REBECCA BY DAPHNE DU MAURIER (1938)

NOTES

Pre- reading discussion

As this is a rather old story, one as a teacher wonders how students at present times will find
pleasure or meaning to the story. Perhaps creating a feeling of intrigue and suspense may help
students read the story and follow the plot with interest. When it was published in 1938 it was
unputdownable and Alfred Hitchcock’s film 1940 version became an immediate huge success.
We never learn the narrator’s name. She’s a naïve, not very experienced or self-confident woman
who falls in love and is in awe to Maxim De Winter, a wealthy aristocrat and a recently widower.
First wife Rebecca, whom we never meet in person, was an intriguing, elegant and most beautiful
woman.

Slides
1-2: Introduce them to setting in time and the author. You can get them to read this biography.
Make them see where she died.
https://www.bl.uk/people/daphne-du-maurier
3-5: Exploit visually these book covers. Many interesting ideas will surely come up connected to the
story.
6: Elicit the meaning of the word GOTHIC.
7: These 3 opening paragraphs are famous and anticipate several ideas in the story. Discuss with
them what they think the meaning of her dream was:
Manderly, open, welcoming gates, closed gates
(When it’s time for you start the novel, you may read the whole introduction with them and
anticipate what may have happened.)
8-9: Discuss chapter names to elicit some plot lines :

 Chapters 1: I Meet Maxim de Winter

 Chapter 2: A Day Out Together
 Chapter 3: In Love
 Chapter 4: I Leave Monte Carlo
 Chapter 5: I Come to Manderly
10: Monte Carlo: Beautiful summer resort for the very rich, capital city of Monaco, where the
narrator and Maxim de Winter meet.
11-12: exploit some simple ideas of the main characters through their physical appearance.
13-14: establish the tone of intrigue and suspense.

1
15-16-17: Point out the image of the servants in the picture, the need to have a large staff for these
mansions. They may have watched Downton Abbey. They could describe this large country home
and explain its location.
18: Mr and Mrs de Winter, the newlyweds will have to share their married lives with servants and a
special housekeeper: Mrs Danvers. She’s been living at Manderley for a great number of years.
What are your impressions?

While-discussion and post-discussion

As you go on reading, the following themes will most surely arise:

 Jealousy and competition between first wife and second wife. Is this a common feeling in
relationships?
 Insecurity, lack of self-confidence, a feeling of inadequacy. We never get to know second
Mrs de Winter’s name.
 Personal growth, maturity, self-knowledge
 Guilt and innocence. In spite of the crimes, should Maxim de Winter be punished? Who is to
blame? Why?
 Discuss the different attitudes and behaviours of the main characters and how they affected
each other. Who is your most favourite character? Who is the least favourite? Account for
your answers.
 Who was the real Rebecca? What do you feel about her?

There are two film versions: 1940 Alfred Hitchcock’s black and white version and 2020 Netflix
remake recently released.
20-24: compare the actors and discuss their physique du role.
As you watch the following trailers, compare: background music, actors, plot.

 Hitchcock’s version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d9eWjSt1VQw

 Netflix version: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LFVhB54UqvQ