‘Rebecca’ Reading Log
Ch Summary and character involved Key Quotations and analysis
apt
er
1 Summary: “Last night I dreamed I saw Manderley”- central plot point- rest of the novel explains the mystery
She has a dream she returns to Maderley, which surrounding it.
has been reclaimed by nature and a shell of its
former self. Then she reminds herself she cannot “Nature had come into her own again”- romantic- appreciation of nature
return when she wakes.
“Thread of its former self” “chocked” “skeleton claws”- nature presented as powerful, ominous and
Characters: sentient- Gothic use of setting to establish lost nature of character and typical abandoned house- revisiting
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter the past.
“Moonlight”- gothic symbol
2 Summary: “Swept clean by an unseen hand”- Foreshadow influence of Recceca
She talks about their life in an unnamed country,
where they have comfort in a mundane and “We have both known fear and loneliness and very great distress”- build suspense about this unknown
repetitive life, desperate for English news as a event
form of entertainment. She reminisces of nature
and routine in Maderley and mentions Mrs “We have no secrets now”- suggests there was secrecy before- suspense and mystery
Danvers commenting on Rebecca when the
narrator complains about something. She “Transported from this indifferent island to the realities of an English spring”- preference of England over
describes her unhappy experience with the nosy foreign country
Mrs Van Hopper, which she compares to her
current peaceful experience with her husband. “The performance, never varying, of the laying of the tea, the silver tray, the kettle. The snowy cloth”- idea
She recounts her and Mrs Van Hopper first of repetition - cyclical nature suggests entrapment
meeting Max de Winter, who was staying at the
maitre d’hotel with them. “There were never any complaints when Mrs de Winter was alive” (Mrs Danvers)- first mention of
Rebecca- see how close she was to Mrs D and establish idea of comparison between Rebecca and the
Characters: narrator
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter
Mr de Winter “Well it is over now, finished and done with” “Manderley is no more”- mystery as to how it ended again
Mrs Danvers mentioned
Mrs Van Hopper
“Leaves rustle.. Sound like the stealthy movement of a woman in an evening dress”- reference to Rebecca
sneaking around- or supernatural image of her “haunting” them
“Timid bell” “obvious inexperience””I had not the courage to refuse it”- presents narrator as shy and
, cowardly
“They say he can’t get over his wife’s death”
3 Summary: “Her method of attack” “stake a claim” “employ me as bait to deploy her prey”- Mrs Van Hopper presented
She continues to talk about her first meeting with a
Max, whom she feels bad for as he is being
interrogated by Mrs Van Hopper. He sends her a “Convention was too strong for me”- felt she must be forced to maintain social convention- key throughout
note after apologising for his behaviour. the play
Characters: “ I was reminded of a portrait seen in a gallery, I had forgotten where, of a Gentlemen Unknown” “I wish I
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter could remember the Old Master who painted that portrait,... its eyes followed one from the dusky frame”-
Mr de Winter brooding and dark but alluring character- idea he is always watching
Mrs Van Hopper
“Im told its like a fairyland”(Mrs Van Hopper)- Maderley presented as beautiful- contrast to initial reaction
“Red-elbowed and lanky haired” “I said something obvious and stupid”- presentation of narrator feeling out
of place and socially inept
“I came away in rather a hurry” (Max)- Murder of Rebecca
“I noticed the subtle change in his eyes, the indefinable something that lingered there”-begins idea that he
is hiding something.
“For no known reason it(the painting) did not please me anymore; the face was stiff and lifeless and the
lace collar and the beard were like props in a charade”- idea that Max is pretending to be someone- hiding
who he is.
4 Summary: “Knocking over a vase of stiff anemone”- clumsy- ill suited to her social class + embarrassing.- she does
Mrs Van Hopper caught influenza, and was taken not fit in
care of by a nurse for a few weeks. The narrator
is free for a few weeks, and has lunch with Max “I wondered why it was that this home of his … should inevitably silence him”- mystery surrounding
who then takes her out for the afternoon. They Manderley
have fun, but then they go to a high cliff, which
frightens the narrator. They return back and Max “I did not know one could buy companionship… primitive idea… like an Eastern slave market”(Max)-
gives her a book of poetry (written by Rebecca) orientalism- concept of friends foreign in the East, which was viewed as less sophisticated + idea narrator
and she recalls Rebecca’s death. does not have any friends- lonely+isolated
Characters: “You have a lovely and unusual name”(Max to narrator)=- ironic as we don't know what it is.
