Questions for "The Birds"

What image of the wind does this description generate and what might it foreshadow about the next day?

The wind invades the house; it gets in through the cracks and under the doors.This may foreshadow another "invasion" of the house.

What precautions do Nat and his wife take after this event?

They walk the kids to school. They keep all the windows shut and locked within the house, and Nat decides to go to the farm to find out any information that he can.

What effect do the birds have on the reader when Nat sees them just sitting and staring?

Usually birds are flying around or moving along the ground looking for food. They are out of character right now. They appear to be intimidating figures waiting to strike at any moment.

After hearing the news reports, what does Nat believe the gulls by the sea were doing? What does Nat then do to his house?

Waiting for the right time to attack. he boards up the entire house so that the birds cannot enter in.

At this point, Nat is convinced that the birds are acting strangely simply because of the _____________.

Weather

After looking back at the beginning of the story, what are some of the examples of foreshadowing that took place?

When the farmer and his tractor were surrounded by the birds in the beginning of the story, and the author kept mentioning the black winter coming.

Overnight, "black winter" has taken hold of the countryside. What might the suddenness of this change foreshadow?

Winter often symbolizes death. The sudden coming of winter suggests that death is coming.

Why does Nat believe the birds are acting bizarre?

He believes that autumn serves as a warning to the birds that winter is coming and some of the birds realize that they will perish causing them to feel uneasy.

What did Nat forget to do when he returned home? How does this create a problem?

He forgot to build a fire. Now the birds can enter through the chimney.

Why does Nat decide to carry Jill instead of her walking herself?

He is fearful that if they do not move quickly, the birds will attack.

Why does Nat ask his wife how much food they have? What is he possibly thinking at this moment?

He wants to be prepared in case anything happens. He believes that there is a possibility that the birds will strike, and he wants to make sure that his family has food in case they are stranded within the house.

Why doesn't Nat inform his wife and children about what happened to the Trigg's and Jim?

He wants to keep them calm by telling them what happened to them would only make the situation worse by creating more fear within everyone. Telling them will not bring these characters back. They must focus on their own survival and pick up supplies that they need like originally planned.

Based on what happened in Nat's room, what does the scream from the children's room suggest?

Just as the birds have just attacked Nat, they may now be attacking his children in the other room.

What can the audience infer about the relationship between Jim and Nat

Nat is thoughtful and intelligent. He is unlike other people around him. Jim is unimaginative since he never reads. He may be insecure, since he faults Nat for being "superior".

What does the narrator tell us about Nat Hocken?

Nat lives off of his pension provided by government because of a wartime disability. He is married with children, but for the most part keeps to himself. He takes pride in his work and is observant towards his surroundings.

Does Mrs. Trigg and Jim believe Nat's story? Why or why not?

No, because it is unnatural for birds to act in this manner. They try to be polite to Nat, but probably are questioning his mental status.

Nat's wife believes she hears planes dropping bombs on the birds; what is the actual noise that Nat's wife hears?

The birds are destroying the planes and the bombs; she believes she hears are in actuality the planes crashing.

Black-backed gulls prey on the smaller birds usually, but now what has begun to happen

The birds are flying together almost as if they have joined forces with one another.

Besides it being during the day time, what is the other reason why Nat believes the birds are not attacking him?

The birds are full from feasting all night.

How could this scene of "strange partnership" hint at a danger later on?

The birds are usually not seen together. This unnatural behavior creates a sense of unease.

Why does the story have an inconclusive ending?

Because nature will always exist and people will never be able to control it. It is not resolved because in DuMaurier's mind the struggle between human and nature will never be resolved.

What is the setting of the short story?

December 3rd it is the beginning of the winter season

In the middle of page 52, give examples of imagery and state why they are examples of imagery.

Descriptions appeal to the sense of sight. The cold, the wind, and the stab of Nat's hand appeal to the sense of touch. The roaring sea and tapping birds appeal to the sense of hearing.

When Nat goes to the shore again, what observations does he make about the tide and the ? What can the audience infer about nature in general at this point?

It appears as if nature, in general, is working together against man. The wind brings the change of weather and seems to direct the birds movements. The tide itself is rising, which is unusual. The rock that he saw earlier is no longer visible.

What does the cracked glass foreshadow and why?

It demonstrates that the house is not strong enough to keep the birds out.

Why has there been a change in programming

It insinuates that a national crisis has occurred, so programs that are normally on are on no longer.

What might the unnatural weather foreshadow?

It suggests that something has gone wrong with nature and that other odd events may occur.

Does society seemed threatened at all by the birds?

No, they appear to be interested and curious than threatened.

When the birds circle around the machine and the man upon it, what might this foreshadow to the audience?

That the birds may become aggressive and they outnumber the people, which could cause problems.

What observation does Nat make about the birds as they circle around the man and his machine?

That there are more birds than usual. Nat is sure of this.

What does the imagery, within the second full paragraph of page 54, possibly foreshadow?

That there will be a battle between the birds and humans and that all of the birds are working together to destroy the humans.

What observations can the audience make about Mr. Trigg and his wife?

That they are careless, overconfident, and arrogant. They still believe that they are safe and that nothing will happen to them.

What observations can the audience make about Nat and his family?

That they are strong willed and willing to do whatever it takes in order to survive.

Does the safety of the cows versus the peril of the humans suggest a motive?

The fact that the birds would not be interested in the "easy meal" of the unprotected cows suggests that they are not motivated by hunger. They are activated by hatred for humans.

Give examples of imagery within the first paragraph.

The leaves had lingered on the trees, golden-red, and the hedgerows were still green.