Wuthering Heights Journals

Reader-Response -Chapter 3

Observations/Questions

The master? How did he die? (Level 1)

Who is Catherine Linton? Why has she been away for so long? Was she the ghost? (Level 1)

Why was she lost? Maybe not physically lost or forced but something she did that was immoral or not socially acceptable. (Level 2)

What do the nightmares foreshadow about what's to come in the novel? (Level 2)

Why upset for being idle after church? Can anyone be damned for doing that? What makes a soul "good?" (Level 3)

Odd dreaming about sins dreams: a peek into the subconscious; could be looking into narrator's mind? Could drams explain mind? (Level 3)

Dialectic -Chapter 9

Notes/Summary/Quotes

(Para 3) "By heaven and hell, you've sworn between you to murder that child!...But, with the help of Satan, I shall make you swallow the carving-knife, Nelly!" (66).

(Para 1) Heathcliff was mumbling about how Hindley should die (69).

(Para 11) Narrator was talking about being superstitious; not wanting to hear Catherine's dreams (69).

(Para 12) Nelly talks to Cathy and tells her "You may see some: and he won't always be handsome, and young, and may not always be rich" (71).

(Para 1) "I'll teach thee to impose on a good-hearted, deluded father." "Kiss me Hareton! Damn thee, kiss me!" (67).

(Para 3) Catherine talks about how he loves Heathcliff and difference between Heathcliff and Edward (73).

Reader-Response -Chapter 9

Observations/Questions

Hindley's hatred and rage revealed. What are the reasons behind Hindley's hatred and such rage? (Level 1)

Tone: hateful, vindictive

What does hoary mean? (Level 1)

Narrator was drenching to hear dreams or else prophesy bad omens; could this be foreshadowing? (Level 2)

Who might Nelly Dean be implying? What is she trying to say? (Level 2)

Hindley switches from moral everyday talk and saying "you" to "thee." What does the change in style of language signify? (Level 3)

Catherine believes she and Heathcliff are soul mates but how can she not marry her soul mate? Would anybody give this up? (Level 3)

Dialectic -Chapter 13

Notes/Summary/Quotes

(Para 2) Isabella writes to Ellen Dean, a letter that asks the question, "Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil?" (125).

(Para 4)"I shall never be there... and then you'll leave me, and I shall remain forever" (123).

(Para 11) Isabella looks at Hindley's gun is fascination not fear (128).

(Para 6) Heathcliff tells Isabella that she is the outlet for his pain until he can get to Edgar (133).

(Para 8) "I questioned with myself-where must I turn for comfort? and-mind you don't tell Edgar, or Catherine-above every sorrow beside, this rose pre-eminent: despair at finding nobody who could or would be my, ally against Heathcliff!" (127).

Reader-Response -Chapter 13

Observations/Questions

What are the reasons behind such awful question concerning her new husband? Why is Isabella questioning so soon? What happened to arouse such feelings? (Level 1)

Is Bronte foreshadowing Cathy's death through this quote? (Level 1)

Could she be also contemplating murder or suicide? Maybe to end her suffering some how. (Level 2)

The word "our" offered him greatly; is it because Heathcliff is still hoping to share it with Catherine or because he no longer could have her and chooses to share with no woman? (Level 2)

Isabella is sad at Wuthering Heights. She feels lonely and wants to take actions against Heathcliff, her own husband. What is the tone of this excerpt? Why does she have this tone? (Level 3)

(Para 3) "Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil?" (125)

Having been subject to a know-all point of view, what do you think best describes Heathcliff: a man, mad, or the devil? (Level 3)

Dialectic -Chapter 17

Notes/Summary/Quotes

(Para 2) Heathcliff recounts the last moments of Hindley; still holds contempt against him (171).

(Para 7) "The intruder was Mrs. Heathcliff." "The frock was of light silk, and clung to her with wet, and her feet were protected merely by thin slippers; add to this a deep cut under one ear, which only the cold prevented from bleeding profusely, a white fact scratched and bruised, and a frame hardly able to support itself, through fatigue;" (155).

(Para 2) When Hindley and Isabella planned to close Heathcliff out of the house, Hindley planned to kill him. Although Isabella really wanted Heathcliff dead, she warned him through the window. "I'll not hold my tongue!...you mustn't touch him" (161).

(Para 4) "Be more charitable: there are worse men then [Heathcliff] yet" (157).

(Para 3) "I rang the bell and committed it to a servant's care..." (157).

