Rebeccaby Daphne Du Maurier

Study Guide/Inner – Outer Circle questions

Gothic Tradition: Rebecca has been called the first and best gothic romance of the twentieth century. Before you start reading it, you might want to review what you have already learned about the “gothic tradition” in literature. Your earlier studies of Poe’s short stories will help you understand Rebecca.Gothic literature often contains the following characteristics:

  • subtle or obvious use of the supernatural
  • individual characters who see themselves at the mercy of forces out of their control, which they do not understand
  • motif of the “double”—an individual with both good and evil characteristics; a house with a “good” side and a “bad” side
  • often involves the persecution of a young, insecure, fair-haired woman who is forced apart from her true love
  • hero-villains who are haunted by the past
  • often a secondary character with a disability will offer words of unusual insight and truth, which may be disregarded by the primary characters
  • a witch-like character
  • dream experiences
  • a circular structure (begins and ends at same place)
  • elements of death and decay, blood and violence, and fear of death
  • dark mysterious houses that seem to take on a personality of their own
  • common images: black, moon, moonlight, snakes, cobwebs, spiders, covered furniture (looks ghostly), fur, pounding seas, thunderstorms

STARTING THE NOVEL: quirky beginning with a dream sequence. Stick with the book. The first 20 pages or so set the MOOD for the book by describing some place. This place will play an important part in the book later.

  1. One of the most famous first lines begins the novel, “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” At some point as you read the novel, the meaning of this line will become clear. Jot it down here.
  1. What are the setting and circumstances at the beginning of the book?
  1. What has happened to Manderley?
  1. As memories of Jasper, Manderley, Favell, and Mrs. Danvers (whoever they all are) float through the narrator’s mind, a flashback takes us back to the narrator’s late teenage years. What trip does the narrator remember?
  1. Who is Mrs. Van Hopper? What type of person is she?
  1. Why is Maxim de Winter in mourning?
  1. When Mrs. Van Hopper gets sick, the narrator ends up lunching with someone. Explain why that lunch turns out to be important.
  1. Who is Rebecca, and how is she connected to a book of poetry?
  1. Fill in this quote: “We can ______go back ______, that much is certain. The ______is still too ______for us.”
  1. What effect does Maxim have on the narrator?
  1. Explain this quote (p. 37), “I’d like to keep this moment and never forget it.”
  1. What do you think represents the “great gulf” between Maxim and the narrator represents? Explain your answer, noting pages 37-41.
  1. Why does Rebecca become a phantom to the narrator?
  1. In chapter 6, what happens to change the course of events?
  1. Explain the narrator’s vision of what the future holds for her and Maxim. How does Mrs. Van Hopper react?
  1. Describe Manderley as the narrator first sees it.
  1. Who is Frith? What are your first impressions of him?
  1. Who is Mrs. Danvers? What are your first impressions of her?
  1. The narrator senses a distance developing between herself and Maxim. Why does she think it is happening?
  1. Rebecca seems like a ghost at times, but she doesn’t need to appear in bodily form. Who keeps her presence “alive” in the house? Why?
  1. Danverswould tell you the name of the real mistress of Manderley. Who would that be?
  1. Explain the statement (p. 90), “[Mrs. Danvers] came…as though she were a warden and I in custody.”

The clues about Rebecca continue….

  1. Who arrives for a visit and what effect does this have on the new Mrs. de Winter?
  1. The narrator puts on the infamous raincoat and she and Maxim go for a walk. What happens, and why do they quarrel?
  1. Who is Frank Crawley?
  1. What information about Rebecca does Frank Crawley offer?
  1. Who is Beatrice, and what information does she offer about Rebecca?
  1. Beatrice and Giles rarely visited the house while Rebecca was alive, and now they come often. Explain.

Good looking, friendly, drives a sports car, but he’s no Maxim….

  1. What does the narrator break, and how does she cause disruption in the house?
  1. Why do the de Winters quarrel?
  2. Why does Maxim briefly leave?
  3. Who does the narrator meet on the beach? Why is he somewhat like a prophet-figure?
  4. Who arrives in a sports car to visit Mrs. Danvers?
  5. Where have Mrs. Danvers and the visitor, somewhat secretly, been visiting?
  6. Is the narrator comfortable with the visitor? Explain.
  7. After the visitor leaves, where does the narrator decide to go?
  8. What does the narrator find when she explores the west wing?
  9. Why does Mrs. Danvers blame herself for Rebecca’s death?
  10. What conclusions about Mrs. Danvers do you come to, after reading the west wing scene?

“Where is dear Rebecca?”……..

