The Demon Lover
- Diction: Formal
- Tone: Mysterious, Scary.
By Elizabeth Bowen
Summary
- Mrs. Drover read the letter , dropped it, and looked at herself in the mirror.
- Mrs. Drover started remembering the last time she saw her e fiance.
Line 52 - 61
Imagery:
If you were in Mrs.Drover's position, how would you react after reading the letter?
- Mrs.Drover read the letter, then dropped it.
- Her lips began turning white.
- Mrs.Drover felt so many changes on her face that she decided to look at herself in the mirror. She was confronted by a 44 year old woman.
- The pearls she was given by her husband hung loosely on her rather skinnier throat.
Flashback
Lines 73 - 83
Lines 95 - 100
Lines 84 - 94
(Imagery)
(Quotes)
- Young Mrs.Drover was standing with her ex fiance under the tree in the dark saying goodbye.
- She ran to her mother and sister the moment he left feeling free and relieved.
- Ambiguity: "Not as far as you think" he said.
- She promised that she'll wait for him forever even when he dies.
- Mrs.Drover's ex fiance pressed on her hand firmly as she kept it on his uniform button until he cut it.
- She remembered the sinister troth she had made and felt lost and foresworn.
- Foreshadowing: he said " I shall be with you sooner or later"
- He showed her no compassion what so ever and kept her distant from him. She got intimidated and imagined spectral glitters in his eyes.
What do you predict will happen next?
Do you believe that she's as free as she thinks she is? Why or why not?
Cause & Effect:
Character Traits
She dropped the letter out of fear and shock.
1) Mrs. Drover read the letter and saw today's date on it.
She got diagnosed by an intermittent muscular flicker on the left of her mouth
2) When she gave birth to her third son
3) Her ex fiance pressed on her hand as she kept it on his uniform button
Both made a life-threatening promise.
He cut Mrs.Drover's hand
- Strong: she was able to handle all her life battles with strength.
- (ex: her fiance's cruelty + her muscular flicker)
- Cruel & Harsh: He cut her hand by pressing on it when she kept it on his uniform's button.
- Insensitive: He was cold-hearted and showed no emotions when he was about to leave to France for war.
Mrs. Drover felt intimidated and saw spectral glitters in his eyes.
4) At the moment of departure, her ex fiance didn't kiss her and kept pushing her away.
Mrs. Drover felt unsafe and unhappy. She felt so free the minute he left for war.
5) Due to his cruelty and dispassion
Questions & Answers:
Why do you think the author mentioned Mrs.Drover's illness?
1) Despite his cruelty, why do you think Mrs.Drover stayed with her ex fiance?
- The author, Elizabeth Bowen, mentions her illness to show the readers the tough life she was going through and how handled it. Mrs.Drover's a strong woman that faced all her problems in a calm manner.
- At their time, a 30 year old woman with no husband or partner is a spinster. She had no choice but to be with him or else she would be a spinster.
What do you think are the consequences of that dangerous promise she made?
During the flashback, what can you infer about her ex fiance's character traits? Give examples from the story.
- Cruel: When he harshly pressed on her hand as she kept it on his uniform button until he cut it.
If she broke that promise, her ex fiance might seek revenge. "I shall be with you sooner or later" he said, these words foreshadow that he will be back for her whether she keeps the promise or not.
- Insensitive & Cold-hearted: He showed no compassion or love to her whatsoever as he left for to France for war.
Done by: Marwa Al Janahi, Hessa Lootah, Athba Ali, Alya AlHashemi, Latifa Bin Owqad.