Wuthering Heights uni module given content warning for students

A university has issued a content warning for a literature module featuring Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, warning students it contains "distressing" material. The notice appears on the description of Cardiff University's English Literature module Gothic Fiction: The Victorians, which examines texts from the 19th Century. Students enrolling on the course are advised it includes themes of misogyny, racism and homophobia, as well as "graphic representations of physical and sexual violence". The advisory has sparked debate about the growing use of content warnings in higher education and whether they enhance or hinder engagement with classic literature. A university spokesperson said the content warning "enables students to make an informed decision before choosing the module". "The content warning is intended to warn students that they may find some of the themes in these historic texts distressing and provide an opportunity to discuss concerns with the module leader." Published in 1847, Wuthering Heights is widely considered one of the most influential novels of the Victorian period. Emily Brontë's only novel explores class, racism, revenge and violence in the remote Yorkshire mo

Mar 12, 2026 → Mar 12, 2026