A-Level Literature – Wuthering Heights: Gothic and Romantic Elements

This lesson examines the Gothic and Romantic elements in Wuthering Heights, focusing on how Brontë uses dark, isolated settings, supernatural occurrences, intense emotion, and the wild Yorkshire moors to explore themes of love, obsession, and revenge. Students analyse key passages to identify literary techniques that create atmosphere and characterisation, consider the role of Heathcliff as a Byronic hero, and reflect on how Gothic and Romantic conventions shape readers’ interpretations. Contextual links to the Gothic and Romantic literary traditions are also explored to deepen understanding of the novel’s thematic and stylistic complexity.