Reader-Response -Chapter 17

Observations/Questions

Why did Heathcliff wish Hindley's body buried at a crossroad? Is that bad luck? (Level 1)

Mrs. Heathcliff left Wuthering Heights. She finally got to escape Heathcliff, how? How did Isabella get the cut under her ear? (Level 1)

Why did Isabella warn Heathcliff and try to save him even though she desperately wanted him dead? What did her saving of Heathcliff imply? (Level 2)

How could Nelly, who has been wronged by Heathcliff on many accounts, advise Isabella against putting him down? (Level 2)

How does this comment of Nelly's further the Marxist themes in Wuthering Heights? (Level 3)

(Para 8-171; para 1-171) After the funeral ceremony of Hindley's, Heathcliff told Hareton that he was his now and says "And we'll see if one tree won't grow as crooked as another, with the same wind to twist it!" (171-172).

Is Heathcliff trying to say something metaphorically and what is he implying? Level 3)

Dialectic -Chapter 24

Notes/Summary/Quotes

(Para 4) Cathy talks about how Heathcliff avoided them as much as possible (233).

(Para 8) "Well, Ellen, you won't cry about it will you?" (229)

(Para 1) Cathy and Linton play ball with initials of "C" and "H" (228).

(Para 1) Cathy sees the blood gush out of Linton's coughing (231).

Hareton reads for Cathy, and when he admits that he cannot spell she makes fun of him (228-229).

(Para 4) Cathy tells Nelly about their conversation about their view of a perfect day. Their = Cathy and Linton

Reader-Response -Chapter 24

Observations/Questions

I wonder why he doesn't talk to Cathy? He should be persuading her to trust him. (Level 1)

How does Elen's response show her willingness to be used? (Level 1)

Why would Linton not like to play with the ball of initial "H?" (Level 2)

What could this ailing be? Is foreshadowing death because of his weakness? (Level 2)

What other character from literature besides Cathy and Heathcliff from Wuthering Heights show hypocrisy? (Level 3)

Cathy and Linton have different views and it conflicts; one is sedate and the other is active old addage: opposite attracts but should it apply have? (Level 3)

Dialectic -Chapter 29

Notes/Summary/Quotes

(Para 3-4) Heathcliff digs up Catherine's remains and hold them. He describes her remains in details and says she looks the same (262).

(Para 9) Heathcliff describes his adventures in Catherine's gravesite (263).

(Para 1) Heathcliff describes his son's hateful feelings for Cathy (263).

(Para 4) Heathcliff confesses his belief in ghosts, especially Catherine's ghost (264).

(Para 6) "As she kissed me, her lips felt like ice. "Come and see me Ellen, don't forget" (266).

(Para 3) "Disturbed her? No! She has disturbed me, night and day, through eighteen years- incessantly-till yester night;" (264)

Reader-Response -Chapter 29 Observations/Questions

Why does Heathcliff dig up Catherine's dead body? (Level 1)

What is a sexton? (Level 1)

Does Linton truly hate Cathy and is this one of Heathcliff's lies to break down Cathy? (Level 2)

Like Shakespeare's ghost symbolism, what is its meaning here? (Level 2)

What does this simile symbolize? (Level 3)

Was the grave digging and Heathcliff's acting with the dead body "wake the dead?" Is that the reason for the ghost now, or was the ghost what has been disturbing Heathcliff for all these years? (Level 3)

Dialectic -Chapter 33

Notes/Summary/Quotes

(Para 2) "My confessions have not relieved me...O God! It is a long fight, I wish it were over!" (297).

(Para 9) "I have neither a fear, nor a presentiment, nor a hope of death" (296).

(Para 1) Nelly warns Cathy and Hareton of the consequences for ruining the garden (290).

(Para 9) Heathcliff warns Cathy not to stare or disturb him again (290).

(Para 3) Heathcliff reveals how his effort is being wasted because of Hareton and Cathy (295).

"The black currant trees were the apple of Joseph's eye, and she had just fixed her choice of a flower bed in the midst of them!" (289-290)

Reader-Response -Chapter 33

Observations/Questions

Who is Heathcliff in a fight with? (Level 1)

Is it Older Cathy, the "departed dol," that makes Heathcliff suffer so? (Level 1)

Why would Nelly be so afraid of Heathcliff? Isn't she against him also? (Level 2)

Are her eyes a reminder of Catherine, haunting Heathcliff? (Level 2)

Is this Karma? Does Karma exist to explain this irony? (Level 3)

What symbolism does this excerpt contain? (Level 3)