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Grey and Pink: Ursula Monkton’s Colors
Wormhole
Fluffy
Fairy Ring
The Ocean
Hempstock Farm
Moon
Coin
Worm

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Alice in wonderland: basic idea of wondering in to a magical world and meeting magical creatures

connection to the scene where Alice wakes up from her dreame -> how the narrator was unsure about his memory

p176 "Fury said to a mouse that he met in the house let us both go to law I will prosecute you..." quote from Alice in wonderland

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Lettie
Mrs. Hempstock
Old Mrs. Hempstock
Mother
Father
Sister

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Lettie: "Nothing that wants to hurt you can cross it"

If you step in a fairy ring, you may become invisible

trapped there forever

"never step in a fairy ring"

Our interpretation

because everything gets trapped if you step in the fairy ring, so the things do not want to step in

the ocean was the only way out of the fairy ring

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Wormhole:

a theoretical passage through space-time which could create shortcuts for long journeys across the universe

passage/gateway to another dimension, universe, world

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represents knowledge, universe

- "I knew everything" pg 190

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forgetfulness

memory vs reality

memory vs logic

memory differs for each person

every person has their own memory and perception about the same event

"different people remember things differently" Epilogue

how old memories can change and be unsure

memory is something that goes by and be forgotten

how memory and reality gets muddled up

memories can be changed the way you want them to be

difference in how things are perceived by different people

perception of reality influences memory

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Knowledge

Childhood vs Adulthood

The different knowledge during periods

Identity

Self-discovery

Adults follow the paths and children explore

Memory

Identity is shaped by memory

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Paths that adults take vs paths that children take

"adults follow paths, children explore" ch.6

adults follow paths that are predetermined for them

the narrator thought there was a clear difference in children and adults, but there is no such thing as an "adult" according to Lettie, and everyone is childish in the way they are

→share similar emotions, human nature

→vs the hempstocks: doesn't fear much, do not separate things with good vs evil, but they look at what they ARE.

people always separate things with good vs evil

childishness in adulthood

expression of feelings

how childhood and adulthood are always connected, beside each other

they are not separate things/time periods

ch 14 p207: normal child: selfish, not entirely convinced of the existence of things that were not me(themselves) certain that they are the most important thing in creation

→true for all human beings, for all adults and children

stereotypes for children and adults

adults can't cry

criticising stereotypes of children and adults

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The Greek mythology of the river Lethe represents forgetfulness and obligation.

the similar spelling "Lettie"

The narrator forgeting about Lettie and his childhood by crossing the border of Hempstock farm

Drinking tea (maybe river?) - narrator forgetting his memory.

(p217) The narrator tastes the salt water from the ocean. - just after that he starts to forget things.

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Allusions are references within a literary work to another work of literature, person, or event. They can be direct or indirect and are used to add deeper meaning to the text.

Examples of allusions from the book:
1) Lethe: a river in Greek mythology, associated with forgetfulness and oblivion.
2) The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis: a fantasy series about children who discover a magical world.
3) Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll: Elements of surreal otherworldly experiences
4) The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien: The epic fantasy world and the struggle between good and evil
5) Doctor Who: The long-running British science fiction TV series, known for its time-traveling protagonist.
6) Fairy Tales and Folklore:
7) A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle: concepts of time travel and alternate dimensions
8) The Garden of Eden: an idyllic, protected place

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Actually a small pond behind the Hempstock farmhouse. Symbolizes the vastness and depth of the protagonist’s subconscious mind and that of all human beings. Also represents the infinite possibilities of imagination and the vastness of all human knowledge.

Another interpretation within the context of the novel is that it serves as the boundary between the mundane real worl and the magical, suggesting extraordinary things can be hidden within the ordinary, much like the farmhouse and the Hempstock family.

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This is a place of safety, stability, and ancient wisdom. It is a sanctuary for the protagonist from the threats and danger. It is also timeless and magical, contrasting with the confusing and dangerous outside world.

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The kitten symbolizes innocence and the simplicity of childhood. Highlights the theme of loss and the fleeting nature of childhood innocence. The protagonist’s first experience (and most children’s first experience) with loss, which forces children to deal with reality.

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The coin represents the way external forces can insert themselves into a person’s life, causing disruption and distress.

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Symbolize escape, knowledge, and the solace of imagination. The means of coping with the challenges he faces and represent the enduring power of storytelling.

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She is a symbol of deceptive appearances and malevolent influence. The dangers that lurk beneath benign surfaces. The disruption of familial harmony.

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She embodies chaos and fear: invading the protagonist’s home under the guise of being a helpful housekeep. Her presence upends the stability and safety of his childhood, symbolizing the uncontrollable forces that often intrude into our lives.

