Penguin Readers Factsheets
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E
T e a c h e r’s n o t e s
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Wuthering Heights
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by Emily Bronte
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UPPER
INTERMEDIATE
S U M M A R Y
r Earnshaw finds a homeless child on the streets of
and takes him to live with his own children
M Liverpool
at Wuthering Heights on the beautiful, wild Yorkshire
Moors. This generous deed has terrible consequences not
only for his own family but also for the neighbouring
Lintons.
Heathcliff, the child, becomes a wild and passionate
youth who falls desperately in love with Catherine
Earnshaw. After old Mr Earnshaw’s death, Heathcliff is
treated badly by Catherine’s brother, Hindley. Then, when
he overhears Catherine say she will marry Edgar Linton,
Heathcliff disappears, swearing to get his revenge on the
two families.
Three years later, now rich and respectable, Heathcliff
sets about his destructive business. First, Hindley’s
weakness for alcohol and gambling enables Heathcliff to
gain control of the Earnshaw estate and Hindley’s son.
Then, he marries Isabella Linton, to her brother Edgar’s
horror. Catherine is also greatly upset by this: she becomes
ill and dies after giving birth to her and Edgar’s daughter, a
second Catherine, but not before Heathcliff and she have
sworn undying love for each other. Finally, when Heathcliff’s
own son comes to Wuthering Heights, Heathcliff sees how
he can also acquire the Lintons’ property. But revenge, after
all, is not so sweet. Tortured by memories of Catherine, he
is overcome by guilt and madness. With his death, all ends
happily.
ABOUT EMILY BRONTE
Emily Bronte was born in 1818 into a clergyman’s family of
five girls and a boy. The family lived in Howarth, a moorland
village in West Yorkshire, northern England. Their mother
died in 1821 and four of the sisters, including Emily, aged 6,
were sent away to a boarding school, where conditions
were so bad that two of them died. After this, the remaining
children stayed at home, where the girls largely educated
themselves. They all read widely and invented stories to
amuse themselves in the remote area in which they lived.
Emily was especially fond of the moorlands, which have a
powerful presence in her writing.
Emily’s sisters Ann and Charlotte also wrote, and together
they published a book of poems in 1846, using male
pseudonyms as writing was not considered a suitable
activity for women. Charlotte’s Jane Eyre was published in
1847, and Emily’s Wuthering Heights came out the same
© Pearson Education 2000
year. She died the year after, shortly after the funeral of her
brother, Branwell, whose problems and drug habits had
caused the sisters much distress. Charlotte described her
sister as independently minded and courageous, especially
during her last illness. Though she only wrote one novel,
Emily is recognised to be one of the most important figures
in 19th century English literature.
BACKGROUND AND THEMES
One of the best known works of English fiction by one of
the earliest successful women writers, Wuthering Heights
has been the subject of much comment by critics, who
have found it richly imaginative and thematically complex. It
has been made into a film four times, the first being the
1939 version starring Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier
(shown on the book’s cover), and most recently in 1998.
There is even a pop song – ‘Wuthering Heights’ by Kate
Bush (1978).
Unlike other Victorian novels about the evils of city and
town life, Wuthering Heights is on one level a story of love,
revenge and death set in the remote moorland region Emily
Bronte knew well. The wild beauty of the countryside and
the extreme weather form an important backdrop to the
conflicts and passions of the characters. The novel is
characterised by emotional intensity rather than realism,
covering a wide spectrum of human emotion from the
romantic to the primitive and the spiritual. Indeed, the love
between Heathcliff and Catherine becomes a form of
spirituality, lasting beyond death and the material world.
However, for all its romantic, gothic vision, the novel also
gives a closely observed account of family life. Just as
when meeting a large family for the first time, it is at first
difficult to absorb the web of relationships and just who is
who. At the same time there is a penetrating insight into the
psychology of a poorly functioning, damaged family
existing in isolation from the rest of society. Wuthering
Heights is its own closed world and does not welcome the
intrusion of strangers.
Many difficult family issues are examined: we see the
effects of the abuse of children and how the children try to
defend themselves. In Catherine and Linton Heathcliff we
are shown how illness and eating disorders can be used as
a method of control over other people. Hindley’s addictions
to alcohol and gambling, perhaps like that of Emily’s own
brother, are presented as an escape from depression.
