“The Birds” by Daphne du Maurier an Allegory

1. “The Birds” by Daphne du Maurier an Allegory

2. Literary Meaning • Black winter has descended • sudden cold • birds are gathering a storm driving them in • Cold blown in by the east wind

3. Literary Meaning • attacks come in waves as if controlled by the tides • attacks of birds are suicide

4. Literary Meaning • Nat’s family isolated and alone • Nat’s family huddled in the kitchen • supplies are running out • Nat goes to the Trigg farm to take supplies • planes and warships no match for the bird

5. Literary Meaning • radio is silent • Nat’s last cigarette

6. Symbolic Meaning • Black winter has descended-darkness, death, Nuclear Holocaust • sudden cold-rise of communism • birds are gathering a storm driving them in-the storm = war, the birds=soldiers/warriors, driving=spread of communism • Cold blown in by the east wind-Eastern Europe, Communist Block Countries, Communism vs. Democracy

7. Symbolic Meaning • attacks come in waves as if controlled by the tides-controlled, the Blitz over Britain, war planes bombing London • attacks of birds are suicide-Kamikazes, Japanese suicide attacks

8. SymbolicMeaning • Nat’s family isolated and alone-bomb shelters during the Blitz • Nat’s family huddled in the kitchen-bomb shelter • supplies are running out-rationing • Nat goes to the Trigg farm to take supplies-WWI, destruction, left to scavage, looting • planes and warships no match for the birds-man cannot overcome nature

9. Symbolic Meaning • radio is silent-end of the world, end of humanity • Nat’s last cigarette-end of the world, mankind being extinguished