The+Maker+of+One+Coffin


 * The Big Questions: How does this chapter fit the novel as a whole / Why is it important / What should a good reader take away from this chapter?**
 * This chapter fits the novel by giving another strange uncle to broaden the different types that have visited in the book. The unlces so far had been different in some way, but the Uncle Runkin was just scary, unlike the others. His connection he felt to death was very unsettling, and his behavior gave me some chills just reading about it. A good reader should realize that these uncles are starting to represent different kinds of people that we can see today. While the characteristics are exaggerated at times, this can still be applied. For example, we know the reckless people like Uncle Luden, some grave or ominous people like Uncle Runkin, or quiet people who do not talk much, let alone about themselves, like Uncle Gurton. (Speed)


 * This chapter is another "crazy uncle chapter". However, I felt this chapter had a different sort of significane, as it seemed like not much information was given to us about how Runkin actually connects with Death. We know about the actual coffin (the vehicle of his Death travels) and that he likes Death, but we don't actually figure out what his mission was, unlike how we knew Zeno was some divine stoyteller. I still wonder if he was a vampire, a demon, or some other creature. By not telling us much about him, maybe Chappell wanted to illustrate how little is actually known about the...other side/realm. I know Chappell uses a lot of metaphors and symbols, so I guess this chapter is just one of those. (Reynolds)


 * This chapter wasn't as different as the other uncle stories/chapters but WHen reading I found that Chappell didn't give as much information about this uncle as he did the rest. He left the reader not in confusion but in wondering state a little like the beard, He gave detail but not enough to figure the truth out. Chappell to me, with each chapter about the uncles he is giving advice to jess about the world outside the farm and how corrupt it can be but if you get close to people you can find there inner characteristics and that for someone like Jess to live on a farm his whole life he doesn't have experience in life as many people in the city. (Rollins)


 * This chapter kind of scared me a little bit. Uncle Runkin was so strange in everything he said and thought. Even how they described him it scared me some. The fact that he slept in a coffin was freaky enough but him finding death comforting is something that I never would have suspected from any of the crazy uncle's that has entered this book so far. Chappell didn't say much about uncle runkin except for describing his physical appearance to a great extent. This chapter fits into the novel by showing yet another crazy uncle that is related to this family. How many relatives do they have? It truly does show how different everyone can be and broadens your view on the after life. But this chapter still scares me.... (Howell)


 * It seems to me that all of the uncles are metaphors in one way or another, and that is what the reader should remember when reading the "crazy uncle chapters". These may at first appear a bit strange or just plain unsettling, but you have to realize that the author, Fred Chappell, uses metaphors to express many big ideas in this book. Sure, the chapther is kind of creepy, but I think that the character of Uncle Runkin is trying to express the idea that we should not spend our lives living in fear of death, but rather we should try to make our lives the best they can be- because we only get one chance. (Zoellick)

**Important Quotes (and commentary)** "I'll think of something, though." "Maybe you oughtn't to. Maybe Uncle Runkin is one uncle we ought to leave plumb alone." "Yeah?" He gave me an amused look. "That old man hasn't got you buffaloed, has he, Jess?" "He's a different kind of uncle from what we're used to." "Don't worry," he said. "I just now figured out what we'll do." But when he chuckled softly, I had to feel uneasy. When I read this chapter I was a little confused about what was going on with Uncle Runkin and scared of him. This character didn't really make much sence to me becuase I could not think of anyone who was like this in real life. His habit of sleeping in a coffin and always thinking about and preparing for death was a little weird in my opinion. Now about this quote; this is Jess and his dad talking about what they are going to do to Uncle Runkin. I find this strange because of a couple of reasons one being his father's persistancy towards messing with Uncle Runkin. Two is how he says "That old man hasn't got you buffaloed, has he, Jess?" this is a bit odd to me because it is as if he expects that all of the uncles are quote buffaloing Jess and he thought that Uncle Runkin had already done so. The third and final strange behavior I am going to adress is how Jess says "He's a different kind of uncle from what we're used to." when I read this line I had to stop and think, different from what we're used to? Those words alone just confused me because in my opinion all of the uncles seemed pretty strange to me and Uncle Runkin did not strike me as a different kind of uncle. This conversation aroused some suspicion in me and I am going to start a disscusion about the uncles so please participate(Macadam).

This chapter was a little weird at first because the title captured me as a little surprising because the title of ch 10 is the maker of one coffin. So initially this chapter title struck me as one of the most important chapters of the book because a coffin suggests something having to do with death or after-life. Initially Uncle Runkin was weird liking to sleep in coffins. As the story progressed subconsciously I was thinking that he might end up getting accidently buried but that did not happen. And (Macadam) I definitially agree with your ideas and comments about Jess's strange behavior and all the questions he raises. (QBennett02)

"And then it was obvious that I wasn't asleep and dreaming of Death and a doorway; instead, I was awake in Uncle Runkin's coffin and the old man, not expecting to find me there, had cried out in surprise." "We often hosted wandering aunts and uncles, all on my mother's side, and they intrigued my father endlessly and he was always glad when one of them showed up to break the monotony of a mountain farm life. Especially glad of Uncle Runkin."
 * I feel that it's funny how Uncle Runkin is frightened by seeing Jess in his coffin, yet not scared by finding a skeleton is his coffin. That just goes to show that Runkin feels a personal connection to Death, and isn't afraid of death...or dead people, but when others try to interrupt his personal relationship with death, he is afraid. (Reynolds)
 * This is an important quote because it foreshadows that joe robert is going to try and mess with Uncle Runkin. It also shows that this particular uncle is probably the wildest of them all.

"He was slight, about five foot eight, and frail looking because he carried no fat and not much muscle 'All skin and bones'; Uncle Runkin is the only person I ever met who fit the description. The bones in his hands and head were starkly prominent beneath parchment-colored skin as tight on him as a surgeon's glove. His head was entirely hairless, and not pink but yellowish. His beaky nose dropped sharply. His eyes were black as coffee grounds and large and sunken in his skull and surrounded by large circles as dark as the great pupils. These eyes looked quite past you, and Uncle Runkin made you feel he saw you without looking; and that was another unsettling sensation."
 * This goes into great depth to describe Uncle Runkin and Chappell does a great job of it. The description of this man seems to fit him almost perfectly. And really makes you uneasy about him as well as it does to Jess. So you truly get the feeling of this uncle. (Howell)

**Moments of astonishingly good writing**

"Just the other day-twenty years afterward - I found in an old tackle box a kneecap. It brought back tender memories."
 * I love how Chappell gives a bit of insight into the fact that the novel is a diary that Jess is writing. Also, using the work "tender" is great because it's a great adjective to use because it sounds like "tendons" which of course ties in with bones and stuff like that. (Reynolds)

"But whenever I was in his presence I felt like I was standing with my back to a cliff and couldn't remember where the edge was."
 * I like this quote because it shows the fear that Jess feels when he encounters this very strangely unique uncle that came to live with them. Even Joe Robert is slightly unsure about this man too and that is saying something. (Howell)
 * I like this quote as well, but to me it takes a different meaning. To Jess, he feels like he should keep going, keep backing up, keep pushing his limits, but with Uncle Runkin, he's unsure exactly where the limits are, and he's afraid he might just go to far, and be knocked over the edge. (Swayze)