Elizabeth Bowen is a well-known author of the twentieth century. Among her biggest success are the novels The Death of the Heart and The Heat of the Day but also some of her short stories won fame in world literature of the last century. Many of her novels and short stories include important elements concerning the Second World War, especially London during the Blitz. Bowen herself worked as an air raid precautious warden during World War II when German bombers regularly attacked London. Her stories successfully try to capture life under this stressful and often frustrating situation of war. She focuses on the different ways ordinary people try to cope with the dread of devastation and the loss of family and friends. In many of her stories she emphasizes that this was a special time in wartime London: “[...] in wartime many people had strange deep intense dreams“1. “The Demon Lover”, one of her most famous short stories, and “Mysterious Kôr” are part of “The War Years” stories in Elizabeth Bowen Collected Stories2. Both tales count to those stories, which are temporarily situated during wartime London. The following essay focuses on “The Demon Lover” as a story of suspense and gives a portrait of an unhappy woman, who perishes on the two World wars. “Mysterious Kôr” is also a story of suspense, not in a classical threatening, but in a positive sense. It shows how people in a situation of war helped themselves by means of dreams, to at least grant their souls some shelter.
Table of Contents
Introduction
The Demon Lover
Mysterious Kôr
Conclusion
Vorschlag zu einer Unterrichtseinheit zu Elizabeth Bowens Kurzgeschichten “The Demon Lover” und “Mysterious Kôr” in der Oberstufe
Lesson 1: Elements of the short story and definition of the short story
Lesson 2: Pre-reading activity: London in the Blitz and a definition for suspense
Lesson 3: Introduction of “The Demon Lover” and Elizabeth Bowen as a writer
Lesson 4: Finish the presentations of the groups and post- reading activity: “The Demon Lover” poem
Lesson 5: “Mysterious Kôr”
Lesson 6: Conclusion and Comparison
Appendix A: Elements of Short Stories
I. Plot - series of related events that make up a story
II. Four types of characterization - techniques the writer uses to develop character
III. Themes of literature/Analyzing characters
IV. Setting/Description
Appendix B: How to Read a Short Story
Before
During
After
Terms to Know
Appendix C: The London Blitz, 1940
Appendix D: The Daemon Lover
Bibliography
Objectives and Themes
This work examines Elizabeth Bowen’s short stories “The Demon Lover” and “Mysterious Kôr,” analyzing how they function both as narratives of suspense and as portraits of the human condition during the London Blitz of World War II. The central research question explores how the author uses supernatural and psychological elements to reflect the trauma, fears, and defensive mechanisms—such as dreams and hallucinations—of individuals living through the devastation of wartime.
- Analysis of suspense techniques in literature.
- Representation of wartime London (The Blitz) in Bowen's fiction.
- The psychological impact of war on individual identity.
- Comparison of coping mechanisms: escapism vs. confrontation.
- Literary exploration of the supernatural as a metaphor for historical trauma.
Excerpt from the Book
The Demon Lover
Many elements within “The Demon Lover” point out that we are dealing with an excellent story of suspense. There are various definitions found in literature about what makes a story suspenseful. Morris defines it as “[...] the building of a particular type of nervous tension.” and Cuddon talks about “A state of uncertain, anticipation and curiosity as to the outcome of a story or play, or any kind of narrative in verse or prose [...].” Both definitions emphasize that stories of suspense let the reader create his/her own feeling of tension. The tension is rising until the end, which leaves the reader without clear solutions and keeps him in suspense. As a writer of suspense Bowen backs on “tension-laden atmosphere” which supports the subtle character of this story of horror and suspense.
Bowen follows the tradition of the Gothic Novel in a modified and modern form. The Gothic Novel is defined as “A type of romance very popular from the 1790’s onwards until the 1820s. It has had a considerable influence on fiction since (still apparent in the 1990s) and is of much importance in the evolution of the ghost story and the horror story [...] Most Gothic novels are tales of mystery and horror, intended to chill the spine and curdle the blood. They contain a strong element of the supernatural [...].” The supernatural element is dominant in “The Demon Lover”, although it mainly emphasizes the hidden theme of war. In this horror tale the supernatural and hidden truth merge into one story.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: Provides a biography of Elizabeth Bowen and contextualizes her work within the framework of World War II and the London Blitz.
The Demon Lover: Analyzes the short story as a classic piece of suspense literature, exploring themes of guilt, trauma, and the personification of war.
Mysterious Kôr: Examines how the protagonist uses dreams and hallucinations of an ideal city to escape the harsh realities of wartime London.
Conclusion: Synthesizes the comparison between both stories, highlighting their differing approaches to suspense and psychological survival during the war.
Vorschlag zu einer Unterrichtseinheit zu Elizabeth Bowens Kurzgeschichten “The Demon Lover” und “Mysterious Kôr” in der Oberstufe: A structured pedagogical proposal for teaching these stories in an advanced high school classroom setting.
Keywords
Elizabeth Bowen, The Demon Lover, Mysterious Kôr, London Blitz, World War II, Suspense, Gothic Novel, Psychological Fiction, Trauma, Escapism, Hallucinations, War Literature, Short Story Elements, Literary Analysis, Teaching Unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work focuses on analyzing two short stories by Elizabeth Bowen, "The Demon Lover" and "Mysterious Kôr," as examples of suspense literature set against the background of World War II.
What are the central themes discussed in the paper?
The central themes include the psychological effects of war on civilians, the use of supernatural elements to build tension, and the different methods characters use to seek psychological shelter, such as escapism and memory.
What is the main objective or research question?
The study aims to demonstrate how Bowen intertwines the genre of suspense with the reality of war to portray the moral and mental dilemmas faced by individuals living in blitzed London.
Which scientific or analytical methods are used?
The author uses literary analysis, examining narrative techniques, atmospheric descriptions, and characterization, while also incorporating definitions from literary theory to evaluate the stories' suspenseful quality.
What does the main part of the work cover?
The main part covers a detailed literary analysis of both stories, a comparison of their themes, and a pedagogical chapter proposing how to teach these stories in an educational setting.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Elizabeth Bowen, London Blitz, suspense, psychological trauma, and wartime literature.
How does the setting of the London Blitz influence the characters in "Mysterious Kôr"?
The war-torn environment forces the characters to seek mental refuge; for Pepita, the Blitz makes reality unbearable, leading her to create the fantasy of "Mysterious Kôr" as a safe, indestructible haven.
What is the significance of the "unnatural promise" in "The Demon Lover"?
The promise represents the protagonist's past guilt and trauma from World War I, which is reawakened during the Blitz, ultimately leading to her inability to escape the haunting presence of her ex-fiancé.
- Quote paper
- Nicole Horenburg (Author), 2002, Elizabeth Bowen - "The Demon Lover" and "Mysterious Kôr" as stories of suspens and stories of war, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/22164
