12^th Grade
Summer Reading 2008

Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte

You will take a test on Wuthering Heights the first week of school, so I would recommend that you read this book second.  Study questions are posted below. These questions will be used as the basis of class discussions during the first few days of school, before you take the test.

Chapter 1

1. What is the setting of the first chapter?

2. Who is the narrator of the story?

3. Describe Mr. Lockwood as she appears in this chapter.

4. What event opens the story?

5. Why is the place called Wuthering?

6. Why does Lockwood like the neighborhood and Heathcliff?

7. Contrast the appearance of Heathcliff with that of his home.

8. Do you think that Lockood is as antisocial as he believes himself to be?  Why or why not?
   
   Chapter 2

9. How is Lockwood received on his second visit to Wuthering Heights?

10. How do Heathcliff and Mrs. Heathcliff appear to get along with each other?  What about relationships in the rest of the household?

11. What is Mrs. Heathcliff's relationship to Heathcliff?

12. Who is the young man?

13. Why must Lockwood spend the night to Wuthering Heights?
    
    Chapter 3

14. What hints does Zillah give Lockwood about household mysteries before he retires that night?

15. Describe the bed on which Lockwood sleeps.

16. What does Lockwood find written in the books on the window ledge?

17. Describe Lockwood's first dream.

18. Describe Lockwood's second dream.

19. Is Lockwood dreaming, or does the spirit really appear?

20. What is Heathcliff's response to Lockwood's dream?
    
    Chapter 4

21. What information is Lockwood seeking, and from whom does he try to get it?

22. Give a sketch of Nelly's character.

23. How had Hareton Earnshaw been mistreated?

24. What is Lockwood's impression of young Cathy at this point?

25. According to Nelly, what was the reaction of Mr. Earnshaw's family when he brought home an orphan from Liverpool?

26. What is the source of the name "Heathcliff"?

27. Why does Hindley hate Heathcliff?

28. What illusion does Nelly have about Heathcliff at this time?
    
    Chapter 5

29. What has happened to Mr. Earnshaw?

30. Describe Catherine at this time.

31. What is Joseph like?  Hoe does he cause trouble in the household?

32. What happens at the end of this chapter?
    
    Chapter 6

33. What surprise occurs when Hindley returns home for his father's funeral?

34. After his return, how does Hindley treat the servants and Heathcliff?

35. Hoe do Catherine and Heathcliff react to Hindley's treatment of Heathcliff?

36. Describe Heathcliff and Catherine's experience at the Linton's home and its aftermath.

37. Contrast Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange.

38. What is Heathcliff's opinion of Edgar and Isabella Linton?
    
    Chapter 7

39. How is Catherine different when she returns from her five-week stay at the Grange?

40. Describe Catherine and Heathcliff's reunion after her return.

41. Why do the Lintons disapprove of Heathcliff?

42. What disruptive event occurs during Edgar and Isabella's visit?

43. Describe Catherine's two conflicting desires as seen in this chapter.

44. What intention does Heathcliff have at this point?
    
    Chapter 8

45. What child is born in this chapter?

46. How does the death of Frances affect the household?

47. How does Heathcliff change under Hindley's ill treatment?

48. How does Catherine treat both Heathcliff and Edgar? What does her treatment of them suggest about her character?

49. What is Catherine's relationship with Heathcliff and with Edgar at the end of the chapter?
    
    Chapter 9

50. How does little Hareton regard his father, Hindley?  Why?

51. What part does Hareton play in a scene between Hindley and Heathcliff?  What does the incident indicate about Heathcliff's feelings?

