Easy Readings II Nevil Shute: On the Beach Daphne du Maurier: The Birds and The Apple Tree

Please write between 300 and 400 words on each section.

On the Beach
1. At the beginning of the novel, Moira Davidson drinks a lot of alcohol and is a real party girl, but she changes during the novel. How does she change, and why does she change?

2. Dwight Towers spends a lot of his time with Moira Davidson, but he does not take her with him when he sails out to sink his submarine at the end of the story. Why does he not take her with him? Give reasons.

3. Peter and Mary Holmes try to live their lives as though “there is going to be a next year”. Mary makes plans for her garden, and they talk to each other as though life is going to go on. Why do they behave like that? Give reasons.

4. John Osborne buys a racing car because he has always wanted to be a racing driver. Have you got an ambition that you would like to fulfil? What is it? Give reasons.

Section Two

The Apple Tree
1. There are two apple trees in the story. Which characters do you think they repre- sent? Give reasons. You may quote (zitieren) from the story.

2. When the protagonist (Hauptfigur) has offered some logs to Mrs Hill, he smiles “a secret smile” (p. 57, l. 324). What thought, in your opinion, is behind this smile?

3. The marriage between the protagonist and Midge was not happy. Who do you think was more to blame for the unhappy marriage, Midge or the protagonist? Give reasons.

4. Read from line 385 and explain the end of the story.