Coraline week 4/4

Summary, Illustrating, discussion questions, creative writing prompt

Summary p.115-162

The ending of this book is strange. On the one hand, there are two endings. The one where Coraline gets safely back home to normal. And the ending where she trapps the hand and the key in the well. This novella challenges our idea of when a story is finished. Usually this is done when the character has gone through all they need to learn. Or a mission is completed. But when we grow up and become the characters that become there are no end to the beginnings and the endings.

Coraline is incredibly imaginative. Could you make the case that this was all in her head? Her parents never noticed anything? The cat can’t talk. She says she fancies she could hear the sweet music of tiny instruments, but does she ( or us for that matter) actually see/hear them play? Was this all just the imaginings of a bored child?

What do you think?