AP Lit. Schedule for Wuthering Heights

Essay Prompts and Honor Statements

Chapters 1-3 (Essay #1: Narrator)Our (first) narrator, Mr. Lockwood, is somewhat of an enigma: He is only really characterized through his description of the events and people he encounters, leaving it up to the reader to use these descriptions to infer what we can about Lockwood. What is Lockwood’s first reaction to Heathcliff? What connections does Lockwood think exist between them? What do Lockwood’s comments about Heathcliff tells us about him? Your analysis should use evidence from the text to support your ideas. Remember, characterization is accomplished through a character’s words, thoughts, attitudes, and actions as well as by what other characters say and think about that person. Consider also physical description, age, social status, and family.

Chapters 4-7 (Honor Statement #1)Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation, and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain used it and how it works.

Chapters 8-9 (Essay #2: Conflict)A central conflict of the novel is the choice Catherine must make between Heathcliff and Edgar. In choosing, she is torn between two contrasting ways of life. What does each man signify in the novel? How is the conflict presented here?

Chapters 10-12 (Honor Statement #2)Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation, and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain used it and how it works.

Chapters 13-15 (Essay #3: Setting)Wuthering Heights is particularly notable for its unforgettable setting. In this essay, discuss the way that the techniques that Brontë uses to make the setting vivid and real to readers, and the extent to which these techniques are effective. What are the primary locations? How are these places made vivid — how does the author use extended description, background information, and sensory details to make the setting come alive for readers? How do the main characters fit in the settings — do they seem at home? out of place? How do their reactions and interactions with the setting affect the realism of the locations?

Chapters 16-18 (Honor Statement #3)Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation, and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain used it and how it works.

Chapters 19-21 (Essay #4: Dreams & Reality)Each of the central characters in Wuthering Heights is introduced with certain dreams, plans, and expectations. In the course of the novel, these characters must come to terms with the difference between their dreams and the reality of the

Wuthering Heights Schedule Information A.P. Literature and Composition

world around them. Choose a character, and write a paper on your novel that examines how the main characters navigate the journey from dreams to reality — What kind of course do they follow, and how are they changed for their journey?

Chapters 22-28 (Honor Statement #4)Write an Honor Statement which includes (1) how many of the assigned pages you read carefully, quantity of annotation, and (2) three literary elements you noticed—cite page number, quote the passage, name the element, explain why Twain used it and how it works.

Chapters 32-34 (Essay #5: Sympathy for the Devil)Critics have famously claimed that Wuthering Heights is "truly a novel without a hero or heroine." The characters in the novel have a great capacity for violence and hatred, and revenge is one of Heathcliff's greatest motivations. Is Heathcliff justified in the revenge he takes on Hindley? If the novel truly does not have a hero (or heroine), does this make it difficult for readers to sympathize with/relate to the characters? Do you think Heathcliff's childhood experiences at Wuthering Heights contributed to his monstrous behavior as an adult? Is Heathcliff a hero or a villain? How does this ambiguity contribute to the meaning of the novel?

Scoring Guidelines for Wuthering Heights Essays (27 points possible)

AP Score (x3 for grade points)

1-2 3-4 5 6-7 8-9Requirements Poor Fair Good Excellent Superior

Thesis Incorrect or missing

Very general, little more than a restatement of the prompt.

Obvious, may or may not address complexity of the task.

Appropriate and well founded, addresses complexities of the task.

Thorough and thoughtful, incorporates complexities of the task.

Textual Details & Support

Not provided Limited evidence in support of thesis.

Simple evidence in support of thesis.

Appropriate evidence in support of thesis.

Abundant appropriate evidence in support of thesis.

Analytical Explanation

Not provided Vague or irrelevant; may be summary rather than analysis.

Sometimes vague and irrelevant; sometimes logical but obvious.

Logical but obvious analysis; tries to show HOW the parts relate to the whole.

Thoughtful and insightful; clearly shows HOW the parts relate to the whole

Style & Mechanics Errors repeatedly distract the reader; unnatural, monotonous, or choppy

Errors sometimes distract the reader; simple sentences, sometimes awkward and unskillful

Errors are noticed but are not distracting; inconsistent control, somewhat simplistic, pedestrian

Errors are unnoticeable unless specifically looked for; consistent control over simple sentences, still developing control over complex sentence structure

Errors are unnoticeable and punctuation actually enhances readability; consistent clarity and skillful, demonstrates control over a wide range of sentence techniques

Wuthering Heights Schedule Information A.P. Literature and Composition