In Rebecca, by Daphne du Maurier, the author uses detail, diction, and imagery as literary techniques to create and shift throughout the passage between moods of mystery, a nightmare, and nostalgia. These moods evolve throughout the excerpt chronologically in three different segments. The atmosphere evolves chronologically as the narrator physically advances on her path to Manderley in her dream. In the excerpt from Rebecca, du Maurier uses literary devices, mainly diction, detail, and imagery to create a set of varying moods of mystery, a nightmare, and nostalgia throughout the passage. In the beginning of the passage, Daphne du Maurier uses the literary techniques diction, detail, and imagery to create a mood of mystery in lines 1-11. At
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This portion of the excerpt shows the progression of nature into Manderley. An illustration of literary techniques du Maurier uses is in lines 12-15, “The drive wound away in front of me, twisting and turning, as it had always done, but as I advanced I was aware that a change had come upon it; it was narrow and unkempt, not the drive we had known”. Here the narrator is on the path to Manderley, but the path is different from the one she recalls. The change to the setting in Manderley creates fear, as it is unknown to the narrator. The diction du Maurier uses as a literary device, like the word “unkempt”, provokes feelings of fear in the reader. The word “unkempt” has a negative connotation, and plays a role in creating a nightmarish atmosphere due to the feelings of fear it creates in the reader, shifting the mood from mysterious to nightmarish. The imagery and details, that the author provides, predict that something unknown lays in Manderley. Another notable example of literary techniques creating mood, which is found in lines 27-32, is, “And there were other trees as well, trees that I did not recognize, squat oaks and tortured elms that straggled cheek by jowl with the beeches, and had thrust themselves out of the quiet earth, along with monster shrubs and plants, none of which I …show more content…
Here the narrator’s feelings about Manderley and its appearance are revealed. One particular example of the shift in mood is, “There was Manderley, our Manderley, secretive and silent as it had always been, the grey stone shining in the moonlight of my dream, the mullioned windows reflecting the green lawns and the terrace” (lines 55-58). The details and the author’s word choice reveal that Manderley is a place dear to their heart. The words “our Manderley” create an emphasis and suggest that the narrator is very cheerful to see Manderley again, evoking feelings of remembrance and homesickness. The diction du Maurier uses like “shining”, and “moonlight”, and “dream”, create very wishful and positive imagery; setting a nostalgic mood. Lines 58-60 disclose, “Time could not wreck the perfect symmetry of those walls, not the site itself, a jewel in a hollow of a hand”. Here the narrator is admiring Manderley. The word “perfect” has a very wishful connotation and the word “jewel” has associations of treasure and longing; creating imagery that evokes feelings of longing. The diction and details the author uses here hint the narrator is longing for to be in Manderley. These literary devices the author uses help transition the passage from a nightmarish mood to a mood of
This portion of the excerpt shows the progression of nature into Manderley. An illustration of literary techniques du Maurier uses is in lines 12-15, “The drive wound away in front of me, twisting and turning, as it had always done, but as I advanced I was aware that a change had come upon it; it was narrow and unkempt, not the drive we had known”. Here the narrator is on the path to Manderley, but the path is different from the one she recalls. The change to the setting in Manderley creates fear, as it is unknown to the narrator. The diction du Maurier uses as a literary device, like the word “unkempt”, provokes feelings of fear in the reader. The word “unkempt” has a negative connotation, and plays a role in creating a nightmarish atmosphere due to the feelings of fear it creates in the reader, shifting the mood from mysterious to nightmarish. The imagery and details, that the author provides, predict that something unknown lays in Manderley. Another notable example of literary techniques creating mood, which is found in lines 27-32, is, “And there were other trees as well, trees that I did not recognize, squat oaks and tortured elms that straggled cheek by jowl with the beeches, and had thrust themselves out of the quiet earth, along with monster shrubs and plants, none of which I …show more content…
Here the narrator’s feelings about Manderley and its appearance are revealed. One particular example of the shift in mood is, “There was Manderley, our Manderley, secretive and silent as it had always been, the grey stone shining in the moonlight of my dream, the mullioned windows reflecting the green lawns and the terrace” (lines 55-58). The details and the author’s word choice reveal that Manderley is a place dear to their heart. The words “our Manderley” create an emphasis and suggest that the narrator is very cheerful to see Manderley again, evoking feelings of remembrance and homesickness. The diction du Maurier uses like “shining”, and “moonlight”, and “dream”, create very wishful and positive imagery; setting a nostalgic mood. Lines 58-60 disclose, “Time could not wreck the perfect symmetry of those walls, not the site itself, a jewel in a hollow of a hand”. Here the narrator is admiring Manderley. The word “perfect” has a very wishful connotation and the word “jewel” has associations of treasure and longing; creating imagery that evokes feelings of longing. The diction and details the author uses here hint the narrator is longing for to be in Manderley. These literary devices the author uses help transition the passage from a nightmarish mood to a mood of