Add an additional chapter ( chapter 6 a, 6 b, 6 c) to the novel, thereby allowing for the following criteria:
Chapter 6 a
Maxim, Frank Crawley and Giles talk about the "fatal misunderstanding"
at the fancy-dress dance and discuss its potential consequences
for the future of the relationship between Maxim and the new Mrs
de Winter (...)
Chapter 6 b
Maxim discovers that it was Mrs Danvers who persuaded his young
wife into wearing the clothes from the picture in the hall and
takes her to task for this, getting a somewhat disrespectful response
(...)
Chapter 6 c
On a trip to London the new Mrs de Winter meets Mrs Van Hopper
again,tells her about her marriage in general and the fancy-dress
dance in particular and is given some "good advice"
for her personal future (...)
creative writing rules:
1) working time: two lessons,
2) at the end of the two lessons, there must be a "finished
product" available (computer-typed !!),
3) the chapter should fit in with the rest of the novel (style,
tense, a heading for the chapter, etc.),
4) all members of the group should take part (the name of every
member should be found on the script),
5) basically make use of your own vocabulary; if necessary, consult
the dictionary or the teacher ...
Good luck
Jörg Bartikowski
Chapter 6 a (I)
The next morning Maxim, Frank, Giles, Mrs. Danvers, Beatrice and I sat in the dining-room and took breakfast. It was a very embarrassing situation for me, because there was a strange atmosphere and I did not want to look into the eyes of the others. They did not speak much and after a short time Maxim, Frank and Giles left the room and I wondered that they did not say where they wanted to go. Beatrice and Mrs. Danvers sat next to me, but they behaved in a mysterious way. I was sure that Mrs. Danvers had given me the advice with the dress on purpose. The near of them made me feel very sad. So I decided to go upstairs and to take a rest. I left the room without saying anything and I felt their looks in my back. While I walked along the east wing corridor, I heard some voices discussing something. Because I am a very curious person I wanted to have detailed information about this talk. Suddenly I heard the voice of Maxim who had mentioned my name with his strong voice. The door was closed, but now I was really interested to get to know what they had to talk about me without my presence.
"At first I was really shocked, because it seemed to me that my wife wanted to copy Rebecca. She always compared herself with Rebecca and asked me a lot of private questions about her life and how she was and behaved." "Yes, I remember that she also asked me things like that. I tried to encourage her and showed her with my words that she has qualities of her own like honesty and kindness. It makes no sense when she is not self-confident, I have often tried to convince her." I supposed it was Frank. Then I heard Giles with an energetic voice. "Believe me Maxim, she did it on purpose. She has a big problem with your past and she will not get rid of it." "Another big problem are the news and reporters who spread rumours about Manderley which will destroy Manderley's reputation." That was one of Maxim's typical reactions when he thought something reflected up on his sacred Manderley. For a short period of time it was silent in this room and I thought the talk had finished. My heart was beating, because I supposed they would come out and see me. But then Giles restarted the discussion and began to criticise me once again. "She projects the past into the future and so she brings up the old pain again." Now it was Maxim's turn to finish the talk. "Actually it makes no sense to talk about all these strange affairs. I love her the way she is and how she normally behaves, because she is the most important person for me and in my opinion she is the one who can lead us away from the past. She must find her own qualities and in the future I will convince her of that." It was a big relief for me, because I had thought Manderley was the most important thing for Maxim, for we had talked less with each other from day to day. However, I was not sure if he had been serious about what he had said.
(by Katrin Austrup, Lea Becker, Nina Daweke, Ivonne Schulte)
Chapter 6 a (II)
The ball was over now and I was still sitting on my bed and thought about what had happened. I had tried to catch some sleep, but Maxim's pale and shocked face could not get out of my mind. I still heard Mrs Danvers laughing and blamed myself for not noticing that something was wrong with her suggestion to wear this dress. But how about Maxim? How could I explain to him that I had not done that on purpose and that I could not know that it was Rebecca's last dress.
I decided to go downstairs and to speak with Maxim about that fatal misunderstanding though I was afraid of Maxim's reaction.
I walked up the corridor and when I was standing in front of Maxim's door, I heard some voices in the room. I just wanted to knock on the door when suddenly my name was mentioned. I recognised the voices of Maxim, Frank and Giles loudly discussing the fancy dress-dance.
"I can't imagine that. It's unbelievable that she did
it on purpose," I heard Maxim say.
"lt was only a matter of bad luck."
"Oh no, Frank. I think she wanted to copy Rebecca. Who does
not want to be as beautiful and delightful as her?'' Giles said.
"But she has other outstanding qualities like kindness, honesty
and modesty. She needn't slip into Rebecca's role."
I felt that Frank was my only real friend.
"It's obvious that she cannot compete with Rebecca. And she
knows that everybody thinks this way."
"Giles! How can you say that!"
"Life at Manderley is not easy for her... She's so different
from Rebecca, and she's not used to this kind of life here . We
all have to think about that. Good night, I want to sleep now.''
