Characters
This eccentric upstairs neighbour claims to be training a team of jumping mice for his circus.
Who is Mr Bobo
This is the name of the old house where Coraline and her parents live.
What is the Pink Palace?
Coraline’s neighbours warn her about danger by reading this during tea.
What are her tea leaves?
Coraline’s key symbolises this important idea, tied to independence and choice.
What is freedom / agency?
This character tells Coraline that “dangerous things” lurk when reading her tea leaves.
Who is Miss Spink?
These two retired actresses live downstairs and read Coraline’s tea leaves.
Who are Miss Spink and Miss Forcible?
Coraline first notices this odd architectural feature in the drawing room, though it seems to lead nowhere.
What is the locked door / the bricked-up door?
Coraline uses this mundane object to help her count windows and doors during her explorations.
What is a notebook?
The Other World represents this concept, looking perfect at first but hiding danger.
What is temptation / deceptive appearances?
This character insists his mice have a message for Coraline.
Who is Mr Bobo?
This creature follows Coraline on her explorations and turns out to be able to talk in the Other World.
What is the black cat?
Coraline’s father cooks this type of meal that she finds experimental and disgusting.
What is a recipe with “interesting” or strange leftovers / his “recipes”?
During a stormy day, Coraline discovers the door now opens into this place instead of a brick wall.
What is the corridor to the Other World?
The talking cat symbolises this kind of guidance—often cryptic, but insightful.
What is intuition / wisdom?
This creature tells Coraline that names are not things it deals in.
What is the black cat?
This parent often works on her computer and tries to keep Coraline entertained indoors.
Who is Coraline’s mother?
Coraline is disappointed to find only this solid obstruction when the door is opened with the key the first time.
What is a brick wall?
Coraline meets her Other Mother and Other Father, who have this unsettling feature instead of eyes.
What are black buttons?
The button eyes symbolise the loss of this essential human quality.
What is identity / humanity?
This Coraline parent dismisses her curiosity about the door, telling her it’s “nothing to worry about.”
Who is her mother (or father)?
Coraline feels both comforted and unsettled by this stitched doll that looks suspiciously like her.
What is the button-eyed doll?
This room in the Other House looks almost the same as Coraline’s home—but slightly better and eerily tidier.
What is the Other Living Room / Other House?
The Other Mother tempts Coraline to stay forever by offering to do this to her, which Coraline refuses.
What is sew buttons onto her eyes?
Coraline’s bravery begins not in the Other World but during this early action in her own home.
What is exploring / facing fears / her curiosity leading her through the door?
This Other World figure says Coraline will be “happier” if she just lets them sew on the buttons.
Who is the Other Mother?