52. What confidence does Catherine share with Nelly in the kitchen?

53. What does Catherine think her relationship will be with Heathcliff after her marriage?

54. Contrast Catherine's love for Edgar with her love for Heathcliff.

55. Why does Heathcliff run away?

56. How does Catherine react to Heathcliff's disappearance?  What foreshadowing is woven into this episode?

57. What are two results of Catherine's illness?

58. How are the forces of calm and storm balanced when Catherine marries Edgar three years later?
    
    Chapter 10

59. How are Catherine and Edgar getting along at Thrushcross Grange when this chapter begins?

60. Describe the changes in Heathcliff when he returns.

61. What effect does Heathcliff's return have on Catherine?  On Edgar?  On Isabella?

62. Why is Edgar concerned about Isabella's love for Heathcliff?

63. Where is Heathcliff staying?  Why does he lodge there?

64. Why is Nelly fearful of the future?
    
    Chapter 11

65. How has Hareton changed when Nelly sees him again?

66. Who has taught Hareton to act rudely and to hate his father?  Why?

67. How does Heathcliff bring the battle at Thrushcross Grange to a dramatic confrontation?

68. Why does Heathcliff make advances toward Isabella?

69. Whom do you see as most responsible for the stormy situation at Thrushcross Grange:  Catherine, Heathcliff, or Edgar?  Why?
    
