The Graveyard Book

by

Neil Gaiman

The Graveyard Book: Chapter 6 Summary & Analysis

Summary
Analysis
One rainy day, Bod sits in a sheltered spot in the graveyard, reading. When he hears a voice coming his way and cursing, Bod looks up and sees Thackeray Porringer. Thackeray died of anger at 14, after his employer tricked and humiliated him. He died clutching his only possession—a copy of Robinson Crusoe—and he wants his book back. Bod reveals himself and promises to give the book back when he’s done, but he hands it over when he sees how hurt Thackeray looks. Thackeray punches Bod’s ear, but it seems to hurt Thackeray’s hand as much as it does Bod’s head. Bod heads down the path, slips, and almost runs into Miss Euphemia and Tom.
Bod’s desire to read reflects his growing curiosity about the world. But living in a graveyard, Bod has few opportunities to find books that will teach him about the world outside of the graveyard, hence his implied theft of Thackeray’s book. Thackeray’s violence adds insult to injury, as it may make Bod feel less welcome in the graveyard. This all situates Bod in a phase where he’s growing more independent and curious, while also finding that the graveyard can’t satisfy all his curiosities.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Tom and Miss Euphemia warn Bod to be careful and then note that Silas is looking for him. When Bod finds Silas, he explains what happened with Thackeray. Silas cuts Bod off. He states that Bod has been here for 11 years and it’s time to discuss where Bod came from. Bod’s heart pounds. Silas says that Bod is obviously different—Mrs. Owens and Mr. Owens took Bod in and Silas is his guardian, even though Bod is alive. Before he came to the graveyard, Bod had parents and an older sister, but someone killed them. Silas believes that person still wants to kill Bod. At this, Bod shrugs—all his friends are dead. Silas says that this is true, but Bod is alive. That means he has the potential to do anything. If he’s dead, he can’t do anything.
Silas recognizes that Bod is curious about the world around him—and along with that, Bod is probably also curious about his own history. It’s telling that Silas seems to focus more on the death of Bod’s biological family than on how important it is that the Owenses adopted Bod. This suggests that Silas wants to frighten Bod into staying alive. For Bod, though, death isn’t scary. He’s surrounded by dead people all day. But just as the novel previously noted that everything has a season, Silas insists that it’s not Bod’s season to die, as he hasn’t yet lived his life.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Life and Death Theme Icon
Bod thinks this isn’t totally true that one can’t do anything once they’re dead; his ghostly parents still adopted him even though they’re dead. He asks Silas about Silas’s existence. Silas explains cryptically that he’s not alive, but if he’s “ended,” he’ll just stop existing. His kind either “are” or “are not.” Bod doesn’t follow, but Silas reiterates that it’s essential to keep Bod safe. Silas is legitimately surprised when Bod says he wants to go to school. Bod points out that he’ll have to live outside the graveyard one day, and he needs to know more. Silas argues, but Bod says that Silas has it all wrong. The question isn’t who’s going to protect Bod outside the graveyard. Instead, the question is who’s going to protect Bod’s prospective killer from Bod. At this, Silas agrees to find Bod a school.
Silas’s existence as a vampire complicates his neat explanation of the world. Meanwhile, given Bod’s curiosity about the world, it’s perhaps not surprising to readers that Bod wants to attend school. His reasons for attending are also sound—he will have to make it in the real world someday, and he won’t have Silas’s help them. Bod’s insistence that he can take down Jack reads as immature at this point, but the sentiment suggests Bod is growing up and gathering the skills to protect himself.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Parents and Guardians Theme Icon
Life and Death Theme Icon
Quotes
At school, most people don’t notice Bod. His teachers suspect he’s religious, since he doesn’t have a computer or a phone. He’s a model student and spends most of his time in the library. Nick and Mo, on the other hand, are not model students. Nick is big and likes to steal, while Mo is small and smart. She tells Nick what to steal and who to intimidate. As they count the money they’ve taken from a bunch of 11-year-olds, they lament that Paul Singh hasn’t paid up yet. Mo tells Nick to remind Paul that Paul stole a CD. She says they’re a good team, like Batman and Robin. They hear a voice say that they’re more like Jekyll and Hyde.
