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The Other Crazy Old Man Upstairs
The three lost children have been trapped in the other mother’s world for a long time—centuries, in some cases. The trio consists of a boy, a tall girl, and a small girl. While the children are largely indistinguishable from one another when Coraline first meets them after being thrown into a cupboard behind the hall mirror in the other mother’s house, as she collects their souls from the places the other mother has hidden them, the children regain some of their confidence and memories and become more distinct. After escaping the other mother’s world with the trio’s souls—encased in brightly-glowing marbles—safe and intact, Coraline has a vivid dream in which she and the three lost children are at a picnic together. She sees them in their corporeal forms at last: the boy is a young man in velveteen pants, suggesting an upper-class upbringing; the tall girl is dressed in simple peasant’s clothes, perhaps from as far back as Medieval times; and the smallest girl is dressed in strange, ethereal, silky robes and wears wings on her back and a crown on her head. The children’s different appearances illustrate the fact that the other mother has been alive for centuries, perhaps even for eternity—and that she always tries to lure children to her by pretending to be their other mother. The lost children are friends to Coraline and help her muster up the confidence to challenge the other mother. They encourage her every step of the way, and, when she’s completed her task, congratulate her happily—though they warn her that her journey is not yet complete.
The Lost Children Quotes in Coraline
The Coraline quotes below are all either spoken by The Lost Children or refer to The Lost Children. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 7
Quotes
And then [Coraline’s] hand touched something that felt for all the world like somebody’s cheek and lips, small and cold; and a voice whispered in her ear, “Hush! And shush! Say nothing, for the beldam might be listening!”
Coraline said nothing.
She felt a cold hand touch her face, fingers running over it like the gentle beat of a moth’s wings.
Another voice, hesitant and so faint Coraline wondered if she were imagining it, said, “Art thou—art thou alive?”
“Yes,” whispered Coraline.
“Poor child,” said the first voice.
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Chapter 8
Quotes
“I think I like this game. But what kind of game shall it be? A riddle game? A test of knowledge or of skill?”
“An exploring game,” suggested Coraline. “A finding-things game.”
“And what is it you think you should be finding in this hide-and-go-seek game, Coraline Jones?”
Coraline hesitated. Then, “My parents,” said Coraline. “And the souls of the children behind the mirror.”
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Chapter 11
Quotes
“Help me, please,” she said. “All of you.”
The other people in the corridor—three children, two adults—were somehow too insubstantial to touch the door. But their hands closed about hers, as she pulled on the big iron door handle, and suddenly she felt strong.
“Never let up, Miss! Hold strong! Hold strong!” whispered a voice in her mind.
“Pull, girl, pull!” whispered another.
And then a voice that sounded like her mother’s—her own mother, her real, wonderful, maddening, infuriating, glorious mother—just said, “Well done, Coraline,” and that was enough.
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Get the entire Coraline LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Lost Children Quotes in Coraline
The Coraline quotes below are all either spoken by The Lost Children or refer to The Lost Children. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 7
Quotes
And then [Coraline’s] hand touched something that felt for all the world like somebody’s cheek and lips, small and cold; and a voice whispered in her ear, “Hush! And shush! Say nothing, for the beldam might be listening!”
Coraline said nothing.
She felt a cold hand touch her face, fingers running over it like the gentle beat of a moth’s wings.
Another voice, hesitant and so faint Coraline wondered if she were imagining it, said, “Art thou—art thou alive?”
“Yes,” whispered Coraline.
“Poor child,” said the first voice.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 8
Quotes
“I think I like this game. But what kind of game shall it be? A riddle game? A test of knowledge or of skill?”
“An exploring game,” suggested Coraline. “A finding-things game.”
“And what is it you think you should be finding in this hide-and-go-seek game, Coraline Jones?”
Coraline hesitated. Then, “My parents,” said Coraline. “And the souls of the children behind the mirror.”
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Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 11
Quotes
“Help me, please,” she said. “All of you.”
The other people in the corridor—three children, two adults—were somehow too insubstantial to touch the door. But their hands closed about hers, as she pulled on the big iron door handle, and suddenly she felt strong.
“Never let up, Miss! Hold strong! Hold strong!” whispered a voice in her mind.
“Pull, girl, pull!” whispered another.
And then a voice that sounded like her mother’s—her own mother, her real, wonderful, maddening, infuriating, glorious mother—just said, “Well done, Coraline,” and that was enough.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
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