📕Wuthering Heights by Emily Brönte.

Impressions

During the Christmas holidays, I read Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. Little did I know it would leave such a strong impression on me. Wuthering Heights proved to me once again that, for a story to be good, there’s no need for kings, queens, or spaceships: fundamentally, life itself is the most profound story. However, the writer should receive all the credit; the power of the story is a consequence of his mastery.

Why is it a great book? Well, I think it’s just art: emotions and message. I wish I could have the ability to write such a story. This book’s effect was amplified because I’m also trying to learn how to tell compelling stories, which is still a work in progress.

Honestly, I don’t have a one-liner for why I loved this book. Though I could speculate a couple of reasons, I don’t understand why I was so impressed with this book. But I was. And that’s something to investigate further. Emily Brontë pressed some buttons at a subconscious level that triggered solid emotions and left a profound impression on me.

Anyway, these are more things I felt reading this book, and they might not be the best reasons to invoke if one tries to write a literary analysis of the book. However, maybe at this stage in my journey, feeling is more important than understanding, as I’m sure these experiences will trigger a switch at some point that will enable me to see things from different perspectives. Let’s see. For now, onto the next one :)

Expressions

• “I would have made a few comments, and requested a short history of the place from the surly owner, but his attitude at the door appeared to demand my speedy entrance, or complete departure, and I had no desire to aggravate his impatience, previous to inspecting the penetralium.”

