Rebecca

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. In Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier, the characters live by the rules of aristocratic British etiquette. Although the novel takes place in the 1930s, the characters navigate the strict social classes by following rules passed down from the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Consider any British period dramas you may have seen or read, such as Pride and Prejudice, Bridgerton, Downton Abbey, or The Crown. How would you describe the society in which the characters live? What rules of etiquette govern their lives?

Teaching Suggestion: You might introduce this question by having students consider etiquette and manners in their own family and culture. Ask, for example: How do you behave in a group that includes older people? How do you greet someone you are meeting for the first time? Are there any rules your family follows at the dinner table? What are some occasions that require you to dress a certain way?

• This article from the Driehaus Museum describes the strict rules of etiquette during the Edwardian era (1901-1910) and provides some historical context for the complex and rigid rules of the Gilded Age.

2. How did the Victorian and Edwardian rules of etiquette differ for people of different social classes? How did the rules differ for men and women? What was life like for servants? Were they allowed to marry? How difficult was it for individuals to rise in social class?

Teaching Suggestion: This question introduces an important and pervasive idea in Rebecca: that the narrator must not only overcome her own personal shyness but also navigate a world she was never meant to enter. Given that the narrator belonged to a lower social class before marrying Mr. de Winter, it is important for students to understand that her insecurity may not stem from a personal failing; rather, is a side effect of the strict world in which she lives. To help students empathize with the narrator, you might ask them how they would feel if they were a lower-class person during this time period, especially a woman, trying to mix with a group of people who have followed a different set of rules their entire lives and who consider themselves superior.

• This article from the British Library describes the separate spheres for men and women in the Victorian and Edwardian eras. Although this period predates the setting of Rebecca, the social rules and expectations of women are much the same in the novel.
• This article from PBS explains the rules of relationships and marriage during the Edwardian period, describing divorce laws and sexual activities that the upper class engaged in. The article also highlights contrastingly strict rules for servants. (Content Warning: mature content; may not be suitable for all groups of readers)

Personal Connection Prompt

This prompt can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before reading the novel.

What rules and etiquette are important to your family and culture? How should one greet another person when they walk into the room? How should a person go about courting another person? Are the rules for men different than for women? What is the custom for dining? For saying goodbye? Why are these rules important, and what do they signify for your family or culture?

Teaching Suggestion: You might expand on this prompt by asking students to consider what happens when people do not follow the rules of their society. What are the consequences, and are they justified?