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She is a catalyst for growth. Her entrance forces the protagonist to confront his fears and make choices. She is the external representation of the internal struggles he faces: feelings of helplessness, vulnerability, and confusion as a child dealing with complex emotions

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Outside forces from the adult world are constant threats to childhood innocence. Ursula is a direct threat to his security and innocence. She corrupts his loving and safe environment, forcing the protagonist into dangerous, adult-like situations.

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Monkton is the driving force of the plot. She is the central conflict that forces the protagonist to take action and to confront his fears, representing the disruptive, unpredictable nature of life and the complexities of growing up.

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For fear, the narrator faces many events that include supernatural elemetms such as Ursula trying to break the bond of the family. He is still young but faces these events.

For bravery

faces events that can harm him but does not stand back

narrator did his best to stop Ursula from breaking his family bond

lettie also faces dangerous events but she does not back down

For friendship

friendship with lettie

Lettie shaping the narrator identity

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Constant struggle between adult world and child’s world

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Constant struggle between adult world and child’s world

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struggles with the intrusion of hte adult world into the protagonist’s childhood. Through his father and Ursula monkton, symbolizing the complexity and cruelty of adulthood. Father’s flawed behavior and vulnerability to Ursula’s influence. Imperfections and moral ambiguities of adults. Difficult for children to understand and recognize as adults are seen as the stable influence in a child’s life.

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our protagonist encounters the extraordinary, including the hempstock women and their magical powers, with a sense of wonder. He does not understand them but he accepts them. This is how children work. They do not always need to understand the mysteries of the world to accept them whereas adults seek logical explanations and struggle with the abstract and supernatural

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Children are often afraid of the changes that come with adulthood: uncertainty, loss, and the inability to control the world around them. This can be seen in the contrast between the adult protagonist and the protagonist as a child. The adult recognizes adulthood is not the stable, all-knowing state we may have once believed it to be. Can be seen in the adult protagonist and his adult-life.

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The older we get the further we distance ourselves from our emotional past. We forget what happened. Clarity of past events often become clouded. Adults suppress painful or uncomfortable memories, something children experience more vividly.

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Memory is not reliable. We have seen the studies that prove this. We have conducted experiments where false memories have been placed in subjects. The unreliability of memory serves as a backdrop to the novel. Memories are fluid and malleable. We remember what we want to and forget what is unnecessary. Our emotions, time, and experience have a role in how we recollect past events. As an adult, the protagonist struggles to reconcile those memories with the rationality of adulthood vs the child who experienced that time with wonder and fear.

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Gaiman questions the very nature of reality. What is real is simply what we perceive to be real. The child protagonist perceived the impossible: extraordinary events, magical creatures, and a pond as large as the ocean. As he grows, he questions the events that took place. Doubts his memories. Perception of reality changes as we age. The novel blurs the lines between objective reality and the subjective perception, asking if there is a definitive version of reality or if it is always influenced and colored by individual experiences

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Sometimes we choose to forget about events that happen to us that are far too traumatic. This is a necessary part of growth. A necessary part of survival. The protagonist is protected against these memories by this defense mechanism.

Memory can be both protective and limiting. His forgetfulness allows him to move on with his life while distancing him from his past. This creates a gap between the child and the adult. Memory is key to understanding our identity. How can you know who you are if you have forgotten such impactful experiences?

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The protagonist often visits the farm and goes through the same experience over and over. This constant search for his identity represents our own journey of self-discovery. Those memories of the past help him understand who he is, but the inability to remember beyond the farm leaves him in a never ending loop.

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Knowledge is linked to power. The Hempstock possess great power with their ancient knowledge. They use it responsibly to protect and maintain balance. Ursula represents the opposite: one who seeks knowledge to manipulate and control.

The protagonist’s lack of knowledge makes him vulnerable to the adult world, specifically Ursula. As he gains a better understanding of what is happening around him, he can better navigate these dangers. Knowledge empowers us and allows us to choose our paths.

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Fear is a constant presence, literally and metaphorically. The protagonist faces many frightening and mysterious events. These expose him to feelings of powerlessness, helplessness, and fear.

The presence of fear highlights the vulnerability of childhood. His fear of Ursula embodies deeper fears children have about being unsafe or unprotected or even unloved.

Fear of the unknown: the Hempstock and the magical world around them is both terrifying and awe-inspiring.

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Friendship is a key source of support and strength. His bond with Lettie is one of his most important relationships in the story. Lettie is both guide and protector, showing him the wonders and dangers of the world beyond the ordinary.

Built on trust and loyalty. His trust of Lettie proves invaluable. Their bond helps him gain confidence and face his fears. This bond serves as a buffer against the adult world.

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Lettie’s sacrifice is one of true bravery and love. Her friendship and need to protect him illustrates that true bravery often involves self-sacrifice. This also illustrates the cost of bravery. Acts of courage come with painful consequences, but are necessary for protecting those we love. This shapes how the protagonist understands friendship and sacrifice even though he is unable to remember anything as an adult.