Intro to Wuthering Heights What are the conventions of a Romantic Gothic and why are they important? How can our passions destroy us?

Context Author: Emily Bronte Publish Date: 1847 Country of Publish: England Style: Romantic Gothic Novel Time Period: Victorian England (mid-late 1800s) Post-Romanticism Inspired by the French and American Revolutions, the Spanish Inquisition, Industrialization, Social Change, and Scientific Advancement Interesting Facts: Emily died a year after her novel was published Emily and her sisters Charlotte and Ann were both accomplished writers, although they originally published under male pseudonymns

Brief Overview of Plot/Structure Story: Follows the multi-generational love story of Heathcliff and Catherine Setting: The wild moors of England Structure—Frame Story: Begins from the perspective of Mr. Lockwood, an anti-social man renting a room from Heathcliff

Symbols, Motifs, Thematic Ideas Doubling and Pairs Repetition and Cycles Nature vs. Culture OR Savage vs. Civilized Symbols Moors Ghosts Thematic Ideas The precariousness of social class The dangers of refusing to change The destructiveness of nature Destructive passion Cycles of pain

Reception THEN… NOW… Too dark! Too violent! Too sexual! Jane Eyre was waaayyy better! Women can’t be writers! NOW… Finest example of a Victorian Gothic! Women write the BEST Gothics!

The Victorian Gothic Emerged from the Romantic tradition in the late 1700s-early 1800s What is Romanticism? Victorian Gothic=mid-late 1800s Characteristics include the following: The Supernatural Extreme Emotion Violent Passion Aristocratic Decay Evil Mystery Physical and Psychological Terror Madness Hereditary Curses Doubling (duality within a character; good vs. evil) The Victorian Gothic evolved from previous forms of Gothic in that it moved the elements of a traditional Gothic from fantastical to relatable/average settings and characters. What is the effect of this move?

Influences on the Victorian Gothic Skepticism towards traditional religious values Corruption in the church Developments in science, technology, and anthropology Increase in beliefs in unconventional viewpoints Evolutionary theory (Darwin) Spiritualism Atavism

The Byronic Hero: The Ultimate Bad Boy Lord Byron Inspired by Milton’s Satan (Paradise Lost) and Napoleon Bonaparte Extreme version of the Romantic Hero Think Indiana Jones Examples of the Byronic Hero Heathcliff, Captain Ahab, The Phantom, Frankenstein’s Monster, Dylan McKay Characteristics of the Byronic Hero: Highly intelligent (ruthless, arrogant, cynical, cunning, manipulative, doubting) Self-Aware (self-critical, tortured, traumatized, prone to substance abuse, suicidal, do not acknowledge their good qualities) Passionate (reckless, emotional, easily angered, violent, emotional, dark) Attractive (sexually appealing, sensual, aggressive) Strong values (unwavering belief in core beliefs, justice at any cost) Anti-Authority (alienated, rebellious, vengeful)

Assignment Read Chapters 1-17 (Prologue=1-3; Childhood=1-17) Maintain a two-sided reading journal of approximately 30 entries that addresses the following: Interesting/important/ significant quotation OR specific text reference (chapter number and page number) Explanation of how it progresses any of the following: Victorian Gothic Byronic Hero Characterization Symbol/Motif Theme Significant Personal Reaction

Resources University of Oxford New World Encyclopedia Norton Anthology of English Literature