Penguin Readers Factsheets
T e a c h e r’s n o t e s
Above all the novel portrays the patriarchal Victorian family
in which the father is all-powerful and has total control over
the family resources, while the women and children are
economically vulnerable and powerless.
In Heathcliff we can see a number of concerns and beliefs
which were current in the 19th century. Dark-skinned and
often called a ‘gypsy’, his character shows traits that were
popularly associated with the lower classes and black
people, namely that they were criminal and filthy, irrational,
and superstitious. Heathcliff never loses his excitability or
his ‘strange beliefs’, even though he leaves Wuthering
Heights and returns having taught himself outwardly to be
a ‘gentleman’. The importance of education can be seen
again and again: Heathcliff withholds education from
Hareton and makes him coarse and stupid like Heathcliff’s
younger self, while in the end Hareton is transformed
through Cathy’s patient tuition.
The two houses, Thrushcross Grange and Wuthering
Heights, represent opposite poles of order and civilisation
versus chaos and ignorance. The characters move between
these houses, through drama and tragedy, until Edgar’s
child, Cathy, significantly a female, brings about a healthy
reconciliation.
Communicative activities
The following teacher-led activities cover the same sections
of text as the exercises at the back of the reader, and
supplement those exercises. For supplementary exercises
covering shorter sections of the book see the photocopiable
Student’s Activities pages of this Factsheet. These are
primarily for use with class readers but, with the exception
of discussion and pair/groupwork questions, can also be
used by students working alone in a self-access centre.
ACTIVITIES BEFORE READING THE BOOK
1 Introduce the countryside in the book by using a film
clip or photos of the Yorkshire Moors. Find a map of
England and ask students to locate Howarth and the
moors.
2 Ask students to imagine the following situation: a
strange child from a different country has come to live
with their family. How would they feel? Teach the
meaning of racial prejudice.
3 Students work in pairs and write a letter to a magazine
asking for advice about the strange child who has come
to live with their family. They exchange letters with
another pair and then write an answer.
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING A SECTION
Chapters 1–4
Ask students to work in pairs to draw a family tree for the
Earnshaw family. Tell them to put in all first names and
family names. Where a woman marries, they should put the
family name first and the married name in brackets, for
example Catherine Earnshaw (Linton).
Chapters 5–10
Students work in pairs and discuss these questions:
(a) Why does Catherine decide that she will marry Edgar
Linton?
(b) Would you do this in the same situation?
© Pearson Education 2000
Chapters 11–20
Ask students to work in groups of four. Two students should
list Heathcliff’s good points and anything which might
excuse his behaviour. The other two students should list his
bad points and all the bad things he has done. Then the
groups should discuss this question: Is Heathcliff a bad
person?
Chapters 21–28
Ask students to work in pairs to add the following people to
the Earnshaw family tree: old Mr and Mrs Linton; Isabella;
Heathcliff; Isabella’s son. As before, tell students to put in
all known names, with married names in brackets. If
necessary teach names for family members with ‘in-law’.
Chapters 29–38
Students work in pairs and discuss these questions about
the final chapters in part 4. Then have a class discussion.
1 Heathcliff seems to be at his most wicked in chapters
29–31. Make a list of all the bad things which he does in
this part of the book.
2 What reasons are given in this part of the book for his
behaviour? Do you find the reasons true to life?
ACTIVITIES AFTER READING THE BOOK
Which of these ideas are most important in the story?
illness
money
women’s rights
violence
family
prejudice
ghosts
education
marriage
truth
nature
love
hate
revenge
evil
danger
Ask students to work in pairs and choose five words. Then
have a class discussion.
Glossary
It will be useful for your students to know these new words. They are
practised in the ‘Before You Read’sections at the back of the book.
(Definitions are based on the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary
English.)
