Synopsis

Shortly after moving into an old house with strange tenants living in the fl ats above and below, Coraline discovers a locked wooden door at the far corner of the drawing room. Curiosity runs riot in Coraline’s mind and she unlocks the door to see what lies behind it. Disappointingly, it opens on to a brick wall. Days later, after exploring the rest of the house and garden, Coraline returns to the same mysterious door and opens it again. This time there is a dark hallway in front of her. Stepping inside, the place beyond has an eerie familiarity about it. It looks like her own fl at and, strangest of all, her mum and dad are there too. Only they’re not quite themselves …

Soon Coraline fi nds herself caught in a terrifying alternate world and she must battle to save herself, her family and three lost children.

About the Author

British-born, US resident Neil Gaiman is an internationally renowned writer of genre-defying novels, screenplays, graphic novels and picture books. Many of his works have been transformed into acclaimed big screen adaptations, including Coraline and Stardust. A fi lm version of The Graveyard Book is also under way.

The Graveyard Book was the recipient of major international acclaim and awards, including the Carnegie Medal, the Booktrust Teenage Award, the Newbery Medal, and, for Chris Riddell’s illustrations, the Kate Greenaway Medal.

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Teacher’s Notes

Study Notes for Discussion

1. 'Coraline wondered why so few of the adults she had met made any sense.' Do you agree?

2. How is Coraline treated by her parents? How is she treated by the other adults in her life? How does the way she’s treated infl uence her actions? What is the difference between how she is treated in the real world and the other world?

3. ‘Coraline knew that when grown-ups told you something wouldn’t hurt it almost always did.’

Do you agree? What examples can you think of?

4. Miss Forcible and Miss Spink read Coraline’s tea leaves and tell her she’s ‘in terrible danger’. Shortly after, the old man upstairs passes on a message from the mice. They warn ‘don’t go through the door’. Why do you think Coraline still chose to go through the door? What would you have done? Have you ever done something you were advised not to do? Why did you do it?

5. The other mother tells Coraline, ‘We’re ready to love you and play with you and feed you and make your life interesting.’ How is Coraline’s life with her other family different from life with her real family? What does Coraline fi nd appealing about life in the other world? Which family would you choose? Why? Did your opinion change as the story unfolded? If so, at which point did your opinion change, and why?

6. ‘Her other mother’s hand scuttled off Coraline’s shoulder like a frightened spider.’

‘Her long white fi ngers fl uttered gently, like a tired butterfl y [...]’

‘The other mother’s wet-looking black hair drifted around her around her head, like the tentacles of a creature in the deep ocean.’

What do these descriptions of the other mother’s appearance and movements reveal about her character?

Teacher’s Notes

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Study Notes for Discussion (continued)

7. ‘It’s much more interesting than at home,’ Coraline remarks to the other mother. What importance does boredom play in Coraline’s story?

8. ‘I’m an explorer, thought Coraline to herself.’ Do you agree? What type of person is Coraline? Think of fi ve words that sum up her character.

9. What does Coraline do when she has the house to herself while waiting for her parents to come home? Why do you think she does that? What would you have done in her situation?

10. When Coraline realises her parents are trapped she calls the police. How does the policeman respond? How would you respond if you were him? Why?

11. ‘I will be brave, thought Coraline. No, I am brave.’ Do you think Coraline is brave? How do you defi ne bravery?

12. ‘“Why does she want me?” Coraline asked the cat. “Why does she want me to stay here with her?”

“She wants something to love, I think,” said the cat. “Something that isn’t her. She might want something to eat as well. It’s hard to tell with creatures like that.”’

Why do you think the other mother wants Coraline? Why do you think she’s taken the other children and Coraline’s parents?

13. ‘She was not entirely sure who she was’. Why do you think Coraline feels this way when she wakes in the other house? How would you feel in her situation?

14. What sort of person do you think the other father is? Why does he tell Coraline, ‘I mustn’t talk to you when she’s not here’? Do you think he’s frightened of the other mother?

15. ‘Mirrors are never to be trusted’. What role do mirrors play in Coraline?

Teacher’s Notes

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Study Notes for Discussion (continued)

16. Do you think Coraline was right to challenge the other mother to an exploring game? What is at stake? Would you have taken such a risk?

17. ‘[...] It is always easier to be afraid of something you cannot see’ Do you agree with this? Have you been afraid of something you cannot see?

18. ‘You know that I love you.’

And, despite herself, Coraline nodded. It was true: the other mother loved her. But she loved Coraline as a miser loves money, or a dragon loves its gold. In the other mother’s button eyes, Coraline knew that she was a possession, nothing more.

Do you agree with this? Do you think the other mother really loves Coraline?

19. ‘I don’t want whatever I want. Nobody does. Not really. What kind of fun would it be if I just got everything I ever wanted? Just like that, and it didn't mean anything. What then?’

Do you agree with Coraline? What would the world be like if everyone got what they wanted, ‘just like that’?

20. ‘What an extraordinary child,’ said Miss Spink. Why might Coraline be considered extraordinary? Do you think she is?

Creative Activities >

Teacher’s Notes

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Creative Activities

a) Think about fi lm

Watch the animated feature fi lm of Coraline. Think about how it differs from the book. Why do you think the fi lmmakers made certain changes? Do the characters and worlds look how you imagined them?

b) Writing exercises

• Write a chapter from the point of view of Coraline’s real parents while they’re trapped by the other mother. Imagine how they felt and what they would say to each other. Would they have tried to escape? Did they wonder if Coraline was in danger?

• Write a poem describing the other mother. Think about her appearance and character.

• Write a diary entry from Coraline’s perspective describing her thoughts and feelings the night her parents have vanished. Think about how she would describe her day, and her worries and plans.

c) Get graphic

• Read the graphic novel version of Coraline, adapted and illustrated by P. Craig Russell. Select a section from the book and adapt it into your own graphic novel or comic strip. Think about how to edit and adapt the text from the book, and how your text interacts with your illustrations.

• Design your own book cover. Think about who you want the book to appeal to. Look at other book covers for inspiration.

• Draw a picture of Coraline’s other bedroom. Reread the descriptions of the ‘remarkable things’ she fi nds there and illustrate them.

Teacher’s Notes

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Further Reading

By the same author

The Graveyard Book

Odd and the Frost Giants

M is for Magic

Graphic novels (selected)

Coraline

Sandman series

Mirrormask

Signal to Noise

For younger readers

The Wolves in the Walls

Blueberry Girl

Crazy Hair

The Day I Swapped My Dad for Two Goldfi sh

The Dangerous Alphabet

More books to explore

Alice in Wonderland – Lewis Carroll

The Looking-Glass Wars – Frank Beddor

Uncle Montague’s Tales of Terror – Chris Priestley

Skellig – David Almond

Teacher’s Notes

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