I heard Maxim's footsteps coming towards the door. I got nervous,
and my heart was beating fast. I hid behind the curtains, and
after Maxim had passed by, I also wanted to leave.
While I was going up to my room, I saw Frank and Giles coming
into the hall.
"Good night, Giles."
"lt would be the best for them to separate. Good night, Frank."
I was so badly upset than never before.
When I was in my bed again later, I asked myself if this would
be the end of our relationship. I did not want to believe it,
but it seemed to me as if I had to believe.
(by Eva Baresel, Miako Klein, Kathrin Möllers, Rebecca Muer, Lili Schön)
Chapter 6 b (I)
I do not know how long I had been sitting there. I could not
move. My body was like frozen, while my mind over and over replayed
everything that had happened. The preparations for the dance,
the advice of Mrs Danvers, my naive anticipation and finally the
look Maxim had given to me. I shall never forget in my whole life
the expression in his face when he saw me walking down the stairs.
How different he had been in the first weeks of our marriage!
Now he looked so much older and
he almost seemed like a stranger to me. Our short luck would be
destroyed now. A stupid misunderstanding would tear us apart,
would make us behave like strangers. It had all been my fault.
My dress had brought back the past to Maxim. Now he would never
be able to forget Rebecca. When he looked in my eyes it could
never be the same.The feeling of having failed in all things I
had done did not leave me. I stood up slowly and went to the mirror.
My face looked pale and so sad.
I had not realized it, but it had become silent in the house.
All the guests would have gone by now, I thought. I wondered why
Maxim did not come up to our room. I opened the door and walked
slowly to the stairs. As I leant against the balustrade, the memory
of Maxim's expression came back to me and made me shiver. Downstairs
the room lay empty, moonlight was shining through a window. Then
I heard some footsteps. Maxim walked across the hall, calling
out: "Mrs Danvers!"
His angry, grim look frightened me. But Maxim had not seen me
. I walked downstairs where I met Frank Crawley who was standing
alone in the hall. At the moment that he saw me, his face suddenly
got a worried look.
"How do you do?"he asked. "You'd better go back
to bed. Don't worry too much. It was a misunderstanding. You couldn't
possibly have known."
I did not know what to say. I suddenly felt so tired as never
before in my life.
"What is Maxim doing?" I asked.
"Oh" said Frank and looked quite disturbed. "He
is searching for Mrs Danvers. Maxim and I have talked about the
matter and I said it might be possible that it was Mrs Danvers
who gave you the idea to copy that dress from the picture. After
all, she's the only person who knows about it and thus could have
told you. Maxim wants to talk to her right now."
"Oh" I said stupidly.I felt awkward and for a while,
neither of us said a word.
Then we heard the voices of Maxim and Mrs Danvers.
"Is that true? Is that really the truth? You told my wife
to copy that dress from the picture in the hall?"
Maxim was almost shouting. I had only once seen him upset like
this. The anger in his voice frightened me. Suddenly I realized
how cold it actually was in the hall, but I just remained standing
there, because I did not want to miss a word of the conversation.
I was waiting to hear the cold, dead voice of Mrs Danvers answer,
but nothing happened for a while. I could imagine how she would
be looking at that moment, her face pale and unmoved, an evil
look in her eyes.
Maxim spoke again. "Oh, you don't need to answer at all.I
know that it was you! You are the most wicked person I ever met!"
"Don't take that tone with me, Mr de Winter.", Mrs Danvers
suddenly hissed. "I know that you wish I'd be leaving your
house, but you cannot give me the notice to quit this job. I could
get you very much in trouble and you know that. I think you do
understand what I mean."
Maxim did not say a word. "I wonder what she's talking about!",
I whispered to Frank, but he did not answer either. It was so
silent I could hear him breathe.
Now Maxim said in a low voice: "I know you've been admiring
Rebecca. However, she has been dead for one year now."
He paused shortly, then he said: "Why on earth do you hate
my wife? What right do you have to make her scared like that?
After all, there's no sense in trying to tear us apart, but that's
what you want, don't you?"
Mrs Danvers answered, although I wished she hadn't done it.
"You are a fool, that's what you are. Rebecca died and you
tried to forget her by marrying another woman as fast as possible.
But how can you stand comparing your new wife to the way Rebecca
was? I tell you, this stupid thing won't stay in this house for
long. And listen to me, Rebecca will never leave you!"
Maxim suddenly came running out of the room. He saw Frank and
me standing there, but he just gave a very strange glance to me
and then went outside. I did not follow him, but said "Good
night" to Frank and went to bed. I was too tired to think
or even worry about what I had just heard.
(by Eva Daniel, Annabelle Heidinger, Anne Liekenbrock, Laura Schubert)
Chapter 6 b (II)
I asked myself if I should tell Beatrice the reason for wearing the clothes from the picture. I wasn't sure how Beatrice would react and what she thought about Mrs Danvers in general. Then I decided to tell her the whole story. Beatrice didn't seem very surprised and she told me that she thought that Mrs Danvers was a mysterious person with a lot of different faces. We finished our conversation and Beatrice went out of my room and I was alone again.
The next morning I heard by sheer chance how Maxim took Mrs Danvers to task.
