67 pages • 2-hour read
Spirited Away
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Summaries & Analyses
Plot Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Reading Tools
Essay Topics
Which symbols and motifs foreshadow the events in the restaurant, and why does Chihiro begin to sense that something is wrong?
Why do Chihiro’s parents seem to lose control when they see the food, and why do they turn into pigs?
How does the katakana push the graphic novel toward the visceral and make it feel closer to its film origins?
Which major plot points and characters are foreshadowed in Book 1 of Spirited Away?
How does food serve as a symbol, a plot device, an illustration of thematic elements, and a connection between worlds?
What is Spirited Away saying about modern humanity’s tendency to disregard nature and spirituality?
How does Miyazaki indicate Chihiro and her parents’ transition into the spirit world? How is it foreshadowed, and how does it unfold?
How does narrowing in on one act at a time add to the depth of analysis of film-based manga and Spirited Away in particular?
What does it mean to cross the river, and why can Chihiro not get back after night falls?
What are the underlying inspirations for characters and imagery in Spirited Away, and how does their usage add to the story’s realism?
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