Analysis

An analysis of the short story “The Demon Lover” by Elizabeth Bowen shows that the story has a non-chronological structure. The events take place during World War II, but several flashbacks connect present events with some that happened during World War I, in 1916. 

The main character is Kathleen Drover, a woman whose family is in the countryside to escape the bombings in London. As she goes to her shut-up house in London for some things to take with her, she finds a letter from her former fiancé, who has been presumed dead for twenty-five years. 

The setting of the story is London during World War II. The city is mainly abandoned because of the German bombings which made a lot of people move to the countryside. The atmosphere of the abandoned city and the abandoned house is eerie and adds to the mystery of the story. 

The story has a third-person narrator who functions as an observer of Mrs. Drover and her surroundings. The narrator has access to Mrs. Drover’s thoughts and tells the story from her perspective. 

The story’s language helps create a mysterious and gloomy atmosphere. The narrative is descriptive, filled with symbols, and enhances Mrs. Drover’s fear and anxiety related to the unexpected letter from her former fiancé. 

You can read a full analysis of the short story on the following pages.