‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’, ‘Rebecca’ and ‘The Mayan Expedition’ have a variety of differences on and under the surface.
‘The Mayan Expedition’ takes the form of an archaeologist’s journal, suggesting that the information is reliable. Meanwhile, ‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ and ‘Rebecca’ take the form of stories, making them more enjoyable. ‘The Mayan Expedition’ consists of two large paragraphs in chronological order (as shown by the subheadings). Despite having the same form, ‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ and ‘Rebecca’ have opposing structures: ‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ has short paragraphs due to dialogue that helps the reader understand the characters, while ‘Rebecca’ consists of long paragraphs with descriptive language that allows the reader to picture the setting.
‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ takes place in the grounds of a manor. This text creates a clinical atmosphere with sensory language. The narrator describes being able to smell ‘chemicals, harsh and sterile’, instead of ‘hyacinths in full bloom’. The scent of chemicals suggests that the estate has been over-cleaned like a hospital. Meanwhile, ‘The Mayan Expedition’ takes place at a ruin consisting of pyramids overgrown by the surrounding jungle. The description of this setting creates a grand atmosphere with emotive words, such as ‘astoundingly’ and ‘phenomenal’. As these words aren’t used in everyday language, they suggest something special. The setting of ‘Rebecca’ is similar as it takes place at a lodge overgrown by the surrounding forest. However, the atmosphere is spooky instead of grand. Maurier says, ‘gnarled roots looked like skeleton claws.’ Comparing tree roots to the claws of the undead creates a spooky atmosphere.
‘Rebecca’ uses a curious tone. The narrator describes ‘peering closer through’ the gate and being ‘puzzled’ until realising what had happened. This helps the reader understand the narrator’s will to explore and find out what happened. Meanwhile, ‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ and ‘The Mayan Expedition’ use formal tones. The estate agent in ‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ says, ‘it’s a magnificent edifice’. The overuse of complex words suggests the agent is trying to be professional when she isn’t. The narrator of ‘The Mayan Expedition’ describes ‘limestone monoliths’ and a ‘boundless ecosystem’. The use of technical terms suggests the narrator is an expert in the field.
Overall, there are many differences between the texts. However, there are similarities in the form and tone of ‘The Mystery of Camel Manor’ and ‘The Mayan Expedition’, and the setting of ‘The Mayan Expedition’ and ‘Rebecca’.