Description
Book SynopsisThe temporal structure of Wuthering Heights has long been regarded as opaque or even flawed. This is explained by the fact that the years 1778, 1801 and 1802 do not entirely cohere with the numerous relative time references in the novel if, as scholarship contends, the years 1801 and 1802 refer to Ellen Dean’s narration of the story. By means of mathematically precise calculations and a grammatical analysis of the text, this critical new approach argues that the time frame of Wuthering Heights is sound if the years 1801 and 1802 date the writing of Mr. Lockwood’s diary. The crucial differentiation between the recording of Mr. Lockwood’s diary and the narration of Ellen Dean’s story leads to a deeper understanding of the intentions of the two narrators and the behaviour of the protagonists.
Table of ContentsPreliminary Notes
I. Questions and Contradictions
II. The Temporal Structure of the Novel
The Report and the Story – Formal and Functional Narrative Aspects
Dating Methodology
The Time Scheme of Mr.Lockwood’s Report
Mr.Lockwood the diarist
Mr.Lockwood the clairvoyant
Mr.Lockwood the patient
Mr.Lockwood the contemporary witness
Mr.Lockwood the tourist
The Time Scheme of Ellen Dean’s Story
Time references based on textual content (internal evidence)
Time references based on numerical data (external evidence)
Time references based on misleading ages
The misleading ages – background and consequences
The Time Scheme of Wuthering Heights
The Report and the Story – Temporal and Chronological Aspects
III. The Chronologies
The Definitive Chronology
The Traditional Chronologies
Sanger’s chronology (1926)
Clay’s commentary on the chronology (1952)
Goodridge’s time structure (1964)
Power’s commentary (1972)
Daley’s almanacs (1974)
Daley’s revision of Sanger’s chronology (1995 and 2003)
IV. A Practical Chronology
Mr.Earnshaw (c.1712–1775)
Mrs.Earnshaw (?–1772)
Heathcliff Earnshaw (?)
Ellen (Nell, Nelly) Dean (1754–)
Hindley Earnshaw (1756–1783)
Frances Earnshaw (c.1757–1778)
Edgar Linton (1761–1800)
Mr.Heathcliff (probably 1763–April 1801)
Isabella Linton (1764–July 1796)
Catherine (Cathy) Earnshaw (1765–20/3/1783)
Hareton Earnshaw (June 1778–)
Mr.Lockwood (probably 1778–)
Catherine (Cathy) Linton (20/3/1783–)
Linton Heathcliff (1783–1801)
V. The Ghost
VI. The Genealogies of the Earnshaw and Linton Families
The Critical Genealogy
The Alternative Genealogies
The Traditional Genealogies
VII. The Chronology as Practical Narratology
Playing with Two Eyewitnesses
Playing with the Temporal Structure
Playing with Time
VIII. Answers and Solutions
Bibliography