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter
Mr de Winter “You will either have to give in and become some sort of Blaise yourself, or stay as you are and be
Ch Summary and character involved Key Quotations and analysis
apt
er
1 Summary: “Last night I dreamed I saw Manderley”- central plot point- rest of the novel explains the mystery
She has a dream she returns to Maderley, which surrounding it.
has been reclaimed by nature and a shell of its
former self. Then she reminds herself she cannot “Nature had come into her own again”- romantic- appreciation of nature
return when she wakes.
“Thread of its former self” “chocked” “skeleton claws”- nature presented as powerful, ominous and
Characters: sentient- Gothic use of setting to establish lost nature of character and typical abandoned house- revisiting
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter the past.
“Moonlight”- gothic symbol
2 Summary: “Swept clean by an unseen hand”- Foreshadow influence of Recceca
She talks about their life in an unnamed country,
where they have comfort in a mundane and “We have both known fear and loneliness and very great distress”- build suspense about this unknown
repetitive life, desperate for English news as a event
form of entertainment. She reminisces of nature
and routine in Maderley and mentions Mrs “We have no secrets now”- suggests there was secrecy before- suspense and mystery
Danvers commenting on Rebecca when the
narrator complains about something. She “Transported from this indifferent island to the realities of an English spring”- preference of England over
describes her unhappy experience with the nosy foreign country
Mrs Van Hopper, which she compares to her
current peaceful experience with her husband. “The performance, never varying, of the laying of the tea, the silver tray, the kettle. The snowy cloth”- idea
She recounts her and Mrs Van Hopper first of repetition - cyclical nature suggests entrapment
meeting Max de Winter, who was staying at the
maitre d’hotel with them. “There were never any complaints when Mrs de Winter was alive” (Mrs Danvers)- first mention of
Rebecca- see how close she was to Mrs D and establish idea of comparison between Rebecca and the
Characters: narrator
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter
Mr de Winter “Well it is over now, finished and done with” “Manderley is no more”- mystery as to how it ended again
Mrs Danvers mentioned
Mrs Van Hopper
“Leaves rustle.. Sound like the stealthy movement of a woman in an evening dress”- reference to Rebecca
sneaking around- or supernatural image of her “haunting” them
“Timid bell” “obvious inexperience””I had not the courage to refuse it”- presents narrator as shy and
, cowardly
“They say he can’t get over his wife’s death”
3 Summary: “Her method of attack” “stake a claim” “employ me as bait to deploy her prey”- Mrs Van Hopper presented
She continues to talk about her first meeting with a
Max, whom she feels bad for as he is being
interrogated by Mrs Van Hopper. He sends her a “Convention was too strong for me”- felt she must be forced to maintain social convention- key throughout
note after apologising for his behaviour. the play
Characters: “ I was reminded of a portrait seen in a gallery, I had forgotten where, of a Gentlemen Unknown” “I wish I
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter could remember the Old Master who painted that portrait,... its eyes followed one from the dusky frame”-
Mr de Winter brooding and dark but alluring character- idea he is always watching
Mrs Van Hopper
“Im told its like a fairyland”(Mrs Van Hopper)- Maderley presented as beautiful- contrast to initial reaction
“Red-elbowed and lanky haired” “I said something obvious and stupid”- presentation of narrator feeling out
of place and socially inept
“I came away in rather a hurry” (Max)- Murder of Rebecca
“I noticed the subtle change in his eyes, the indefinable something that lingered there”-begins idea that he
is hiding something.
“For no known reason it(the painting) did not please me anymore; the face was stiff and lifeless and the
lace collar and the beard were like props in a charade”- idea that Max is pretending to be someone- hiding
who he is.
4 Summary: “Knocking over a vase of stiff anemone”- clumsy- ill suited to her social class + embarrassing.- she does
Mrs Van Hopper caught influenza, and was taken not fit in
care of by a nurse for a few weeks. The narrator
is free for a few weeks, and has lunch with Max “I wondered why it was that this home of his … should inevitably silence him”- mystery surrounding
who then takes her out for the afternoon. They Manderley
have fun, but then they go to a high cliff, which
frightens the narrator. They return back and Max “I did not know one could buy companionship… primitive idea… like an Eastern slave market”(Max)-
gives her a book of poetry (written by Rebecca) orientalism- concept of friends foreign in the East, which was viewed as less sophisticated + idea narrator
and she recalls Rebecca’s death. does not have any friends- lonely+isolated
Characters: “You have a lovely and unusual name”(Max to narrator)=- ironic as we don't know what it is.
Narrator/ Mrs de Winter
Mr de Winter “You will either have to give in and become some sort of Blaise yourself, or stay as you are and be
