Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights is best described as a Victorian novel. Here's a comprehensive explanation:
Victorian Novel: The term "Victorian" relates to the period during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). Wuthering Heights was published in 1847, during the early part of this era. Victorian novels often deal with issues such as class, society, and morality, exploring the complexities of human emotions and social conventions. Wuthering Heights fits this description as it delves into themes of passion, revenge, social class, and the nature of love, making it a quintessential part of nineteenth-century English literature.
Now let's briefly understand why it does not fit the other descriptions:
Renaissance Prose: This refers to literary works from the Renaissance period, which occurred from the 14th to the 17th century, much earlier than the Victorian era. Hence, Wuthering Heights does not belong to this category.
French Fiction: Although French literature has its unique style and themes, Wuthering Heights was written by an English author, Emily Brontë, and set in the English moorlands, making it distinctly English.
English Autobiography: An autobiography is a self-written account of the author's life. Wuthering Heights is a fictional story and not a portrayal of Brontë's personal life; thus, it cannot be categorized as an autobiography.
In summary, due to its publication during the Victorian era and its exploration of the themes characteristic of that time, Wuthering Heights is best classified as a Victorian novel.