105 pages • 3 hours read
Cornelia FunkeInkheart
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 2003A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Symbols & Motifs
Literacy Versus Illiteracy
Funke uses an interest in literacy to symbolize the inherent goodness or depravity of characters. Characters who prioritize literacy are curious, compassionate, and morally good, such as Mo Folchart and Meggie Folchart, whose home is filled with books. Mo repairs books professionally and Meggie sleeps with a book underneath her pillow each night. They treat books with profound reverence, and they are able to literally tap into The Power of Literature. Similarly, Mo describes Meggie’s mother as having loved reading; every night she would beg Mo to read aloud to her. When Resa is introduced, she is shown to be just as compassionate and brave as Mo and Meggie. Elinor’s greatest love in life is her precious collection of books, which she guards jealously. Though Elinor Loredan and Meggie clash when they first interact, Elinor soon becomes a staunch ally to Mo and Meggie and shows her own love and bravery. Even Dustfinger, who is an enigmatic and self-motivated character, shows an appreciation for literacy. He learns to read from Teresa, which hints that he falls closer to the side of good than that of evil. All of these characters demonstrate qualities of compassion, determination, and kindness. Reading and a love of books are symbolically tied with these attributes.
On the other hand, Funke draws attention to the illiteracy of Capricorn and his servants. Flatnose and Basta look for Inkheart in Fenoglio’s library by comparing the book titles to a crudely drawn “I” and “N” written on a paper that they have been given. Capricorn has no interest in literacy and reading; he cares for books only insofar as they can give him wealth, power, and minions. Capricorn lacks Mo and Meggie’s ability to bring literary creations to life, so he manipulates and threatens others into doing so for him. Neither Capricorn nor his followers, like Basta and Flatnose, show any interest in or respect for literacy and books, and Funke uses this to emphasize their “stupidity,” cruelty, and lack of curiosity. Funke’s use of literacy as a characterization tool ties to The Power of Literature, as writing both kicks off the plot and ultimately saves the day.
The Shadow
The Shadow, which Capricorn allegedly had made from the ashes of his dead victims, is symbolic of Capricorn’s terrifying cruelty and depravity. He uses the Shadow to effortlessly kill anyone who stands in his way, or even anyone who merely irritates him, as illustrated by the many fairies who are brought back to life when Meggie and Mo instruct the Shadow to disappear. The Shadow, a terrifying and massive apparition with glowing red eyes who can kill effortlessly, is the epitome of terror. Almost every character, even those aligned with Capricorn, expresses fear of the Shadow, which merely does the bidding of its master and has no empathy with which to appeal to.
Through the power of Fenoglio’s words, Meggie and Mo manage to turn the Shadow against Capricorn. Capricorn being vanquished by the symbol of his own cruelty is both ironic and symbolic of the triumph of good over evil at the end of many fantasy stories. The Shadow is also replaced by all those it killed on Capricorn’s behalf, granting second life to Capricorn’s innocent victims. This symbolically ties reading with forces of good: compassion, kindness, and morality.
Elinor’s Library
Elinor’s library is symbolic of the triumph of good over evil. When Capricorn orders his men to burn Elinor’s beloved books, he does so as a show of power and revenge after Elinor, Mo, and Meggie escape from his prison. Capricorn’s vindictive cruelty is particularly evident in this act; Elinor is a solitary person who adores her collection of books above all else. Her books dictate her life, and she adores them with an obsessive zeal. Capricorn destroys them purely to cause her harm, and displays his lack of respect for literature in the process.
At the beginning of the story, such destruction may have sent Elinor into hopelessness and despair. However, Elinor develops as a character to find value in companionship and learns to act on her own compassion and bravery. After Capricorn destroys her library, instead of collapsing into defeated depression as Capricorn may have hoped, Elinor turns to Meggie and Mo for support and decides to help them in their quest to defeat Capricorn. After they triumph, Elinor determinedly returns to her home and, with the help of Darius, begins to gather wondrous and precious books from around the world to rebuild her library collection. Capricorn’s destruction does not crush Elinor’s spirit; instead, Elinor uses her newfound appreciation for her bonds to help bring about Capricorn’s demise. Rebuilding her library is a symbol of defiance—proof that she and the others triumphed over evil.
Elinor’s library also becomes a symbol of her new connections. After Capricorn’s defeat, Elinor returns to her home with family and a variety of creatures from the Inkheart world, turning her home into a place that combines her preexisting love of books with her new desire for company. Capricorn’s destruction of her library inspires Elinor to strengthen her bonds with her family and to form a plethora of new relationships, which inadvertently paves the way for her to enjoy a life of greater connectedness. Characters who prioritize revenge and violence are vanquished by those who prioritize love and compassion, and those who prioritize human connection are rewarded with joy and love.
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