Chapter V Practice Quiz — Wuthering Heights
by Emily Bronte — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter V
What happens to Mr. Earnshaw at the beginning of Chapter 5?
His health begins to fail and he becomes confined to the chimney-corner, growing increasingly irritable and protective of Heathcliff.
Why does Mr. Earnshaw become furious with Hindley?
Hindley openly shows scorn and contempt toward Heathcliff, which enrages Mr. Earnshaw to the point of seizing his stick to strike Hindley.
Who advises that Hindley should be sent to college?
The local curate, who also teaches the Linton and Earnshaw children and farms his own bit of land.
How does Mr. Earnshaw respond to the suggestion of sending Hindley away?
He agrees with a heavy spirit, saying Hindley "was nought, and would never thrive as where he wandered."
Who are the two people Nelly says prevent peace in the household after Hindley leaves?
Miss Cathy (Catherine Earnshaw) and Joseph the servant.
How does Nelly describe Joseph's character?
She calls him "the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours."
What influence does Joseph gain over Mr. Earnshaw?
Through relentless sermonizing and pious discoursing, Joseph gains increasing influence over the weakening Mr. Earnshaw, encouraging him to view Hindley as a reprobate and to blame Catherine for misbehavior.
How does Nelly describe Catherine's personality as a child?
Catherine is wild, mischievous, and headstrong with her spirits always at high-water mark, yet she has the bonniest eye, sweetest smile, and lightest foot in the parish.
What is the greatest punishment that can be given to Catherine?
Keeping her separate from Heathcliff is described as the greatest punishment anyone could invent for her.
How does Catherine's relationship with her father change during his illness?
His repeated reproofs and rejection gradually harden her. She initially cries when he says he cannot love her, but over time she laughs off being told to apologize.
What effect does Mr. Earnshaw's favoritism have on Heathcliff?
It provides rich nourishment to Heathcliff's pride and black tempers, feeding his sense of entitlement and arrogance.
How does Emily Bronte use pathetic fallacy in Chapter 5?
A high wind blustering around the house and roaring in the chimney accompanies Mr. Earnshaw's death, mirroring the emotional turbulence of the household.
What is the significance of the frame narrative in Chapter 5?
Nelly's aside to Lockwood, "really, you know, sir, it was in his sinking frame," reminds the reader that this is a mediated, subjective account of events.
Describe the scene of Mr. Earnshaw's death.
He dies quietly in his chair by the fire on a stormy October evening. Catherine leans against his knee, Heathcliff lies on the floor with his head in her lap, and Catherine sings him to sleep as he slips away unnoticed.
Who discovers that Mr. Earnshaw has died?
Joseph steps forward to rouse the master for evening prayers and discovers he has died. Catherine then screams when she puts her arms around his neck and realizes he is gone.
How do Catherine and Heathcliff react to Mr. Earnshaw's death?
They both set up a heart-breaking cry, then comfort each other by imagining heaven together in their innocent talk.
What juxtaposition does Bronte create at the end of Chapter 5?
The children's innocent, beautiful vision of heaven is contrasted with Joseph's cold religious response, as he scolds them for crying over "a saint in heaven."
What does Catherine say to her father just before he dies?
When he asks, "Why canst thou not always be a good lass, Cathy?" she replies, "Why cannot you always be a good man, father?"
What theme does Mr. Earnshaw's favoritism toward Heathcliff introduce?
It introduces the theme of favoritism and its destructive consequences, breeding resentment in Hindley, pride in Heathcliff, and destabilizing the entire family.
How does the theme of rejection shape Catherine in Chapter 5?
Her father's repeated refusals of affection gradually harden her from a sensitive child into a defiant one, foreshadowing her later emotional complexity.
What does Nelly wish at the end of the chapter?
Listening to the children comfort each other with beautiful descriptions of heaven, Nelly wishes they were "all there safe together."