"I want to talk to you about the fancy-dress dance, Mrs
Danvers."
"Your new wife behaved like a fool. It was like Rebecca's
ghost had come down. She shocked everyone."
"Why do you think had she chosen this dress?"
"I don't know."
"You don't know!!?? Don't tell me that! I know that you know!"
"What do you mean?"
"You and I know that you persuaded my wife into wearing the
same fancy-dress dance dress which Rebecca had worn at the last
fancy-dress dance."
"Why do you imagine this? Why should I have acted that way?"?
"You did! Don't tell me you didn't. It is your last chance;
if something like
this happens again I will give you the sack."
At this moment Jasper stood behind me and barked. I got a real shock. Then I took Jasper for a walk.
(by Verena Beinker, Katrin Beitzel, Carina Dreher, Lara GÖdeke)
The next day I woke up early in the morning. I wanted to be on my own, above all far away from Mrs Danvers and Maxim. So I sneaked out of the room while Maxim was still sleeping and took a taxi to the station to go to London by train. During the ride, while having breakfast, I had some time to think about my mistakes. I couldn't believe why I had been so naive to trust in Mrs Danvers. I reached London at 2 p.m. and decided to go shopping to direct my thoughts away from Manderley and its surroundings.
"This dress suits you very well," the saleswoman said." It's lovely, Madame - fit for the queen of England." That voice was very well- known to me, but I couldn't classify it. There were thousands of thoughts in my mind. Could Mrs Danvers have followed me? But why should she have done so? My heart was beating faster. At the next moment a hand touched my shoulder and turned me round. Slowly I opened my eyes. " Mrs Van Hopper," I shouted, "oh, you have given me some kind of a shock. I didn't expect you!" "I saw you walking into this shop, Honey! So I also went inside to meet you. We will have coffee now, won't we?" "Oh, of course. Let's go to the nice cafÉ round the corner!" Being surprised as well as happy for having someone to talk about my problems I went along with her.
While having coffee I told her about my "career" at Manderley, about Mrs Danvers, about my experiences in general and especially about the Fancy Dress Dance which had been the reason to come to London to direct my thoughts away from that horrible event. " Oh dear, that's terrible, but you know I could have told that to you all before, don't you?", Mrs van Hopper said. " But you didn't want to listen to me, did you? The only thing I can tell you now is to get away from your surroundings. Come back to Monte Carlo. At any time you are very welcome to be my companion again. That's the only chance to escape from your problems. Don't forget this. I'll always be your friend."
After this conversation and after we had said goodbye to each other, I went back to Manderley with the last train in the evening, my mind now filled with more problems than before the trip. Questions about leaving Maxim and also Manderley and its surroundings tormented myself. I was none the wiser.
(by Markus Dekiff, Manuel HoltkÖtter, Malte Metzner, Malte Schulz)
The next week I went up to London for shopping and for getting
distance to the relationship with Maxim. For having tea I went
into a cafÉ. I sat down in a corner and ordered a cup of
tea. While I was waiting for my order, suddenly Mrs. Van Hopper
came in. She noticed me and requested to be placed at my table.
I was very surprised to see her there, because I expected her
to be in Monte Carlo. She wanted to know about my state of mind
and wondered what had happened to me in the meantime.
"How are you?"
"Thank you, I'm fine", I answered.
"Did you have a beautiful marriage and a wonderful journey
to Italy?"
"Yes, we did, " I said, "but now there is a little
crisis between us. "
"Oh, what happened? Tell me about it. "
"Rebecca is still in everybody's mind and I get the feeling
that Maxim still loves her. That became obvious to me last week
when we had a fancy-dress dance at Manderley. I had problems to
get dressed and Mrs. Danvers persuaded me to copy a dress from
a picture in the hall. However, when I went downstairs wearing
that dress, everybody was staring at me and seemed to be shocked.
Suddenly Maxim shouted at me and forced me to change clothes."
"Oh, why did he react in such a sensitive way?"
"At first I didn't know either, but then Beatrice told me
that my dress was the same as the one Rebecca had worn at the
last Fancy-Dress Dance before her death."
"Oh, that was very shrewd by Mrs.Danvers", Mrs. van
Hopper replied. "And in what way will it go on with you and
Maxim?"
"I really don't know. Maybe you can help me. What would you
do if you were in my place?"
"Oh, it's really hard to say. I think I would go to Maxim
and discuss our problems with him."
"Oh, I will do my best, but I don't think that it will change
the situation."
"Why are you so sure? Have you ever tried before?"
"No, I haven't, but I can't imagine that he is interested
in my problems."
"Nevertheless, I think you should have a try. Furthermore,
I think that it will take some more time till everybody will have
forgotten the past and accept you as the new Mrs. de Winter."
Then we finished our meeting.
"Thank you for your advice, but now I must go home. "
"I wish you a nice journey. Good bye", Mrs. van Hopper
said.
"Thank you very much. I wish you the same, bye".
(by Patrick Brett, Sebastian Kosmeier, Martin J. KÜhn,
Thomas Stork)