Nick and Mo are cruel bullies: they’re blackmailing younger kids into handing over their money and probably bully kids in other ways, too. Since Bod has a strong moral compass thanks to his upbringing, this bullying is unacceptable to him. He’s presumably the boy who calls Mo and Nick Jekyll and Hyde. This is a reference to Robert Louis Stevenson’s novella Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and suggests that the bullies, with their opposite strengths, are like the two personalities (Dr. Henry Jekyll and Mr. Edward Hyde) of the novella’s central character. As commendable as Bod’s commitment to justice is, though, his willingness to speak out suggests that Bod doesn’t fully understand student politics. Standing up to Nick and Mo may make things far more difficult for him.
Themes
Good, Evil, and Assumptions Theme Icon
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Out in the hallway, Bod sees Paul Singh looking at coins in his hand. Bod asks if Nick and Mo are waiting for the money. He suggests that Paul refuse to pay up. Bod knows that the bullies filmed Paul stealing the CD, but he suggests that the police will be more interested in Nick and Mo’s blackmail than in the fact that Paul was forced to steal. At this, Paul smiles for the first time in weeks. He and several of his friends refuse to play along with Nick and Mo’s bullying. They demand their money back and threaten to go to the police. Mo believes “Bob Owens” is to blame.
Again, Bod shows himself to be logical and measured. He understands that Nick and Mo have warped Paul’s understanding of the situation and filled him with guilt so that Paul won’t even think to go to the authorities. Due to Bod’s unique existence as somewhere between life and death, then, he may have a unique perspective on interpersonal relationships at school. He may also feel like it’s his duty to intervene if he wants to be able to think of himself as a good person.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Life and Death Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Assumptions Theme Icon
Since Bod is used to people ignoring him, he’s acutely aware when Nick and Mo follow him after school one day. Bod goes slowly, making sure they follow him to a tiny graveyard behind the local church. Once in the graveyard, Nick threatens to punch Bod. But when Nick swings, Bod suddenly disappears. Mo begins to feel nervous and afraid. Once Mo voices her fears, Nick is terrified too. Together, they run all the way to Nick’s house. As Bod watches them go, a female ghost compliments Bod on his Fade and his Fear. The ghost is thrilled to meet Bod, “the live boy,” and she wakes up her husband and her husband’s first wife. They suggest other ways that Bod can frighten Nick and Mo if this incident doesn’t work.
Bod knows that lots of people grow up learning that ghosts and supernatural occurrences are frightening and dangerous—so it’s easy for him to use that preconceived notion to his advantage here. All he has to do is get Nick and Mo to the graveyard, where he can use the privileges the Freedom of the Graveyard gives him. While it’s possible to say that Bod is being unnecessarily frightening here, his underlying intention is to stand up for other students. He knows it’s his responsibility to help others in need.
Themes
Life and Death Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Assumptions Theme Icon
When Bod excuses himself, the husband sends Silas his regards. He says it’s nice to know that the Honour Guard is there; Bod has no idea what this means. Even though Bod now attends school during the day, his nightly lessons don’t stop. Mr. Pennyworth is thrilled with Bod’s Fading progress these days and tells Bod about Hauntings. Their lesson goes until four in the morning. At school later, Bod struggles to stay awake. He’s so tired that he barely notices when a student from another class stops in to borrow a textbook—until that student turns out to be Nick. Nick stabs a sharpened pencil into Bod’s hand. In the halls later, Mo tells Bod that he’s weird and friendless.
