Coraline

Name:

Anthony Intawiwat
A Slightly Nurturing Reflection
Upon completing your work on Coraline, I ask you to reflect on it and the novel. The aim is to produce a few thoughts for
you to carry forward into our continued course work, all the way to the end. For this companion task with the statement,
provide a short response (couple or three sentences, for example).
1. This story was originally written (and told) as a bedtime story for Gaimans children. (You read that in the book notes,
right?) Is this a story truly for children? If not for children, then for who or what? Make your case as you can.

This story is for anyone who likes to suspend their disbelief and love
exercising their imagination. I am proud to confess and feel fortunate that
I am one of these people. I pity the ones who cannot or have lost the
ability to do so; its as if they have forgotten the meaning of empathy.
2. The novel is extremely sparing with detail of setting and tone, providing only the most foundational of information. This
is a drastic departure from Gaimans other works in this manner. Why do you think he leaves so much of the detail for the
readers to provide?

There are many good reasons for the lack of detail; it let the
their imagination to fill in the gaps -imagination is the most
element in any story. Also, too much exposition slows down the
disrupts the overall dramatic narrative. Since this is a short
writer must economize as much space as possible.

audience use
powerful
plot and
story, the

3. As stated, this is a drastic departure from the other novels (films) weve seen from Gaiman. Does this work more or
less than the others, for you, personally as audience? Explain as you see fit.

Due to the limited exposure I have had with Gaimans work; I dont think I
am liberty to say much in regards to how his work had evolved over several
decades. The only thing I feel qualified to comment on is when I first came
across his work in the early 90s when he was a writer for D.C. Vertigo
Sandman comic book series -at the time I was an avid comic book
collector. Its great to know he is still writing, and his work has become
well known throughout the world.
4. Gaiman has offered numerous suggestions as to a possible moral to this tale, from not appreciating what we have, to
not understanding the why and how our parents love us (when we as children think otherwise), and even the simple,
people enjoy a good scare. What do you think is the moral of this tale (and you may offer one not stated here), and state
why you think so?

I think a moral within this story deals with the dangers of living too
complacently. As a result, people begin to take things too much for granted
and becomes less aware of the finite existence of themselves, people,
places and things. This has always been the undoing of many; there are
countless examples of woe and misery when fortune decides to take back what
it has initially given to them. Therefore, let us cherish and be grateful
for the things we have, for tomorrow it may be gone if fortune deems it so.
5. So, what did you think about the novel? Liked? Not liked? Commentary is appreciated and asked for in this instance.

I read it three times; first for entertainment, then two more times for
analysis. Neil Gaiman is a solid consistent writer through and through. The
one aspect I find personally notable was the way the writer describes the

kind of love the other mother had. Ive known several people who were
like this; for as long as Ive been on this mortal coil I could not
articulate what kind of affection this was to be identified as. Until now,
all I knew was this affection seemed illegitimate and until now I have come
to realize my deceased father was of the same camp.

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Statement One Rubric ~
Reflection
Other-Mother & Other-Place Prompts
Total
Notes:

100 pts

70 pts
30 pts