Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Teen fiction/gothic/adventure/mystery/fantasy
Coraline, a curious girl who moves into a new house, discovers a drawing room with a mysterious door in the corner. It looks old, and her interest in what lies behind the door gets the better of her as she starts to explore her new home. She searches high and low for a way to get behind the door. She finds an old, rusty, black key that happens to open the odd door in the drawing room. At first when she opens it, it is just a brick wall and there is no way she can get through it. However, the second time she opens it, later at night, it reveals a dark passageway. She walks for a short distance, until she reaches a painting that looks similar to one in her flat, but the boy has an evil look on his face. In the next couple minutes everything is a blur, she meets her “Other” Mother and “Other” Father, which she didn’t even know she had, and she gets even more confused with this strange parallel world.
Coraline and the “Other” Mother are main characters in this book. Coraline is a small, witty girl of about nine years old, who has a passion for exploring, and proves her bravery and courage to the “Other” Mother. The “Other” Mother has skin as white as paper, taller and thinner, but similar to Coraline’s mother, and her fingers are too long, always moving, with unnatural dark red fingernails that are curved and sharp. Her eyes are big, black buttons that make it hard to tell if and when she is looking at you. Coraline is somewhat realistic because she is just a normal, inquisitive girl; however, she is also unrealistic, because she takes her curiosity too far, which leads to causing problems with the “Other” Mother, who is not someone to tamper with. The “Other” Mother is also both an unrealistic and realistic character who lives in a bizarre world that she has lived in for a long time. Her personality is manipulative because she seeks power, which any evil person craves for, which makes her realistic, but the way she seeks power and strength in such an exaggerated manner, makes her unrealistic. The “Other” Mother is not a stereotype, because she thrives on power and strength in a way that is inhuman. However, Coraline’s character is stereotypical because children of nine years old tend to be very curious and always wonder about things that aren’t any of their business. But, Coraline demonstrates courage, bravery, and persistence that is not usually displayed by little girls or boys her age. I like Coraline as she is an asset to this book, but I think the “Other” Mother is too evil for her own good. Coraline is important because if she hadn’t been more curious than an average girl, she would have never tried to open the door in the drawing room, she would’ve never met the “Other” Mother, and the battle to earn her freedom and the freedom of the people whom the “Other” Mother had captured and kidnapped never would’ve commenced. The “Other” Mother is important because nobody is as devious and sneaky as her, and she would’ve never lured Coraline into her clutch, and she would have never captured her parents, and the challenging scavenger hunt would never have begun…
The book relates to power and strength and how it feels so good to dominate over people when you both know that they’re weak, that overwhelming sensation when you know you reign over people and you both know they will not get out of your clutches. It explains that the “Other” Mother wants so much to be on top and have the most power that she is willing to do whatever it takes, even if it risks breaking up a family. This book makes you think about if someone is bullying someone so much into thinking that they’re better than them, and no one takes a stand or tries to stop them, then the world will one day be dominated by a forceful dictator.
I enjoyed this book because the entertaining adventures and suspense in this book keep you on the edge of your chair until the very end. I think I realized from this book that if all you seek is power in life, it changes your perspective on everything and emotionally, physically, and possibly mentally affects other people. I learned from Coraline that you shouldn’t take things for granted, because if they slip away it cuts you deep in a way that you didn’t think you would feel. Coraline doesn’t really like her parents because they don’t give her enough attention and they don’t entertain her, but when she loses them because they are captured, she realizes that she loves them and would never want to lose them, so she learns to appreciate them and what they do for her. I’ve also learned that temptations are sometimes used to bribe others into doing stuff for them or for their own benefit. People love power and to dominate others because it makes them feel good, and like they own the world. This story has taught me that things happen for a reason, they make you a better person and they keep you modest, also they make you understand that things don’t happen because you are unlucky, they have a purpose, and so does every unique person in this world. Coraline benefited from her journey and adventures in this story and it changes her outlook on life.
