S1 B1-B2 CORALINE & THE HORRORS OF PERFECTION

geared towards younger audiences

designed to be suitable and appealing for children or teenagers

to excel at sth

to be extremely good or skilled in a particular area

positive message

an uplifting or morally good idea communicated by a story

eerie

strange and frightening in a way that makes you feel nervous

grateful

feeling or showing thanks for sth

alternate universe

a separate and different reality from our own

compelling plot

a very interesting story/narrative

intriguing storyline

a narrative that arouses curiosity and interest

antagonist

the main character who opposes the hero in a story

to craft an illusion

to create a false appearance or deceptive image

spell

a set of words used in magic to make sth happen

to fuel evil behavior

to provide motivation for wicked actions

a character's background

past experiences that shaped a character

wicked

morally very bad and intending to cause harm

neglectful parents

parents who fail to provide proper care

to take on the form of sb/sth

to transform into sb/sth

to trap sb

to catch and prevent sb from escaping

to manipulate one's victim

to control or influence sb in a clever and often unfair way

to feed on sb/sth

to gain strength or energy from a person or thing

to comply

to obey a rule or request

to stand up against sth

to resist or oppose sth forcefully

residents

people who live in a place

to travel to a different dimension

to go to another world

to give sb affection

to show sb love or fondness through actions or words

to gain a new sense of appreciation for sth

to begin to understand and value sth more than before

dragonfly

a flying insect with a long thin body and transparent wings

praying mantis

a green or brown insect that holds its front legs in a position that looks like hands praying

to turn an idea on its head

to completely change a common idea

a means of control

a tool used to control person or situation

cockroach

a brown or black insect that is often found in dirty places

henchmen

people who do unpleasant jobs for a powerful person

to devour children

to eat children

possessiveness

a strong and selfish desire to own or control sb

guilt

a feeling of worry and regret because you have done sth wrong

weaved through the story

included as a recurring and connected part of the narrative

emotional attachment

a strong feeling of connection to sb or sth

to implement sth into a story

to put an idea or element into a story

to serve a greater purpose

to have a more important function

to drive an idea home

to make a concept completely understood

core idea

the most central and important concept

prey

an animal or person that is hunted or attacked by another

predator

an animal or person that hunts and attacks others

to take control over sth/sb

to gain the power to command sth or sb

to convey sth

to communicate an idea or feeling

abusive

involving harmful cruel or violent treatment of sb

insecure

lacking confidence and feeling uncertain about yourself

to have a backstory

to have a history that explains a character's background and motivations

power dynamics within households

the ways in which control and influence are shared among family in a house

endearing

inspiring affection or warm sympathy

to share similarities with sth

to have sth in common with sth

to find inspiration in mythology

to get inspired by ancient stories

to bleed over into sth

to spread from one area and begin to affect another

striking similarities

very noticeable and obvious resemblances

duality

the state of having two opposite or contrasting parts

to allude to sth

to refer to sth in an indirect way

to enchant sb

to use magic to influence or control sb

to imprison sb

to put sb in a place they cannot leave

to target children

to choose children as the main object of an action

to prevent sb from escaping

to stop sb from getting away

dominion over a victim

complete power and control over a person

doll effigy

a small doll made to represent a specific person

benevolent/malevolent purposes

kind/evil intentions

puppet

a doll; a person or character who is controlled by sb else

to unleash harmful magic on sb

to use destructive spells against sb

to lure sb into sth

to tempt or trick sb into a place or situation

to trick sb

to deceive or cheat sb

to see through illusions

to understand that sth is not real

superstition

a belief based on magic or luck rather than science

a reference to sth

a mention or allusion to another thing

sinister purpose

an intention that is evil or harmful

to capture sb

to catch and take control of a person

to cast illusions

to use magic to create false images

odd

strange or unusual

to reveal one’s true form

to show what one really looks like

to leave an impression on sb

to affect sb in a memorable way

initial watch

the first time sb views a film

deceptively simple

appearing basic but actually being complex

to read into sth

to find a hidden meaning that may not be intended

to warn of the dangers of greed

to caution against the negative consequences of wanting too much

temptation

a strong desire to do sth bad or unwise

dazzling animation

extremely bright and impressive animation

elaborate film

a movie with a complex and detailed story or design

muted colors

soft and not bright shades

resentful of sb

angry because you have been forced to accept sb or sth that you do not like

vibrancy of the color palette

the brightness and intensity of the colors

in comparison to sth

when judged against sth else

in exchange for sth

giving one thing to receive another

inhabitants

the people or creatures that live in a particular place

to look at sth through a different lens

to consider sth from a new perspective

to defeat sb

to win a victory over sb

a huge change of heart from sb

a major shift in sb's feelings/opinion

to see sb as an extension of oneself

to view another person as a part of you

drab world

a world that is dull and lacks color

to cater to sb

to provide what a particular person wants

extreme manifestation of sth

a very radical example of sth

to take sth away from a film

to get a particular message after watching a movie

self-oriented

focused primarily on one's own needs and interests