First and Last Lines

First: “I have just returned from a visit to my landlord--- the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with.” (Bronte 1)

The beginning of the book already hints of trouble and discomfort after a man visits Wuthering Heights.

Last: “I lingered round them, under that begin sky; watched the mouths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers on the quiet earth.” (Bronte 212)

Naturalistic imagery is used at the ending, a common trend of romantic writing.

Figurative Language and Rhetorical Devices

“And stretching an arm out to seize the importunate branch: instead of which, my fingers closed on the figures of a little, ice-cold hand!” (Bronte 14)

Symbolism was used here in Lockwood’s dream when Catherine came at him in the form of a ghost. This paranormal literature was very common in the Gothic Era but shunned in the Victorian time period. The ghost represented Heathcliff’s past but also his authentic desires.

Imagery

“listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how anyone could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers on the quiet earth.” (Bronte 212)

Here naturalistic imagery is used in the last sentence. This correlates with the romantic style of writing that was popular in the Gothic literature that Bronte used to write her hit novel.

Structure

Two different narratives

One who is a newcomer to the town and the other who has been awhile and tells her story through first hand experience.

Diction

Self-reflective diction with intense imagery and English spelling of certain words.

Syntax

Bronte combines many long and elaborate sentences with few but powerful short sentence structures.

Sound and Rhythm

Bronte has beautiful balance in her writing and at times certain lines even rhyme as poetry would.

Use of Point of view

Two different narratives

One who is a newcomer to the town and the other who has been awhile and tells her story through first hand experience.

Narrative Voice

The first narrative, Mr.Lockwood, has a very judgmental town of Wuthering Heights and it’s background. Nelly, the maid, speaks with more detail and emotion as she had experienced and gotten to know nearly all sides of the characters. Although she has some bias, she knows them far better than Heathcliff ever would.

Themes

Love: This tragic love story describes the endless love that can even overcome death.

Social status: As the Victorian Era comes in, the English way is favored and the middle class begins to grow. The norm becomes women marry up into higher social classes just like Catherine did to seek nobility.