Monday, March 9, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Vocabulary Enricher
Haughty –
Disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant
Twanged –
To emit a sharp, vibrating sound, as the string of a musical instrument does when it’s plucked
Mildewed –
An object having any of various fungi that form a superficial, usually whitish growth on plants and various organic materials.
Decaying –
To break down into component parts; rot.
Revulsion –
1. A strong feeling of repugnance, distaste, or dislike
2. A sudden and violent change of feeling or response in sentiment, taste, etc.
Haughty –
Disdainfully proud; snobbish; scornfully arrogant
Twanged –
To emit a sharp, vibrating sound, as the string of a musical instrument does when it’s plucked
Mildewed –
An object having any of various fungi that form a superficial, usually whitish growth on plants and various organic materials.
Decaying –
To break down into component parts; rot.
Revulsion –
1. A strong feeling of repugnance, distaste, or dislike
2. A sudden and violent change of feeling or response in sentiment, taste, etc.
Message Minder -
Believe in Yourself & Courage
Courage
-Coraline demonstrates courage when she walks through the door of the flat with her “Other” Father inside, because when the “Other” Mother gives her the key, she knows it’s a trick, but she still goes inside the flat for the sake of the ghost children’s souls, her parents, and her freedom.
“She does not mean you well,” whispered a ghost voice in her ear. “We do not believe that she would help you. It must be a trick.” Coraline said, “Yes, you’re right, I expect.” Then she put the key in the lock and turned it.
Believing in Yourself
-She demonstrates believing in herself when she challenges the “Other” Mother to the game of scavenger hunt (finding the souls of the three children, and her parents), because she believes that she will find them and earn both their and her freedom, this displays that she believes in herself
“An exploring game,” suggested Coraline. “A finding things game.” “And what is it you think you should be finding in this hide-and-go-seek game, Coraline Jones?” Coraline hesitated. Then, “My parents,” said Coraline. “And the souls of the children behind the mirror.”
Why these are good themes for this book
-These are both examples of how Coraline shows her bravery, which surprises me, because little girls that are nine years old do not usually portray such courage, bravery, honour, and trust/faith in herself that she will make it up and over this rainbow rollercoaster journey
-Coraline also displays this behavior throughout the whole novel
Believe in Yourself & Courage
Courage
-Coraline demonstrates courage when she walks through the door of the flat with her “Other” Father inside, because when the “Other” Mother gives her the key, she knows it’s a trick, but she still goes inside the flat for the sake of the ghost children’s souls, her parents, and her freedom.
“She does not mean you well,” whispered a ghost voice in her ear. “We do not believe that she would help you. It must be a trick.” Coraline said, “Yes, you’re right, I expect.” Then she put the key in the lock and turned it.
Believing in Yourself
-She demonstrates believing in herself when she challenges the “Other” Mother to the game of scavenger hunt (finding the souls of the three children, and her parents), because she believes that she will find them and earn both their and her freedom, this displays that she believes in herself
“An exploring game,” suggested Coraline. “A finding things game.” “And what is it you think you should be finding in this hide-and-go-seek game, Coraline Jones?” Coraline hesitated. Then, “My parents,” said Coraline. “And the souls of the children behind the mirror.”
Why these are good themes for this book
-These are both examples of how Coraline shows her bravery, which surprises me, because little girls that are nine years old do not usually portray such courage, bravery, honour, and trust/faith in herself that she will make it up and over this rainbow rollercoaster journey
-Coraline also displays this behavior throughout the whole novel
Literary Luminary
Through the stone, the world was gray and colourless, like a pencil drawing. Everything in it was gray--no, not quite everything; something glinted on the floor, something the colour of ember in a nursery fireplace, the colour of a scarlet-and-orange tulip nodding in the May sun. Coraline reached out her left hand, scared that if she took her eye off it, it would vanish, and she fumbled for the burning thing.
Her fingers closed about something smooth and cool. She snatched it up, and then lowered the stone with the hole in it from her eye and looked down. The gray glass marble from the bottom of the toy box sat, dully, in the pink palm of her hand. She raised the stone to her eye once more and looked through it at the marble. Once again the marble burned and flickered with a red fire.
