Listen&Learn: Wuthering Heights

Posted by: Jaksyn Peacock

Learn about a classic novel that disturbed its early readers

A depiction of Heathcliff and Catherine, characters from Emily Brontë's "Wuthering Heights" novel — AI-generated depiction of Heathcliff and Catherine, the central characters in Emily Brontë’s *Wuthering Heights* novel

Pre-listening vocabulary

doomed: expected to end in death or suffering
depiction: the way a story presents a certain topic
unconventional: unusual, unexpected
offensive: causing shock, anger, or pain to someone
pseudonym: a false name that someone uses to hide their real identity
credit: acknowledgement that someone is responsible for their work

Listening activity

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Gapfill exercise

Wuthering Heights is an 1847 novel by English author Emily Brontë. It was the novel Brontë ever completed. It tells the doomed love story of the characters Heathcliff and Catherine. The depiction of romance in Wuthering Heights was very unconventional for its time. Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship is and cruel. Throughout the novel, they repeatedly harm each other and the people around them, causing tragic deaths for many characters. The book was to readers at the time, who found the subject matter morally offensive. Even Brontë’s , author Charlotte Brontë, thought some of the topics were questionable. Wuthering Heights was originally published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. Brontë and her sisters all used pseudonyms so their writing would be taken seriously. She did not receive credit for the novel until after her death in 1848.

Comprehension questions

See answers below

Wuthering Heights was Emily Brontë’s
a. second novel
b. third novel
c. only novel
Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship is best described as
a. innocent and silly
b. strong and healthy
c. messy and cruel
Brontë originally published the novel
a. anonymously
b. under the name of her sister, Charlotte Brontë
c. under the pseudonym Ellis Bell

Discussion/essay questions

Do you think it is important for characters in stories to be likable? Why or why not? When is it useful to have likable characters? When is it not?

Transcript

Wuthering Heights is an 1847 novel by English author Emily Brontë. It was the only novel Brontë ever completed. It tells the doomed love story of the characters Heathcliff and Catherine. The depiction of romance in Wuthering Heights was very unconventional for its time. Heathcliff and Catherine’s relationship is messy and cruel. Throughout the novel, they repeatedly harm each other and the people around them, causing tragic deaths for many characters. The book was shocking to readers at the time, who found the subject matter morally offensive. Even Brontë’s sister, author Charlotte Brontë, thought some of the topics were questionable. Wuthering Heights was originally published under the pseudonym Ellis Bell. Brontë and her sisters all used male pseudonyms so their writing would be taken seriously. She did not receive credit for the novel until after her death in 1848.

Answers to comprehension questions

1c 2c 3c

Written and recorded by Jaksyn Peacock for EnglishClub

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11 comments

Abida says:

Fantastic, I enjoyed listening and learned many points. It’s valuable. I suggest that if you also mention meaning of difficult words.
Anna Roth says:

Thanks for telling the background of the story. Back then, it was a hard time being a woman. Women were seen with less interlectual knowledge than men. And the author could have in mind that love relationships were not always happy once.
I personally, prefer reading novels with a happy ending. The older I get the more I need happy endings, since live has not always happy times and worries can take happiness hard to achieve.
Joseph Webb says:

This novel is presented often on TV now in America, but I never knew the historical importance and context of it, as you have explained here. It adds a huge amount to the understanding and appreciation of the reader. Thank you.
Sandra Fernandes says:

Thank you for taking your time to help us to learn english.
blanca hernandez ramirez says:

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Mia says:

I like this wedsite. Very useful for me. Thank you so much.
ngoc em says:

very good
Sana says:

Really very helpful to learn English effectively and description work is so amazing for beginners to understand.i really appreciate it.
Ahmad says:

Hello
Very,very helpful and well organized.thank you för this site.
Merry christmas and Happy new year
Bekmirza says:

That is fantastic. I think, you have found the incridable way to teach an English very effectively