Wuthering Heights, 1-9

1. Why did Charlotte Bronte feel the need to write a second preface? What kind of commentary does she add in this one? What had been reviewers' responses to the sisters' efforts?

2. In her earlier preface, what does Charlotte Bronte seem to believe about her sister's character? Her book? What features does she feel the need to explain, and on what grounds? What features of the novel does she admire?

3. What may have prompted Emily Bronte to choose Mr. Lockwood as her first narrator? How is his temperament suited to inspire the reader's trust?

4. What are advantages to the choice of Nelly Dean as the recounter of much of the tale's background? How has she herself been a participant in the tale? To what extent is she a reliable narrator?

5. How does the isolation and location of the novel's northern Yorkshire setting influence the tone and events of the story? Are there symbolic elements to the descriptions of the houses and their landscapes?

6. What are some striking features of Lockwood's first encounter with the Heathcliff/Wuthering Heights family? Do the actions of the characters seem believable? And if not, is this important?

7. What are important elements of the scene in the old bedchamber, and the dream in which Lockwood shatters the windowpane? In what form does Catherine's voice enter the story?

8. What are some unusual structural features of the novel--its frames, multiple narrators, time gaps, and dreams? Does it remind you of other novels you have read?

9. How does the novel present religion?

10. What purpose is served by the character of Joseph? What is significant about his social class and language?

11. Why do you think Mr. Earnshaw brought home Heathcliff to his family? What does the novel indicate about Heathcliff's origins?

12. How do you explain the negative reactions of others to him? What do you make of the fact that he is often referred to as a "gypsy," and described as dark?

13. How does the novel treat themes of motherhood and parenting? Are there good parents in the novel? Which characters suffer from childhood neglect? What consequences follow harsh and arbitrary child-rearing practices?

14. What factors cause Heathcliff's degredation? Does the novel imply that these could have been remedied? When he complains to Nelly, does she give him good advice?

15. What are Heathcliff's feelings toward Catherine, and to what extent are they reciprocated? According to her speech to Nelly, what are her emotions toward Heathcliff? How would you interpret her speech?

16. What events precede Catherine's marriage to Edgar? Are any of these symbolic? Is it a happy union? What forms of disagreement do the young couple have?

17. Is this a difficult novel? In what ways does it seem Victorian to you? Modern? To what extent are irony and reversal features of the plot?

18. What do you make of the novel's recurring scenes of violence? Which characters are violent, and what are their motives? Why don't others in their environment stop them?

19. How do assumptions about social class affect the relationship of characters to each other? Are members of all social classes given equal attention?

20. Which elements of the novel maintain reader interest and prompt suspense?

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