AP Lit. Schedule
for Wuthering Heights
Essay Prompts and Honor Statements
Chapters 1-3 (Essay #1: Narrator)
Our (first) narrator, Mr. Lockwood, is somewhat of an enigma: He is only
really characterized through his description of the events and people he
encounters, leaving it up to the reader to use these descriptions to infer
what we can about Lockwood. What is Lockwood’s first reaction to
Heathcliff? What connections does Lockwood think exist between them?
What do Lockwood’s comments about Heathcliff tells us about him?
Your analysis should use evidence from the text to support your ideas.
Remember, characterization is accomplished through a character’s
words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions as well as by what other
characters say and think about that person. Consider also physical
description, age, social status, and family.
Chapters 4-7 (Honor Statement #1)
Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation,
and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain
used it and how it works.
Chapters 8-9 (Essay #2: Conflict)
A central conflict of the novel is the choice Catherine must make between Heathcliff and Edgar. In choosing, she is torn
between two contrasting ways of life. What does each man signify in the novel? How is the conflict presented here?
Chapters 10-12 (Honor Statement #2)
Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation,
and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain
used it and how it works.
Chapters 13-15 (Essay #3: Setting)
Wuthering Heights is particularly notable for its unforgettable setting. In this essay, discuss the way that the techniques
that Brontë uses to make the setting vivid and real to readers, and the extent to which these techniques are effective.
What are the primary locations? How are these places made vivid — how does the author use extended description,
background information, and sensory details to make the setting come alive for readers? How do the main characters fit
in the settings — do they seem at home? out of place? How do their reactions and interactions with the setting affect the
realism of the locations?
Chapters 16-18 (Honor Statement #3)
Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation,
and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain
used it and how it works.
Chapters 19-21 (Essay #4: Dreams & Reality)
Each of the central characters in Wuthering Heights is introduced with certain dreams, plans, and expectations. In the
course of the novel, these characters must come to terms with the difference between their dreams and the reality of the
Wuthering Heights Schedule Information
A.P. Literature and Composition
world around them. Choose a character, and write a paper on your novel that examines how the main characters
navigate the journey from dreams to reality — What kind of course do they follow, and how are they changed for their
journey?
Chapters 22-28 (Honor Statement #4)
Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation,
and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain
used it and how it works.
Chapters 32-34 (Essay #5: Sympathy for the Devil)
Critics have famously claimed that Wuthering Heights is "truly a novel without a hero or heroine." The characters in the
novel have a great capacity for violence and hatred, and revenge is one of Heathcliff's greatest motivations. Is Heathcliff
justified in the revenge he takes on Hindley? If the novel truly does not have a hero (or heroine), does this make it difficult
for readers to sympathize with/relate to the characters? Do you think Heathcliff's childhood experiences at Wuthering
Heights contributed to his monstrous behavior as an adult? Is Heathcliff a hero or a villain? How does this ambiguity
contribute to the meaning of the novel?
Scoring Guidelines for Wuthering Heights Essays (27 points possible)
(x3 for grade points)
1-2
3-4
5
6-7
8-9
Requirements
Poor
Fair
Good
Excellent
Superior
Appropriate and
well founded,
addresses
complexities of the
task.
Thorough and
thoughtful,
incorporates
complexities of the
task.
AP Score
Thesis
Incorrect or
missing
Very general, little
more than a
restatement of the
prompt.
Obvious, may or
may not address
complexity of the
task.
Textual Details &
Support
Not provided
Limited evidence
in support of
thesis.
Simple evidence in Appropriate
support of thesis. evidence in
support of thesis.
Abundant
appropriate
evidence in
support of thesis.
Analytical
Explanation
Not provided
Vague or
irrelevant; may be
summary rather
than analysis.
Sometimes vague
and irrelevant;
sometimes logical
but obvious.
Logical but
obvious analysis;
tries to show
HOW the parts
relate to the
whole.
Thoughtful and
insightful; clearly
shows HOW the
parts relate to the
whole
Errors sometimes
distract the
reader; simple
sentences,
sometimes
awkward and
unskillful
Errors are noticed
but are not
distracting;
inconsistent
control, somewhat
simplistic,
pedestrian
Errors are
unnoticeable
unless specifically
looked for;
consistent control
over simple
sentences, still
developing control
over complex
sentence structure
Errors are
unnoticeable and
punctuation
actually enhances
readability;
consistent clarity
and skillful,
demonstrates
control over a
wide range of
sentence
techniques
Style & Mechanics Errors repeatedly
distract the
reader; unnatural,
monotonous, or
choppy
Wuthering Heights Schedule Information
A.P. Literature and Composition