Wuthering Heights’ adaptation

Description

Wuthering Heights’ adaptation. Maybe this resource should come with a public health warning! It is somewhat exceptional in that it is a ‘no holes barred’ criticism of the ‘classic’! My writing comes from the heart and in this case I had the choice of jettisoning the project altogether or writing what seemed an honest account. I’ve only had this conundrum once before in my writing life – one of the short stories of Oscar Wilde which I absolutely hated because of its remorseless misery! Wuthering Heights posed the same challenge for me, but, as with (aforementioned) The Devoted Friend, I grit my teeth and produced something. But it is not complimentary, in any shape or form!

The plot is covered by the original author, Emily Bronte, at the beginning; then we have all ten principal characters chatting in ‘the play’, followed by teaching input, discussion, review example and quiz.

I hope teachers and students alike find this offering to be useful – and that I don’t end up offending too many Emily Bronte fans!

A cast of 10 (around 15 minutes reading time) plus plot synopsis, teaching input, discussion and quiz.

Sample Text:

Cathy:             And I, Cathy, was the daughter of Catherine and Edgar.

Heathcliff:       (Sarcastically) So, would you have us believe, Hareton, that your father was a model parent?

Hareton:         Hardly. I know he drank and gambled. He was not a happy man. But did you, or did you not, totally take advantage of him?

Heathcliff:       Why, yes! Of course, I did. All part of my master plan! (Pauses) And you, Linton – are you telling us you had the model mother?

Linton:            I know she cared for me – enough to take me away from you.

Heathcliff:       But not, alas enough to secure you a happy future.

Edgar:              (Exploding) And who’s fault was that? Who was it who stole my sister’s child when he was left to my care? She knew I would look after him, treat him as my own

Heathcliff:       Along with your lovely Cathy. (Tutting) So greedy! To take, not just my true love to be your wife but also my son!

Edgar:              And did you ever stop to think with whom both your ‘true love’ and son would be better off?

Narrator:         Of course, he did! But pursued his own wicked ends regardless. (Pauses) But that’s not the half of it. No. He proved he was worse, way worse than that.