Engels

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vmbo k, vwo
• Leerjaar 5

Demon lover

gemaakt door: Floris Leideritz, Gabor Scholte, Jorrit van der Linden, Stan Speldenbrink

Elizabeth bowen

- born in 1899, Dublin

- died in 1973, London

-lost both her parents

-WW2 

Introduction

Identify two possible interpretations for the story’s ending. What effect does the ending have on you as a reader?  

One possible ending is that Mrs.Drover was killed by the “demon lover” from her past. the demon lover in this story is her fiancee from 25 years ago. The last sentence of the story supports this idea because the taxi driver accelerated without mercy. Maybe her fiancee from 25 years ago felt betrayed and wanted to take revenge. 

Another possible ending is that Mrs.Drover is potentially hallucinating, and that no one is there. Maybe she saw in panic her fiancee, that went missing in WW1. Kathleen the main character is anxious because of the letter and she fears that her old fiancee is haunting her. These things can cause hallucination. 

The story’s ending makes the reader question Mrs. Drover, as weeel shocked. 

Review the description of the story’s setting in the beginning. What mood, or atmosphere, does this passage establish? Cite specific words and phrases to support your answer.  

The beginning of the story sets the setting up as creepy. It makes the reader feel like Mrs. Drover should do her best to be in and out of her old house. the author uses phrases and words like, “batch of clouds”, “unfamiliar queerness”, “no human eye watched Mrs. Drover”, “Dead air came out to meet her” to create the creepy setting. The creepy setting attracts the reader. The creepy setting makes it also a litlle bit mysterious because you don't know what's going to happen. In the beginning of the story you don't know anything about the characters which makes it also creepy and mysterious

Identify two examples of foreshadowing in the story. In what ways to they hint at important events presented later in the story?  

“Her reluctance to look again at the letter came from the fact that she felt intruded upon”  This sentence gives us foreshadowing clues that she is not alone. That someone is inside the house with her.

“She heard nothing…down there a door or window was being opened by someone who chose this moment to leave the house”(83). This passage foreshadows that something bad is about to happen. This gives clues to the reader that someone is following her, or knows her next move.

The flashback from her speaking to her fiancé where he says “I shall be with you, sooner or later”

 

Reread the flashback on page 81. Would the story be as powerful if the events had been told in chronological order without the use of flashback? Explain your thoughts. 

The story would not be as powerful if it was told in chronological order. The flashback adds suspense to the story. The reader doesn’t know anything about the appearance of the letter until the flashback. The flashback also comes at a very natural place in story. It makes the reader feel on the same page as Mrs. Drover. 

How does the war setting make ‘The Demon Lover’ more believable? 

The setting of war adds a sense of unreality and uncertainty to Mrs. Dovers life. Everything is dark, isolated and unfamiliar because she and her family left the house in Londen to avoid the bombing. This helps to convince the reader that supernatural events can happen in the story and emphasizes the unpredictability of Katherine's experiences. For example, the letter on the bed and the taxi driver. It also makes sense that Mrs. Drover may have suffered a psychological disorder because of the war and thus could have hallucinated this story. 

How does the author describe Mrs. Drover’s house at the beginning of the story?  

The author describes Mrs. Drover's house as an abandoned, empty residence that has been vacant for many years. The house is located in a quiet, once-fashionable neighbourhood in London that has now become desolate and neglected due to the war.

The author portrays the house as having an eerie and unsettling atmosphere. It is covered in dust and cobwebs, giving the impression of abandonment. The rooms are described as cold and damp, with a musty smell hanging in the air. 

What are some examples of imagery in the story? 

Desolate London Streets: Bowen paints a picture of the war city, describing the streets as "deserted," with bombed-out buildings and a stillness. This imagery sets a bleak and unsettling backdrop for the story, evoking a sense of isolation and danger.

The Letter: A key element of the story is the letter that Mrs. Drover finds upon her return. The description of the letter as being "freshly opened" with "inking slightly blurred" creates a sense of mystery. The imagery of the letter adds to the suspense as Mrs. Drover becomes increasingly disturbed by its contents.

Dark Figures and Shadows: Bowen employs imagery of dark figures and shadows to enhance the sense of mystery and threat. Mrs. Drover sees a shadowy figure in the distance and encounters a man wearing a dark suit and hat, adding an element of the supernatural and heightening the suspense. 

How does the image of Mrs. Drover in the mirror compare to the way she feels? 

Throughout the story, Mrs. Drover is depicted as a composed and collected woman who maintains a calm and composed demeanour. She returns to her abandoned house during the war with a sense of purpose, intending to collect her belongings and continue with her life. However, as she explores the house, memories of her past and the letter from her former fiancé start to unsettle her.

When Mrs. Drover catches sight of her reflection in the mirror, the contrast between her composed exterior and her inner turmoil becomes apparent. The mirror becomes a metaphorical representation of her true emotional state, which is far from calm and collected. It reveals the cracks beneath her composed facade and the turmoil she is experiencing internally. 

What is the main setting of the story?

1. A small village in Ireland
2. A haunted castle in Glasgow
3. A deserted suburban neighbourhood in London
4. A neighbourhood in New York

Who is the "demon lover" referred to in the title?

1. The main character's current husband
2. A supernatural entity haunting the main character
3. The main character's former romantic partner
4. A mysterious stranger who appears in the story

What is the main character's emotional state throughout the story?

1. Confident and resolute
2. Fearful and anxious
3. Joyful and hopeful
4. Indifferent and detached

How does Elizabeth Bowen create a sense of suspense in the story?

1. Through light-hearted and humorous dialogues.
2. She reveals slowly information about the characters
3. Through fast-paced action scenes
4. Through detailed descriptions of the setting.

How does the story end?

1. the story has an open ending.
2. the main character has so much fear that she disappears.
3. he demon lover takes the main character away.
4. The main character and the demon lover fall in love again.

This was our lesson