Similes = Blue
Metaphor = Green
Personification = Orange
Imagery = Purple
Through the stone, the world was gray and colourless, like a pencil drawing. Everything in it was gray--no, not quite everything; something glinted on the floor, something the colour of ember in a nursery fireplace, the colour of a scarlet-and-orange tulip nodding in the May sun. Coraline reached out her left hand, scared that if she took her eye off it, it would vanish, and she fumbled for the burning thing.
Her fingers closed about something smooth and cool. She snatched it up, and then lowered the stone with the hole in it from her eye and looked down. The gray glass marble from the bottom of the toy box sat, dully, in the pink palm of her hand. She raised the stone to her eye once more and looked through it at the marble. Once again the marble burned and flickered with a red fire.
Similes = Blue
Metaphor = Green
Personification = Orange
Imagery = Purple
Journal Entry #3 - Coraline
Coraline is a small, witty girl of about nine years old, who has a passion for exploring, and proves her bravery and courage to the “Other” Mother. Her actions show that she is a determined little girl who will stop at nothing to earn her freedom and the freedom of those who the “Other” Mother had kidnapped. Her actions also show that her bravery and courage is embedded into her skin from her head to her toes, and that she will prove herself to the “Other” Mother. Coraline thinks that the only way to get out and be free is to get past the “Other” Mother who will not let her pass. She thinks of an idea on the spot, and throws the cat with no name at the “Other” Mother to distract her long enough for Coraline to get the snow globe and escape by running through the doorway. Coraline acts very mature for a nine year old, little children her age are usually childish and immature, and they still like to play with barbies, but the way Coraline handles situations that require a thoughtful plan shows that she is a grown up and acts like it. Everyone else in this book reacts positively to Coraline and the “Other” Mother likes her a little too much as she is possessive over Coraline, but she loves her like a dragon loves his gold, and nothing more. Coraline is important in this novel because if she hadn’t been more curious than an average girl, she would have never tried to open the door in the drawing room, she would’ve never met the “Other” Mother, and the battle to earn her freedom and the freedom of the people whom the “Other” Mother had captured and kidnapped never would’ve begun. I wouldn’t like to be the main character, because there are only two main characters in this book, Coraline and the “Other” Mother, and their roles aren’t very desirable. Coraline plays a young girl, who is lured into the “Other” Mother’s clutches, and she has to make a decision to save herself or to rescue her parents from the “Other” Mother. The “Other” Mother plays an evil lady who seeks power and strength in a way that’s inhuman and over-exaggerated, she also is a devious character who has to torture Coraline by kidnapping her parents and making her come crawling back to save them before it’s too late. I would like Coraline as a friend, I mean she seems to keep her wits about her when talking to the “Other” Mother, which proves that she’s smart and has a clear head. She is a determined little girl, she doesn’t just give up, she makes up a plan to escape from the “Other” Mother and rescue those that she captured. I wouldn’t like the “Other” Mother for a friend though, because of her nasty personality and her forceful ways. She is too horrible for her own good and uses others for her own benefit. She used Coraline’s parents to lure Coraline back to her so she could free her mom and dad. She used Coraline to gain strength and power. She used the “Other” Father, who was actually a grub-like thing, to resemble Coraline’s real father so it would make Corlaine more comfortable, and she would like to stay with the “Other” Mother forever…
Coraline is a small, witty girl of about nine years old, who has a passion for exploring, and proves her bravery and courage to the “Other” Mother. Her actions show that she is a determined little girl who will stop at nothing to earn her freedom and the freedom of those who the “Other” Mother had kidnapped. Her actions also show that her bravery and courage is embedded into her skin from her head to her toes, and that she will prove herself to the “Other” Mother. Coraline thinks that the only way to get out and be free is to get past the “Other” Mother who will not let her pass. She thinks of an idea on the spot, and throws the cat with no name at the “Other” Mother to distract her long enough for Coraline to get the snow globe and escape by running through the doorway. Coraline acts very mature for a nine year old, little children her age are usually childish and immature, and they still like to play with barbies, but the way Coraline handles situations that require a thoughtful plan shows that she is a grown up