Rebecca Typicality

What is one source of inspiration for Daphne du Maurier's 'Rebecca'?

The Mysteries of Udolpho by Ann Radcliffe.

Who is Ms. Danvers in 'Rebecca'?

A sinister character who is just a housemaid.

What role does Rebecca play in the book 'Rebecca'?

She haunts the imaginations of the living protagonists without ever making a living appearance.

Which novella by Henry James features a psychological element similar to du Maurier’s work?

The Turn of the Screw.

How does du Maurier's second Mrs. de Winter relate to Rebecca's character?

She is never named, casting her into the shadow of Rebecca, whose name dominates the story.

Which Robert Louis Stevenson work echoes in du Maurier’s 'The House on the Strand'?

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

What historical factors made Cornwall an ideal location for smugglers in the 18th and 19th centuries?

Freedom from the structures of government combined with extreme poverty among inhabitants.

How does the landscape serve as a character in 'Jamaica Inn'?

It represents two different types of freedom reflective of the narrator's struggles.

Who is the typical Gothic heroine in 'Jamaica Inn'?

Mary Allen.

What theme is common between the characters of Mary Allen in 'Jamaica Inn' and the narrator in 'Rebecca'?

Both are trapped and menaced by stronger forces.

What is the significance of the double or doppelganger in du Maurier's stories?

It represents the struggle between different sides of a character's identity.

What alter ego did Daphne du Maurier invent?

Eric Avon, a character she imagined with an adventurous past.

What motivated du Maurier to create the alter ego of Eric Avon?

Her desire for the freedoms and opportunities that boys had over girls.