New words

1. misanthrope = a person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society.
2. behold = see or observe (someone or something, especially of remarkable or impressive nature).
3. wincing = reacting with a slight involuntary grimace or shrinking movement of the body.
4. sullenly = angry and unwilling to smile or be pleasant to people.
5. hedgecutters = a tool with which you cut a garden hedge to keep it tidy.
6. hale = (of an old person) strong and healthy.
7. sinewy = (of a person or animal) lean and muscular.
8. soliloquy = an act of speaking one’s thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play.
9. peevish = having or showing an irritable disposition.
10. advent = the arrival of a notable person or thing.
11. dwelling = a house, flat, or other place of residence. “the proposed dwelling is out of keeping with those nearby”
12. slant = slope or lean in a particular direction; diverge or cause to diverge from the vertical or horizontal. “a ploughed field slanted up to the skyline”
13. stunted = having been prevented from growing or developing properly. “the trees exhibit a stunted appearance”
14. fir = an evergreen coniferous tree with upright cones and flat needle-shaped leaves, typically arranged in two rows. Firs are an important source of timber and resins.
15. gaunt = (of a person) lean and haggard, especially because of suffering, hunger, or age. “a tall, gaunt woman in black”
16. thorn = a stiff, sharp-pointed woody projection on the stem or other part of a plant.
17. limb = an arm or leg of a person or four-legged animal, or a bird’s wing. “they got out, stretching their cramped limbs”
18. jut = extend out, over, or beyond the main body or line of something. “a rock jutted out from the side of the bank”
19. griffin = a mythical creature with the head and wings of an eagle and the body of a lion, typically depicted with pointed ears and with the eagle’s legs taking the place of the forelegs.
20. surly = bad-tempered and unfriendly. “the porter left with a surly expression”
21. penetralium = the innermost (or most secret) part of a building; an inner sanctum; a sanctum sanctorum.
22. pewter = a grey alloy of tin with copper and antimony (formerly, tin and lead). “these lockets are made of gold, silver, or pewter”
23. jug = (British) a cylindrical container with a handle and a lip, used for holding and pouring liquids.
24. tankard = a tall beer mug, typically made of silver or pewter, with a handle and sometimes a hinged lid. “I’ve downed a tankard of ale”
25. ranks = a single line of soldiers or police officers drawn up abreast. “they were drawn up outside their barracks in long ranks”
26. sundry = of various kinds; several. “prawn and garlic vol-au-vents and sundry other delicacies”
27. villainous = relating to, constituting, or guilty of wicked or criminal behaviour. “a villainous plot”
28. gaudily = in a way that is unpleasantly bright in colour or decoration. “tourists were gaudily dressed in Hawaiian shirts”
29. writhe = make twisting, squirming movements or contortions of the body. “he writhed in agony on the ground”
30. recesses = a period of time when the proceedings of a parliament, committee, court of law, or other official body are temporarily suspended. “talks resumed after a month’s recess”
31. homely = (British) (of a place or surroundings) simple but cosy and comfortable, as in one’s own home. “a modern hotel with a homely atmosphere”. (north american) (of a person) unattractive in appearance.
32. stalwart = loyal, reliable, and hard-working. “he remained a stalwart supporter of the cause”
33. countenance = a person’s face or facial expression. “his impenetrable eyes and inscrutable countenance give little away”
34. gaiters = a protective covering of cloth or leather for the ankle and lower leg. “gaiters to keep snow out of your boots”
35. abode = a place of residence; a house or home. “my humble abode”
36. squire = a man of high social standing who owns and lives on an estate in a rural area, especially the chief landowner in such an area. “the squire of Radbourne Hall”
37. slovenly = (especially of a person or their appearance) untidy and dirty. “a fat, slovenly ex-rock star”
38. morose = sullen and ill-tempered. “she was morose and silent when she got home”
39. wade = walk with effort through water or another liquid or viscous substance. “he waded out to the boat”
40. heath = (British) an area of open uncultivated land, typically on acid sandy soil, with characteristic vegetation of heather, gorse, and coarse grasses. “horses were being exercised on the heath”
41. scuttle = a metal container with a handle, used to fetch and store coal for a domestic fire.
42. cinder = a small piece of partly burnt coal or wood that has stopped giving off flames but still has combustible matter in it. “a cold hearth full of cinders”
43. churlish = rude in a mean-spirited and surly way. “it seems churlish to complain”
44. halloo = cry or shout ‘halloo’ to attract attention or to give encouragement to dogs in hunting. “I hallooed in the hope that they might hear my shouts”
45. hail = hail falls. “it hailed so hard we had to stop”
46. cote = a shelter for mammals or birds, especially pigeons.
47. hearth = the floor of a fireplace. “a cheerful fire burning in the hearth”
48. sermon = a talk on a religious or moral subject, especially one given during a church service and based on a passage from the Bible. “I preached my first sermon on original sin”
49. slender = (of a person or part of the body) gracefully thin. “her slender neck”. (of something abstract) barely sufficient in amount or basis. “people of slender means”
50. exquisite = extremely beautiful and delicate. “exquisite, jewel-like portraits”. intensely felt. “the most exquisite kind of agony”
51. evince = reveal the presence of (a quality or feeling); indicate. “the news stories evinced the usual mixture of sympathy and satisfaction”
52. scorn = a feeling and expression of contempt or disdain for someone or something. “I do not wish to become the object of scorn"s
53. miser = a person who hoards wealth and spends as little money as possible. “a typical miser, he hid his money in the house in various places”
54. hasten = be quick to do something. “he hastened to refute the assertion”
55. corrugated = (of a material or surface) shaped into a series of parallel ridges and grooves so as to give added rigidity and strength. “corrugated cardboard”
56. shabby = in poor condition through long use or lack of care. “a conscript in a shabby uniform saluted the car”
57. garment = an item of clothing. “a windproof outer garment”
58. blaze = a very large or fiercely burning fire. “twenty firemen fought the blaze”
59. devoid = entirely lacking or free from. “Lisa kept her voice devoid of emotion”
60. encroach = intrude on (a person’s territory, rights, personal life, etc.). “rather than encroach on his privacy she might have kept to her room”
61. bearish = resembling or likened to a bear, typically in being rough, surly, or clumsy. “a bearish figure with mutton chop whiskers”
62. haughty = arrogantly superior and disdainful. “a look of haughty disdain”
63. assiduity = constant or close attention to what one is doing. “the assiduity with which he could wear down his opponents”
64. marsh = an area of low-lying land which is flooded in wet seasons or at high tide, and typically remains waterlogged at all times.
65. fen = a low and marshy or frequently flooded area of land. “a native species of fens and damp meadows”
66. moor = (British) a tract of open uncultivated upland, typically covered with heather. “a little town in the moors”
67. sagacious = having or showing keen mental discernment and good judgement; wise or shrewd. “they were sagacious enough to avoid any outright confrontation”
68. dispel = make (a doubt, feeling, or belief) disappear. “the brightness of the day did nothing to dispel Elaine’s dejection”
69. scowl = an angry or bad-tempered expression. “she stamped into the room with a scowl on her face”
70. ensconce = establish or settle (someone) in a comfortable, safe place. “Agnes ensconced herself in their bedroom”
71. bog = an area of wet muddy ground that is too soft to support a heavy body. “a peat bog”
72. miscreant = a person who has done something wrong or unlawful. “the police are straining every nerve to bring the miscreants to justice”
73. virulence = extreme bitterness or malevolence. “the virulence of their hatred”
74. perforce = used to express necessity or inevitability. “amateurs, perforce, have to settle for less expensive solutions”
75. condoled = express sympathy for (someone); grieve with. “the priest came to condole with Madeleine”
76. mildew = a thin whitish coating consisting of minute fungal hyphae, growing on plants or damp organic material such as paper. “the flat was very damp and mildewed”
77. garret = a top-floor or attic room, especially a small dismal one. “the solitary genius starving in a cold garret”
78. titter = give a short, half-suppressed laugh; giggle. “her stutter caused the children to titter”
79. snug = comfortable, warm, and cosy; well protected from the weather or cold. “she was safe and snug in Ruth’s arms”
80. pinafore = (british) a collarless sleeveless dress worn over a blouse or jumper. A woman’s loose sleeveless garment, typically full length and worn over clothes to keep them clean.
81. dingy = gloomy and drab. “a dingy room”
82. scroop = to emit a grating or creaking sound. “the gate scrooped as he swung it shut”
83. kennel = a small shelter for a dog.
84. hubbub = a chaotic din caused by a crowd of people. “a hubbub of laughter and shouting”
85. asseverate = declare or state solemnly or emphatically. “he asseverated the need for a just, fair, and united country”
86. nook = a corner or recess, especially one offering seclusion or security. “the nook beside the fire”
87. ajar = (of a door or other opening) slightly open. “the home help had left the window ajar”
88. scamper = (especially of a small animal or child) run with quick light steps, especially through fear or excitement. “he scampered in like an overgrown puppy”
89. lachrymose = tearful or given to weeping. “she was pink-eyed and lachrymose”
90. drowsily = inducing or tending to induce sleep. “spent a drowsy afternoon by the pool”
91. cudgel = a short, thick stick used as a weapon. “they would lie in wait and cudgel him to death”
92. denominated = (of sums of money) be expressed in a specified monetary unit. “the borrowings were denominated in US dollars”. (formal) call; name. “two principal types of word associates can be denominated paradigmatic and syntagmatic”
93. stipend = a fixed regular sum paid as a salary or as expenses to a clergyman, teacher, or public official.