Chapters 1–44
candle (n) a round stick of wax that is burnt to provide light
fierce (adj) frightening, angry and ready to attack
gypsy (n) a member of a race of people who travel around and live in
caravans
household (n) all the people who live together in one house
landlord (n) the person who owns a room, building, etc
mistress (n) the female owner of a house
moor (n) a wild open area of high land covered with rough grass and
low bushes
murmur (v) to say something in a soft low voice
shiver (v) to shake slightly because you are cold or frightened
tenant (n) someone who lives in a house or room and pays rent to the
person who owns it
wicked (adj) behaving in a way that is morally wrong
Chapters 5–10
creep (v) to move in a quiet, careful way
degrade (v) to treat someone without respect
exclaim (v) to say something suddenly and loudly
fury (n) extreme, oftenuncontrolled anger
misery (n) great suffering or discomfort
naughty (adj) a naughty child is rude and behaves badly
scorn (n) the feeling that someone is stupid or not as good as other
people
superior (adj) having a higher position or rank than someone else
weep (v) to cry, especially because you feel very sad
Chapters 11–20
coffin (n) a long box in which someone is buried or cremated
ignorant (adj) not knowing facts or information
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F act sh eet wri tten by W S Fo wler
Factsheet series developed by Louise James
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Penguin Readers Factsheets
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Student’s activities
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2
Wuthering Heights
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Photocopiable
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These activities can be done alone or with one or more
other students. Pair/group-only activities are marked.
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Activities before reading the book
1 Read the information on the back cover and the last
paragraph of the Introduction. Then answer these:
(a) When does the story take place?
(b) What is the name of the Earnshaw family’s
house?
(c) What is the name of the Linton family’s house?
(d) Name some members of the two families.
(e) Who is Heathcliff?
(f) What is his relationship with Catherine?
(g) Why do you think Heathcliff wants revenge on
the Linton family?
2 Look at the chapter titles on the Contents page. Can
you guess some of the things which happen in the
story? Discuss your ideas with a partner.
Activities while reading the book
CHAPTERS 1 & 2
1 Find words and phrases in the book which show that
Wuthering Heights is:
(a) not near other houses.
(b) cold and windy.
(c) old.
(d) not well looked after.
2 Why does Mr Heathcliff seem ‘out of place in his
home’ (page 2)?
3 Are these sentences about Mr Lockwood’s second
visit to Wuthering Heights true or false? Write T or F.
(a) Heathcliff invites Mr Lockwood for a second visit.
(b) It starts to snow just as Mr Lockwood reaches
the house.
(c) Joseph opens the door for Mr Lockwood.
(d) Mrs Heathcliff is not Heathcliff’s wife.
(e) Mr Lockwood finds the family friendly and polite.
(f) Mr Lockwood is invited to stay the night.
CHAPTERS 3 & 4
Answer these questions:
(a) What is written on the shelf by Mr Lockwood’s bed?
(b) Who owns the books that Mr Lockwood finds?
(c) How does Hindley treat Heathcliff?
(d) What is knocking at Lockwood’s window?
(e) When was Catherine the ghost alive?
(f) Why is Heathcliff angry with Lockwood?
(g) Why did Catherine write three surnames for herself?
(h) How many Catherine Lintons are there?
(i) Who should Wuthering Heights belong to, according
to Mrs Dean?
© Pearson Education 2000
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CHAPTERS 5–7
UPPER
INTERMEDIATE
1 Use these words to complete the summary:
fights, dislikes, likes, six, hits, favourite, hurting,
jealous, friendly, angry, fourteen.
When Mr Earnshaw brings Heathcliff to the Heights,
Catherine is .................. years old and Hindley is
................... . At first, neither child ..................
Heathcliff because they do not get the presents they
wanted. A little later, Catherine starts to be
.................. to Heathcliff. Hindley still .................. him,
however, and often .................. him. Mrs Earnshaw
does not stop Hindley from .................. Heathcliff. Mr
Earnshaw is .................. with his son for his treatment
of Heathcliff, and Heathcliff soon becomes Mr
Earnshaw’s .................. . So Hindley is .................. of
Heathcliff and they have bad .................. .
2 Finish these sentences with suitable ideas:
(a) After old Mr Earnshaw dies, Hindley .................. .
(b) Hindley’s wife dislikes Heathcliff and so Hindley
.................. .
(c) Heathcliff does not mind Hindley’s treatment at
first because he .................. .
(d) But after Catherine stays at Thrushcross Grange,
things .................. .
(e) When Catherine returns, she finds that Heathcliff
.................. .
(f) Heathcliff is angry because .................. .
CHAPTERS 8–10
Put these events in the correct order.
(a) Heathcliff hears Catherine saying she will
marry Edgar Linton.
(b) Heathcliff throws an apple pie at Edgar.
(c) Hindley’s wife dies and Hindley starts to
ve a wild life.
(d) Heathcliff disappears in a storm.
