What theme is there in the story that has also been seen in history? Compare how that theme plays out in the book and in history (include characters and events).

Bravery is a major theme in this novel. Coraline tells the cat her father’s definition of bravery as they are crossing into the other mother’s world to rescue her parents. She says that bravery is not the absence of fear, but doing what one knows needs to be done despite his fear. Although Coraline fears what might happen to her in the other mother’s world, she knows that she has to get her parents back. She knows they would do the same for her. Note also that bravery is not something that is acquired for good after just one try, but often must be sought over and over again to get one through a scary situation. There are several times that Coraline must dig deep into herself to find the bravery she needs to get through the other mother’s world. Bravery also doesn’t come to all. When Coraline exults the creature that was the other father to be brave and refuse to do what the other mother wants her to do, he is not able to pull together even that much bravery. Finally, after Coraline does face the other mother, she finds that she is less afraid of routine things, like going back to school, that used to scare her in the past.