54 pages • 1 hour read
Neil GaimanA 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 the hundredth time since I regained it, I reach into the pouch and I touch the sand. I sift it through my fingers. Feel each grain of it, inexhaustible. Endless. Like myself, like the few others of my kind. Endless.”
This is the story’s first reference to the collective title of Dream and his siblings: the Endless. Here the narrative uses juxtaposition and double meanings to illustrate Dream’s state of mind. “Inexhaustible” and “Endless” describe his family’s immortality and permanence, but unlike the multitudinous grains there are only seven of them. This highlights his loneliness and sense of isolation.
“I am a passenger. I am moving through your dreams. I am rising in your dreams. I ride on dragonback from Manhattan; the dragon is made from riveted iron and smells of cotton candy.”
Here the story again uses contrasting imagery—dragons and Manhattan, iron and cotton candy—to illustrate both the absurdity and the limitless possibility of the dream world. The choice of directing the words to the reader rather than the characters brings the reader into the story and expands the world beyond the page.
“‘It is a comfort in wretchedness to have companions in woe.’ (Marlowe. Faust.) Of course, he was talking about Hell. But it applied equally to Arkham.”
This allusion to Christopher Marlow foreshadows his brief appearance in Issue 13. As Dream and Hob look on, Shakespeare again references Marlowe’s same work, proclaiming that he would gladly make such a devil’s deal. This leads to his agreement with Dream. This moment of allusion and foreshadowing gives a feeling of overarching connection across the story.
By Neil Gaiman
American Gods
Neil Gaiman
Anansi Boys
Neil Gaiman
Coraline
Neil Gaiman
Fortunately, the Milk
Neil Gaiman
Good Omens: The Nice and Accurate Prophecies of Agnes Nutter, Witch
Neil Gaiman, Terry Pratchett
How to Talk to Girls at Parties
Neil Gaiman
Neverwhere
Neil Gaiman
Norse Mythology
Neil Gaiman
October in the Chair
Neil Gaiman
Odd and the Frost Giants
Neil Gaiman
Stardust
Neil Gaiman
The Graveyard Book
Neil Gaiman
The Ocean at the End of the Lane
Neil Gaiman
The Sleeper and the Spindle
Neil Gaiman
Books About Art
View Collection
Books & Literature
View Collection
Books on Justice & Injustice
View Collection
Family
View Collection
Fate
View Collection
Forgiveness
View Collection
Hate & Anger
View Collection
Loyalty & Betrayal
View Collection
Pride Month Reads
View Collection
Pride & Shame
View Collection
Revenge
View Collection
Truth & Lies
View Collection
Valentine's Day Reads: The Theme of Love
View Collection