At this point in Bod’s education, Mr. Pennyworth’s lessons are particularly useful—Bod may want to learn about Hauntings so he can frighten Nick and Mo again, if need be. Like Abanazer Bolger, Nick seems to have no qualms about hurting others for his own gain. This situates Nick as a cruel, selfish antagonist.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Good, Evil, and Assumptions Theme Icon
Bod wonders if he shouldn’t have gotten involved. Nick and Mo now spread rumors about Bod and everyone seems to know who Bod is. Silas had told Bod to go through school partly Faded, but now this is impossible. That night, Bod tells Silas what happened. Silas is livid. He points out that in the modern era, “they” can keep track of Bod. In his estimation, the only thing to do is for Bod to not go back. After a moment, Bod says that he doesn’t just like learning—it’s nice to be in a room with living people. Silas says scathingly that he wouldn’t know what that’s like, and he forbids Bod to go back to school. Bod spits that he’d rather leave the graveyard than give up on school. He walks away.
It’s a mark of Bod’s growing maturity that he goes to Silas about his problems at school. As a younger kid, Bod might have tried to hide it and deal with it himself. But now, Bod recognizes that he can’t handle this alone. Silas’s answer, however, ignores Bod’s deep desire to be in school. It not only teaches Bod about the world of the living—it allows Bod to be around living people like himself, something Bod craves as he grows up and becomes more independent.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Parents and Guardians Theme Icon
Quotes
Nick is asleep and dreaming he’s a pirate captain. Suddenly, his dream changes—he’s alone and an ugly, scary ship is coming for him. Nick finds himself on the deck of the new ship, talking to a scary man who closely resembles Bod. The man says he’s Nobody and tells Nick to “turn over a new leaf” or things will get bad. Nick’s dream changes again and he finds himself in a school corridor. The floor pitches like the sea. Nick points out that Bod can’t hurt him in a dream, but Bod cocks his head and says that “they” are hungry below deck. Bod says that if Nick doesn’t reform, he’ll have to go below and confront the creatures there. Nick wakes up screaming. Outside Nick’s window, Bod is proud of his Dreamwalk. He knows Nick will leave younger kids alone now.
Here, Bod again uses his supernatural powers to frighten Nick—but in the name of good. Bod understands that if he sticks with the tools available to the living (talking about the bullying problem to teachers or principals, for instance), Nick and Mo will never stop picking on younger students. Again, while it’s possible to argue that Bod is abusing his power when he threatens Nick in the dream, Bod is doing what he thinks is necessary. Now, Bod can know that he did the right thing—and that he probably made Mr. Pennyworth proud, too.
Themes
Good, Evil, and Assumptions Theme Icon
Bod wanders away. He tries to decide if he wants to hole up in a library or find an island, like Robinson Crusoe. Unbeknownst to Bod, Mo is watching him. Bod enters an alley and Liza whispers in his ear. She asks if he’s running away and says that the living are disappointing. The living, she insists, seem brave—but they just run away. Liza points out that Bod will hurt Mrs. Owens by leaving, but Bod says that he had a fight with Silas. He tells Liza a bit about what happened at school. Liza, however, says that “he” is out there and wants to kill Bod. Everyone in the graveyard wants to keep Bod alive so he can surprise, impress, and disappoint them. Bod notes that Silas will be angry, but Liza says this is because Silas cares.
At this point, Bod feels too connected to the living world and too at odds with Silas to return to the graveyard. But Liza points out that no matter Bod’s thoughts on the matter, the fact remains that the people in the graveyard care about Bod and want him to survive. The world of the living is still unsafe because Jack is still out there. If Bod wants to be able to join the world of the living one day, he must return to the graveyard today.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Parents and Guardians Theme Icon
Life and Death Theme Icon
Quotes
Bod decides Liza is right. He turns back toward the graveyard. Suddenly, Liza tells Bod to run or Fade. A big car with a light on top stops in front of Bod and two policemen get out. Mo follows them out of the car and says Bod broke things in her garden. One policeman grabs Bod and demands a name and address. The officer doesn’t believe that Bod’s name is Nobody and shoves Bod in the backseat with Mo. The officers let Mo out at her house and Bod learns that one of the officers is her uncle. On the way to the station, Bod asks if there’s a prison for kids, but Mo’s uncle won’t answer. As Bod looks out the window, he sees a large bat-like creature.