  1. Who is Gran, and what guffaw does she make in the narrator’s presence?
  1. Explain the grandmother’s retreat into the past.
  1. What additional facts do you now learn about Rebecca?
  1. What grand affair will soon be held at Manderley?
  1. What does the narrator decide to wear? How does she get the idea for the outfit?
  1. Why does the outfit cause a stir at the ball?
  1. How does Maxim react to the narrator’s outfit? What about Maxim’s reaction leaves a lot to be desired?
  1. Why does the narrator mutter, “I ought to have known” following her appearance in the costume?
  1. Does the narrator return to the ball? How does she dress?
  1. When Maxim fails to turn up in their bedroom that night, what does the narrator fear?
  1. Do you think the narrator establishes herself as the new mistress of Manderley to the party-goers? Why or why not?

Danversis confronted, and rockets are launched……

  1. After the narrator sees Danverswatching her from a window, what does the narrator decide to do?
  2. Describe Danvers’ reaction to the confrontation. What does she explain?
  1. Why does Danverslead the narrator the window?
  1. Guns boom and rockets are launched from the cove. What is going on?
  1. What news does the harbormaster bring?
  1. Why does Maxim say, “It’s too late, my darling. We’ve lost our little chance of happiness” ?
  1. Maxim FINALLY describes his first marriage to the narrator. What does he say?

True Confessions…..

  1. How does the confession change the narrator? Does she seem younger and more innocent or older and more mature? Explain.
  1. Explain the relationship between Rebecca and Jack Favell.
  1. Why does Maxim keep the marriage going?
  1. Where did Rebecca repeatedly take lovers?
  1. It is now revealed why Beatrice would not have visited at Manderley often when Rebecca was alive. Explain.
  2. What does Rebecca tell Maxim that night on the boat that drives him into a rage?
  1. Why would the idea an heir upset Maxim so?
  1. What is the real story of Rebecca’s death?
  1. Why has the boat stayed submerged so long?
  1. How does the narrator react after she hears the story?
  1. Who are Captain Searle, Colonel Julyan, and Inspector Welch?
  1. How did Maxim deal with a dead body turning up on another town’s shore months after Rebecca’s death?

The inquest cometh…..

  1. After Colonel Julyan leaves, Maxim tells the narrator something about a bullet wound on the corpse. Explain.
  2. What does Frank Crawley caution Maxim to do at the inquest? Why? What does the narrator suspect about Frank?
  1. Who is Tabb, and why is his testimony important at the inquest?
  1. The coroner asks Maxim to describe his marriage to Rebecca. Just as Max is about the answer, what conveniently happens?
  1. What verdict does the coroner eventually settle on?

Jack Favell’s side of the story….

  1. What is in the note a drunk Jack Favell carries?
  1. What does Jack demand?
  1. How does Frank respond?
  1. Why does Maxim call the magistrate?
  1. At this point, the readers often take a different perspective than is typical. Are you rooting for or against the police at this point?
  1. What does Favell tell Colonel Julyan?
  1. Why did Maxim kill Rebecca, according to Favell?
  1. Why is Ben suddenly an important character?
  1. What book is Danversable to produce to help Colonel Julyan’s investigation?

A quick trip to Londonfor the real scoop…..

  1. Who is Baker, and why is he important?
  1. Why do Maxim, Favell, the narrator, and Colonel Julyan all trek into London?
  2. Maxim fully expects Baker to reveal what about Rebecca?
  1. How did Rebecca disguise her identity to Baker?
  1. What diagnosis was Rebecca given?
  1. Colonel Julyan seems satisfied after the visit with Baker and decides to close the case. Why?
  1. On the way back to Manderley, Maxim phones home and receives surprising news about Danvers. What is it?
  1. Maxim and the narrator decide to drive home (through the night) to reach Manderley as soon as possible. Why?

Mrs. de Winter, get your science facts straight….

  1. The narrator thinks she sees the sunrise in the morning, but alas, the sun does not rise in the West. What is the light?
  1. What has happened to Manderley?
  1. Who is to blame, do we guess, and why would this have happened?
  1. Why is the ending “just” or “unjust”?
  1. Would Maxim and the narrator been able to ever live at Manderley with Rebecca’s “ghost”?
  1. This novel is circular in structure. That means, it begins and ends at the same place and time. Explain how Rebecca is circular.

98. Look over the notes on the “gothic tradition” at the beginning of this study guide. How does this du Maurier novel fit the genre?

Material on this page is copyrighted to Cindy Adams, September 2003, but may be used for classroom instructional purposes.
Questions? Email:

Page 1 of 9