relationships, stemming from jealousy, uncaring parents, and not knowing the true personality of a husband or wife. These situations are all present in the novel, and all cause a breakdown in communication between characters, resulting in hostility and separation. The destructive relationships between parent and offspring are shown through the characters of Hindley and his father, as well as Linton and Heathcliff. When Heathcliff first begins living with Mr Earnshaw, it becomes difficult for the relationship between him and his son to remain unaffected. Hindley becomes hostile towards his father as a result of being overshadowed by Heathcliff, who is favoured by Mr Earnshaw. Nelly reveals to the reader in chapter 4 that she had noticed Mr Earnshaw becoming increasingly fond of Heathcliff, disregarding the feelings of his own son Hindley. This resulted in a separation between Hindley and his father. The destructive relationship between them presents themes such as isolation and depression, typical of a gothic novel. "..and at Mr Earnshaw's death, which happened less than two years after, the young master had learnt to regard his father as an oppressor rather than a friend...". Bronte skilfully chose to continue the theme of

  • Word count: 699
  • Level: AS and A Level
  • Subject: English
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