(e) Catherine tells Heathcliff that she finds his
company dull.
(f) Catherine waits for Heathcliff and catches a fever.
(g) Edgar is rude about Heathcliff’s hair.
(h) Hindley locks Heathcliff away upstairs.
(i) Heathcliff swears to get his revenge on Hindley.
(j) Hareton Earnshaw is born.
(k) Edgar and Catherine are married.
(l) Isabella and Edgar Linton come for a visit.
(m) Edgar is shocked by Catherine’s violent temper.
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Penguin Readers Factsheets
Student’s activities
(n) Catherine goes secretly to the top of the house
to see Heathcliff.
(o) Edgar and Catherine become more than friends.
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CHAPTERS 11–13
Shut your book. Can you remember who says the
following to whom and where they are? Who or what do
the words in bold refer to?
(a) ‘Are they at home? Where is she? Speak!’
(b) ‘She was nearly heartbroken when he ran off.’
(c) ‘I love him more than you ever loved Edgar.’
(d) ‘They sit up all night playing cards and drinking.’
(e) ‘You weren’t speaking the truth, were you?’
(f) ‘... he punishes my father for what he does to me.’
CHAPTERS 14–16
These adjectives are used by the characters to describe
themselves or another person. Who uses each word
about whom and why?
(a) worthless
(b) jealous
(c) upset
(d) weak-kneed
(e) evil
(f) mad
(g) wild
(h) selfish
(i) sensible
(j) heartless
(k) violent
(l) foolish
CHAPTERS 17–20
Write 10–12 sentences listing the most important events
in this part. Compare your list with another person’s list.
(b) If Nelly had not encouraged and helped Cathy to
meet Linton on the second Thursday, ..................
(c) If Cathy and Nelly had not gone to Wuthering
Heights with Linton and Heathcliff ..................
(d) If Cathy and Nelly had opened the window and
called out to the servants from the Grange
..................
(e) If Nelly had told Edgar about Linton’s illness,
..................
(f)
If Mr Green had not been delayed at the
Heights, ..................
2 On page 110 Nelly says: ‘I blamed myself for failing in
my duty.’ Is she right to say this?
CHAPTERS 32–38
Work with a partner or write your answers.
(a) How has Wuthering Heights changed between
November 1801 (Mr Lockwood’s first visit) and
October 1802?
(b) How have the people in it changed?
(c) What are the reasons for the changes?
(d) Complete this imaginary conversation between
Heathcliff and the ghost of Catherine:
Catherine: Come to me, Heathcliff. I’m waiting for
you.
Heathcliff: ......................................................................
Catherine: Are you suffering? Am I causing you pain?
Heathcliff: ......................................................................
CHAPTERS 21–24
Catherine: But I am here. I have always been with
you. Can’t you see me?
Look up the meaning of inherit. Discuss these questions
with a partner or write your answers:
(a) What kind of child is Cathy Linton?
(b) What is Heathcliff’s opinion of his son?
(c) What does Heathcliff mean when he says: ‘My son is
the future owner of your place.’? (page 81)
(d) Heathcliff says he is being ‘generous’ (page 84). Is he?
Catherine: You have had your revenge. You do not
need to do any more. It is time to let the children have
some happiness.
CHAPTERS 25–28
1 Work with a partner.
(a) Student A: You are Nelly. Tell Edgar about
Cathy’s secret visits to Wuthering Heights.
Student B: you are Edgar
(b) Student A: You are Edgar. You are upset and
worried about your daughter’s behaviour. Student
B: you are Cathy. Persuade your father to let
Linton come to see you.
Heathcliff: ......................................................................
Heathcliff: ......................................................................
Catherine: Let us have our own happiness now. Do
you want to remain on this earth?
Heathcliff: ......................................................................
Catherine: Tonight I will come to take you, my darling.
Leave your window open.
Heathcliff: ......................................................................
Activities after reading the book
2 How does Linton seem when he and Cathy meet on
the moor? Why do you think he is like this?
1 Do you like the ending? Why? Can you suggest any
changes?
CHAPTERS 29–31
2 It is 1802. Imagine you are going for a holiday to stay
in a house on the Yorkshire Moors. What will you pack
in your suitcase? Make a list and compare your list
with another person.
1 Finish these sentences. Discuss your answers with a
partner.
(a) If Nelly had told Edgar about Linton’s true
character, ..................
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