Abstract

Is there any value in children’s horror literature and film? Literary theorists have shown that children’s horror is uniquely positioned to be not only captivating and accessible, but also educational and hopeful for some young audience members. Like most fictional monsters, those presented in children’s horror can be read as metaphors for the fears and experiences people face in real life. Scholars have argued that engaging with this type of frightening media may help people confront challenging ideas and feelings from a place of safety. Building on this theoretical foundation, I perform a close reading of the 2009 film Coraline, identifying metaphorical references to sexual assault. In the film, the monstrous Other Mother uses real- world sexual grooming strategies to lure children into her realm, aiming to eat them. Further, the film is rich with body control imagery, which carries enriched meaning when viewed through the metaphor of body control as rape. I argue that whether the SA metaphors are highlighted to audience members or not, the viewers will benefit from Coraline’s example of overcoming her threat. She is brave and bold in resisting an adult monster’s attempt to control her body.

Degree

MA

College and Department

Humanities; English

Rights

https://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2026-04-23

Document Type

Thesis

Keywords

sexual assault, rape myths, children’s horror, gothic, Coraline, film, metaphor

Language

english

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