Abstract

Wuthering Heights is the only work of Emily Bronte, a famous British writer. This masterpiece not only helps her win a seat in English Literature but also is a representative work among gothic fictions. This thesis intends to discuss the relations between Wuthering Heights and traditional gothic fictions then point out the inheritance and transcendence in Wuthering Heights. This thesis can be separated into three parts. The first is to tell the origin and social background information of gothic as well as the different relationship between Emily Bronte and gothic fictions. The second part is about the inheritance from shaping characteristics, portraying environment and traditional vengeful theme. While the third part is about transcendence over gothic fictions through unique female perspective, themes and ways of narration make gothic fictions more attractive and lay a basic foundation for the gothic fictions in the future.

Key words: Wuthering Heights, gothic, inheritance, transcendence

CONTENTS

中文摘要

Abstract

1. Introduction 1

2. Emily Bronte and Gothic Fictions 2

2.1. The origin of gothic fictions and its social setting2

2.2. The autobiographic factors in Wuthering Heights 3

3. The Inheritance of Traditional Gothic Fictions 4

3.1. The gothic factors in shaping characters 5

3.2. The gothic factors in portraying environment 6

3.3. The vague in narration 6

3.4. The inheritance of gothic themes 7

4. The Transcendence of the Traditional Gothic Fictions 7

4.1. The transcendence in traditional themes 8

4.2. The transcendence in the ways of narration 9

4.3. The transcendence in artistic expression-------symbolism 9

4.4. The use of unique female perspective 10

5. Conclusion 12

Works Cited 13