    Chapter 12

70. What happens at Thrushcross Grange during the three days following Heathcliff's visit?

71. How serious does Catherine 's fit become?

72. What significant statement does Catherine make about death during her illness?

73. Describe Edgar's reaction to the news that Heathcliff and Isabella have eloped.
    
    Chapter 13

74. Describe Catherine and Edgar's actions during the tow months following Heathcliff and Isabella's elopement.

75. What is significant about Catherine's comment about the hills?

76. What prospect cheers the household despite Catherine's illness?

77. What feelings does Isabella have about her life at Wuthering Heights, as revealed in her letter to Nelly?

78. Why does Heathcliff mistreat Isabella?
    
    Chapter 14

79. What is Edgar's response to the news about Isabella?

80. Describe Nelly's reception at Wuthering Heights.

81. What fact does Heathcliff admit during Nelly's visit?

82. What does Heathcliff force Nelly to agree to do?
    
    Chapter 15

83. What is Catherine's response to the letter from Heathcliff?

84. What is Catherine's immediate response to Heathcliff's appearance in person?

85. Briefly describe the conversation between the two lovers.

86. How does Catherine and Heathcliff's meeting conclude?

87. What does this scene indicate about the relationship between Catherine and Heathcliff?
    
    Chapter 16

88. What happens to Catherine after Heathcliff leaves?

89. Why is the birth of a daughter significant?

90. Describe the reactions of Edgar and Heathcliff to Catherine's death?

91. What curse does Heathcliff place upon the dead Catherine?

92. What does Heathcliff do to the corpse?

93. What is Nelly's response when she discovers Heathcliff's act?  What do you think of her action?
    
    Chapter 17

94. Briefly describe Isabella's fortune as related in this chapter.

95. What changes are apparent in Isabella after her marriage?

96. What happens to Hindley Earnshaw?  How does Hindley's fate allow Heathcliff to take over Wuthering Heights?

97. How had Edgar changed following the death of his wife?

98. When Nelly and Edgar try to take Hareton away from Wuthering Heights, what does Heathcliff threaten to do?

99. How has Heathcliff revenged himself so far on Hindley and Edgar?
    
    Chapter 18

100. Describe the young Cathy and her life at this point.

101. What circumstances bring Cathy into contact with Wuthering Heights?

102. Describe Cathy's reaction to the news that Hareton is, her cousin.
     
     Chapter 19

103. What kind of boy is Linton when he comes to the Grange after the death of his mother?

104. Why does Heathcliff send for Linton to come and live at Wuthering Heights?
     
     Chapter 20

105. Describe Linton's departure from Thrushcross Grange.

106. How does Heathcliff receive his son and what is his opinion of the boy?

107. How does Linton react to Heathcliff?

108. What use does Heathcliff plan to make of his son?
     
     Chapter 21

109. What is Linton's life like at Wuthering Heights at this time?

110. Hoe does Cathy become reacquainted with Linton?

111. Describe the relationship between Hareton and Cathy.

112. Describe the relationship between Linton and Cathy.

113. Why does Heathcliff want Linton and Cathy to get along? 
     
     Chapter 22

114. Why is the atmosphere depressive at Thrushcross Grange in this chapter?

115. How does Heathcliff persuade Cathy to come to Wuthering Heights?

116. How does Nelly feel about making the trip to Wuthering Heights?
     
     Chapter 23

117. How are Nelly and Cathy received by Linton at the Heights?

118. What causes a serious quarrel between Cathy and Linton?

119. What is important about the fact that Edgar and Nelly are sick at the same time?
     
     Chapter 24

120. What discovery does Nelly make when she is well again?

121. What reason does Cathy give for her visits to Linton?

122. What do Cathy's and Linton's thoughts about the ideal way to spend a summer day reveal about their differences?

123. What is Hareton trying to do and why?

124. How does Edgar react to the news of Cathy's visits to Wuthering Heights?

125. How much time has passed between the events Nelly just related and the present, where Nelly is telling the tale?

126. What suggestion does Nelly make to Lockwood?  How does Lockwood react?

127. How does Edgar feel about Cathy's marrying Linton?

128. How does Linton get permission to see Cathy?

129. What is Edgar's state of health and Linton's?
     
     Chapter 25
     
     Chapter 26

130. How does Linton appear physically and emotionally during his first meeting on the moors with Cathy?

131. Why does Cathy agree to meet with Linton again?
     
     Chapter 27

132. How does Heathcliff get Cathy to Wuthering Heights?

133. Why does Heathcliff imprison Cathy and Nelly at the Heights?

134. What is Cathy's reaction to Heathcliff's plan?

135. How long is Nelly imprisoned at Wuthering Heights?
     
     Chapter 28

136. What tale does Nelly discover has been circulated about her disappearance and Cathy's?

137. Where is Cathy?  According to Linton, what are the plans for Cathy?

138. How does Cathy manage to escape the Heights to be with her dying father?

139. Describe Edgar's state of mind at his death.

140. How are Edgar's plans to alter his will thwarted?

141. What now appears to be the future of Cathy and Thrushcross Grange?
     
     Chapter 29

142. What plans does Heathcliff reveal when he come to the Grange after Edgar's funeral?

143. What does Heathcliff reveal to Nelly about his actions concerning the elder Catherine's grave?

144. Why is it significant that Heathcliff has felt Catherine's presence outside the bedroom window at Wuthering Heights?

145. What is the only thing that Heathcliff takes from Thrushcross Grange besides Cathy?
     
     Chapter 30

146. What is Cathy's life like at Wuthering Heights?

147. What happens to Linton?

148. How had Heathcliff managed to prevent Cathy from gaining control of Thrushcross Grange?

149. Who tries to be friendly with Cathy at Wuthering Heights?  How does Cathy respond?

150. How does Nelly conclude her story to Lockwood?

151. What are Lockwood's plans?
     
     Chapter 31

152. Describe the situation Lockwood finds when he arrives at Wuthering Heights.

153. Why is Hareton trying to learn to read?  How does Cathy react to his effort?

154. What state is Heathcliff in?  What is happening to his plans for revenge?
     
     Chapter 32

155. What changes does Lockwood find at Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange when he returns?

156. Why is Hareton fearful of becoming Cathy's friend?  What earlier event in the story does his comment evoke?

157. How do Cathy and Hareton make peace?
     
     Chapter 33

158. What does Cathy resolve after her argument with Heathcliff?

159. What does Heathcliff see in Hareton's and Cathy's eyes that gives him a shock?

160. What has happened to Heathcliff's desire for revenge?

161. What obsesses Heathcliff at this point?
     
     Chapter 34

162. How does Heathcliff act during his final days?

163. How does Heathcliff's desire to change his will recall Edgar's situation before his death?

164. Why is it significant that Nelly finds Heathcliff's body with his hand on the sill, the skin broken but not bleeding?

165. Who is the only person who seems to mourn Heathcliff's death?

166. Where is Heathcliff buried?

167. What are Cathy and Hareton's plans?

168. What stories are being circulated by the neighbors about Heathcliff's ghost and Catherine?

169. When Lockwood visits the graves of Catherine, Edgar, and Heathcliff, what does he think about the stories of the ghost?

170. How has harmony been restored to Wuthering Heights and Thrushcross Grange?