and acts like it. Everyone else in this book reacts positively to Coraline and the “Other” Mother likes her a little too much as she is possessive over Coraline, but she loves her like a dragon loves his gold, and nothing more. Coraline is important in this novel because if she hadn’t been more curious than an average girl, she would have never tried to open the door in the drawing room, she would’ve never met the “Other” Mother, and the battle to earn her freedom and the freedom of the people whom the “Other” Mother had captured and kidnapped never would’ve begun. I wouldn’t like to be the main character, because there are only two main characters in this book, Coraline and the “Other” Mother, and their roles aren’t very desirable. Coraline plays a young girl, who is lured into the “Other” Mother’s clutches, and she has to make a decision to save herself or to rescue her parents from the “Other” Mother. The “Other” Mother plays an evil lady who seeks power and strength in a way that’s inhuman and over-exaggerated, she also is a devious character who has to torture Coraline by kidnapping her parents and making her come crawling back to save them before it’s too late. I would like Coraline as a friend, I mean she seems to keep her wits about her when talking to the “Other” Mother, which proves that she’s smart and has a clear head. She is a determined little girl, she doesn’t just give up, she makes up a plan to escape from the “Other” Mother and rescue those that she captured. I wouldn’t like the “Other” Mother for a friend though, because of her nasty personality and her forceful ways. She is too horrible for her own good and uses others for her own benefit. She used Coraline’s parents to lure Coraline back to her so she could free her mom and dad. She used Coraline to gain strength and power. She used the “Other” Father, who was actually a grub-like thing, to resemble Coraline’s real father so it would make Corlaine more comfortable, and she would like to stay with the “Other” Mother forever…
Journal Entry #2
1. The point of view for my novel is third person.
2. Yes, the point of view is effective because when Coraline is talking, she says stuff like "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you", but when she's walking or doing an action, the narrator explains it as "Coraline was walking towards the cat with no name".
3. The most memorable moment was when she found all the souls of the three children, and thought on her feet to throw the cat with no name at her “Other” Mother so she could escape.
The “Other” Mother’s POV
The moment Coraline stepped through the door I immediately stiffened. Of course I didn’t plan on letting her go free, but I had to make it believable. I knew she had found the three souls of the children, but I also knew she wouldn’t find her parents. She was holding onto that cat I hate with such an intensity which made me realize she wasn’t letting go of it anytime soon. She sauntered into the room and told me she knew where her parents were. For a second, my heart actually stopped beating but then I laughed to myself on the inside because I knew it wasn’t true. She said they were in the passageway between the two flats because she had searched high and low and they weren’t in the house. I tried to resist, but I could feel a smile creeping onto my face. I’m sure she noticed it, but she seemed unfazed. I wanted to prove to her that her parents were not where she thought they were and that she would be staying with me forever, so I went to the old door and opened it with the rusty, black key. I then turned around with a triumphant grin, but something happened that I wasn’t expecting. She suddenly threw the cat at me! I was shocked out of my mind, and the cat started to scratch my face repeatedly. I could feel the blood oozing out of the cuts, but my attention was on Coraline who had been tiptoeing to the mantel place. She reached up out of nowhere and grabbed something off of it. I was wondering what she had taken, but my attention faced the task at hand, which was getting this cat off me before I was just a pile of skin, blood, and bones. I saw her run to the door and call the cat. The next moment I felt relief, and I knew the cat had jumped off and ran to her. They both sprinted through the doorway and Coraline proceeded in trying to close the door, but I could see her struggling. I let out a low, dark laugh and the sound of my own voice surprised me. I focused on capturing Coraline again and practically flew to the old door. I knew she was no match for me, but then I saw how much she had moved the door. I tried grabbing her with my long fingernails and hands but she succeeded in closing the door more, and suddenly, the door was closed. I heard a thud on the other side of the door, and then I felt a sharp pain coming from the end of my arm. I looked down and noticed that my hand was missing, my arm was just a stump, and now there was even more blood trickling out in clumps. I realized then that I had lost and Coraline was gone forever...
