October in the Chair

In “October in the Chair,” three of the months tell a story. Compare and contrast these stories and explain how each is representative of the month that told it.

This story is dedicated to Ray Bradbury and shares many similar themes with his stories. Read “Homecoming” from Ray Bradbury’s collection of supernatural short stories, The October Country, and identify and analyze two themes that both stories share.

“October in the Chair” features a ghost story that is unlike many October/Halloween-themed ghost stories. Analyze how Dearly differs from classic depictions of ghosts on the page and screen. What does Gaiman accomplish by subverting genre tropes?

The Runt makes a very difficult decision at the end of the story, brought on by his conflicting notions of reality with his imagination. How does his imagination conflict with his perceived reality, and why does the reality of his family situation triumph over his imagination?

This story uses an embedded narrative to introduce the Runt to readers. How do the two different narratives work together? How do the months and their storytelling tradition impact the Runt’s story?

What literary devices does Gaiman use to support the theme of youth in “October in the Chair”? How do these elements characterize the Runt as a child making adult decisions?

What role does the farmhouse play in the story, and why is Gaiman so mysterious about what actually resides in it? What does it represent in comparison to the story’s other settings?

There are two different depictions of family ties in “October in the Chair.” How does Gaiman develop each depiction, and why do you think both are present in the narrative?