Just as Bod turned to more extreme measures to force Nick into shaping up, Mo is doing something by calling in her uncle to get revenge. And though Bod originally believed that going through mortal channels wouldn’t work, he now sees how powerful the systems guiding the mortal world are. Liza can’t do anything for Bod when Bod is in a police car, speeding toward the station. This shows Bod that he’s not yet ready to leave the graveyard and the protection it offers.
Themes
Life and Death Theme Icon
One officer tells Bod that this can be easy if Bod cooperates. As the car turns, it hits something that looks like a person. The officers get out to inspect the damage and Bod discovers his doors are locked. When Bod leans over to see what happened, he sees Silas. Bod bangs on the windows and says Silas is his dad. Silas is deathly still and Bod accuses the officers of killing him. As the officers argue about what they saw, Bod tells them what he saw: Mo’s uncle agreed to do her a favor, arrested Bod without a warrant, and ran Bod’s dad over. The officers return to arguing and Bod Fades. Silas swirls around Bod and picks him up to take him home. They both apologize to each other and Bod agrees to not return to school.
Once Bod realizes that Silas is coming to rescue him (hence the batlike creature he saw out the window), Bod finds his voice and is able to stand up for himself. This shows that Bod still needs Silas’s guidance to get out of sticky situations. However, more than guidance, Bod just needs Silas’s presence and the knowledge that Silas will help him if things get tough. In this sense, Bod gets to experiment with his growing independence under Silas’s watchful eye. And by apologizing to Bod, Silas agrees to reaffirm his commitment to caring for Bod.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Parents and Guardians Theme Icon
Mo is having the worst week of her life. Nick won’t speak to her, her uncle and parents are livid, and the little kids aren’t afraid of her anymore. To make things worse, she has to clean the science labs alone—Bod was supposed to help her, but he disappeared from school. The supervising teacher doesn’t even remember Bod, which annoys Mo even more. After the teacher leaves, Mo gets cold. Mo thinks someone is watching her as the dead creatures in jars begin to move. She says out loud that she’s not afraid and Bod appears. He notes that it sucks to be frightened and calmly says he’s leaving school. He asks if Mo has ever been haunted. Mo asks if Bod is going to haunt her, but Bod disappears without answering.
Given the way that Mo relies on fear to maintain power over the younger kids, she has a lot in common with the Sleer. The Sleer seems to think that it’s terrifying and therefore, powerful—but since it doesn’t frighten Bod, it has no power over him. Similarly, now that no one’s afraid of Mo, all her power is gone. And indeed, Mo is suddenly the frightened one. This hopefully teaches Mo that terrifying others for her own gain is a horrible, cruel way to go through life. No one, Bod suggests, deserves to live life in fear.
Themes
Good, Evil, and Assumptions Theme Icon
Bod and Silas stand at the top of the hill. Bod admits that he was wrong to “selfishly” stand up for the other kids at school, but Silas says that Bod wasn’t selfish. He just needs to be around other living people. The problem is that the only way to be truly safe is to be dead—and death means that a person’s adventures are over. Bod says that his potential killer is still out there and asks if Silas is going to forbid him from leaving the graveyard. Silas says that they can work something out. He suggests that Miss Lupescu could take Bod to a football match when she visits next. Silas also says that “they” are still looking for Bod, but he won’t explain who “they” are.
In hindsight, Silas recognizes Bod’s desire to go to school was reasonable. He’s a developing preteen, and it’s natural that he’d want to spend time around other kids his own age—and other people who are alive, like him. Now that Silas also recognizes it’s impossible to keep Bod totally safe, he’s more willing to let Bod to take risks in controlled settings. In this way, he teaches Bod how to safely manage his risk.
Themes
Community, Identity, and Coming of Age Theme Icon
Life and Death Theme Icon
Quotes