1. The point of view for my novel is third person.
2. Yes, the point of view is effective because when Coraline is talking, she says stuff like "I knew I shouldn't have trusted you", but when she's walking or doing an action, the narrator explains it as "Coraline was walking towards the cat with no name".
3. The most memorable moment was when she found all the souls of the three children, and thought on her feet to throw the cat with no name at her “Other” Mother so she could escape.
The “Other” Mother’s POV
The moment Coraline stepped through the door I immediately stiffened. Of course I didn’t plan on letting her go free, but I had to make it believable. I knew she had found the three souls of the children, but I also knew she wouldn’t find her parents. She was holding onto that cat I hate with such an intensity which made me realize she wasn’t letting go of it anytime soon. She sauntered into the room and told me she knew where her parents were. For a second, my heart actually stopped beating but then I laughed to myself on the inside because I knew it wasn’t true. She said they were in the passageway between the two flats because she had searched high and low and they weren’t in the house. I tried to resist, but I could feel a smile creeping onto my face. I’m sure she noticed it, but she seemed unfazed. I wanted to prove to her that her parents were not where she thought they were and that she would be staying with me forever, so I went to the old door and opened it with the rusty, black key. I then turned around with a triumphant grin, but something happened that I wasn’t expecting. She suddenly threw the cat at me! I was shocked out of my mind, and the cat started to scratch my face repeatedly. I could feel the blood oozing out of the cuts, but my attention was on Coraline who had been tiptoeing to the mantel place. She reached up out of nowhere and grabbed something off of it. I was wondering what she had taken, but my attention faced the task at hand, which was getting this cat off me before I was just a pile of skin, blood, and bones. I saw her run to the door and call the cat. The next moment I felt relief, and I knew the cat had jumped off and ran to her. They both sprinted through the doorway and Coraline proceeded in trying to close the door, but I could see her struggling. I let out a low, dark laugh and the sound of my own voice surprised me. I focused on capturing Coraline again and practically flew to the old door. I knew she was no match for me, but then I saw how much she had moved the door. I tried grabbing her with my long fingernails and hands but she succeeded in closing the door more, and suddenly, the door was closed. I heard a thud on the other side of the door, and then I felt a sharp pain coming from the end of my arm. I looked down and noticed that my hand was missing, my arm was just a stump, and now there was even more blood trickling out in clumps. I realized then that I had lost and Coraline was gone forever...
Journal Entry #1 - Coraline’s Diary Entry
Dear diary,
My name is Coraline Jones. I just moved into a new house with my mom and dad. It has an attic under the roof and a cellar under the ground and an overgrown garden with huge old trees in it. The house is fine, but in the drawing room there is an old wooden door. I don’t know why it’s there or what it leads to, but I’m going to find out. The house is too big for us to own all of it, so we only own part of it. There are two ladies named Miss Spink and Miss Forcible who live in the flat beneath us. In the flat above us lives a crazy old man with a big mustache. He tells me that he is training a mouse circus and he won’t let anyone see it, but I think he’s just making the whole idea up. I’m very bored so I am going to explore my new house.
From,
Coraline
Dear diary,
My name is Coraline Jones. I just moved into a new house with my mom and dad. It has an attic under the roof and a cellar under the ground and an overgrown garden with huge old trees in it. The house is fine, but in the drawing room there is an old wooden door. I don’t know why it’s there or what it leads to, but I’m going to find out. The house is too big for us to own all of it, so we only own part of it. There are two ladies named Miss Spink and Miss Forcible who live in the flat beneath us. In the flat above us lives a crazy old man with a big mustache. He tells me that he is training a mouse circus and he won’t let anyone see it, but I think he’s just making the whole idea up. I’m very bored so I am going to explore my new house.
From,
Coraline
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