Welcome to Dead House

Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1992

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Summary

Background

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Chapters 1-5

Chapters 6-10

Chapters 11-14

Chapters 15-18

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Tools

Beta

Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Dead House

Dead House is the titular location of the book, and it represents Reality and the Supernatural, as well as the challenges of being in a new place and adapting to a new lifestyle. The house’s supernatural nature makes it more difficult for the Bensons to adjust to life there, particularly for Amanda and Josh. This is partly because, as kids, Amanda and Josh are more open to accepting the strange happenings as supernatural in origin. In this way, Dead House symbolizes the power and openness of the childhood mind. Amanda and Josh are only restricted in their understanding of what’s happening by the continued criticism from their parents, who insist that there is nothing strange about the house. Because of this, Dead House is able to continue its supernatural mission undeterred, which gives the house and, by extension, Dark Falls, the ability to overpower its victims.

Even without the supernatural elements, Dead House offers challenges for the Bensons. The house is several hours from where the family used to live, which means that they must all adjust to life in a new place. For Mr. Benson, this means leaving his corporate job to focus on writing. As kids, Amanda and Josh face very different struggles. While they do not have money concerns, moving away from the only home they’ve ever known means that they are leaving their friends behind.

The Cemetery

The cemetery encompasses both the rows of gravestones and the amphitheater, and it represents Reality and the Supernatural and Survival Instincts in Dire Circumstances. The cemetery is a major location of supernatural activity in Dark Falls. The names and years on the gravestones hold the secret of the town’s past and the truth of its threat to the families it invites every year. The cemetery is also the location of major battles for survival, including Ray nearly killing Amanda and the final battle in which the kids rescue their parents. In both cases, the Bensons fight for their lives while the living dead fight to keep their secret and their source of survival—fresh blood.

Amanda and Josh make three trips to the cemetery, and the amount of information they learn on each trip correlates with where they are in their individual character arcs, as well as the story’s overarching plotline. The first trip is in Chapter 3 when the dog runs off and Josh gives chase. When Amanda and her parents catch up, the family is so focused on getting the dog that none of them notice the details of the grave markers or the existence of the amphitheater. At this point, they are all at the beginnings of their character arcs, and the supernatural threat is just beginning to encircle them. The second visitation is in Chapter 12, again searching for the dog. This time, they have an easier time of catching the animal, but this is because the dog is no longer living and is not actively attempting to uncover the truth. This visit also includes the discovery of the townspeople being dead and Ray revealing his supernatural nature, showing that the threat has made itself known and is close to striking. The final visit starts in Chapter 15 when the kids learn the truth of why they were brought to the town and are able to defeat the living dead to rescue their parents. This visit shows that it is time for action and leads into the story’s resolution with the Bensons escaping Dark Falls.

The Dog

The Benson family dog represents The Benefits of Teamwork and Trust and Reality and the Supernatural, as well as the power of loyalty. From the moment the Bensons arrive in Dark Falls, the dog begins growling and barking at people while fluctuating between calmness and franticness. The dog is the first to understand that there is something wrong about the town of Dark Falls, which calls to how animals typically have stronger instincts than humans.

The dog also represents the intersection of truth and loyalty. From the moment the dog realizes that there is something wrong with the town, he dedicates himself to protecting the Bensons. In Chapter 5 when Amanda pretends to be hurt to scare Josh, the dog arrives to comfort and protect Amanda. The dog’s understanding of the truth and loyalty for his family means that he is willing to do whatever it takes to protect the Bensons, even when the human family members are unaware of what’s happening and don’t think they need to be protected. The loss of the dog in Chapter 12 is the moment when things change for the Bensons. Up until this point, the dog has been there to alert or save them from strange situations, but once the dog is no longer able to do so, the Bensons are put in direct danger.