What is the main difference between a casket and a coffin?

The distinction between a casket and a coffin primarily revolves around their shapes and design features. A casket is typically designed with a rectangular shape and often has a more elegant appearance, with flat sides and a tapered or rounded lid. In contrast, a coffin is more traditional in design, featuring a broader shape at the shoulders that tapers down toward the feet, which gives it a more anthropomorphic form that is intended to resemble the human body.

This difference in shape is significant for both aesthetic and functional reasons. Caskets are often used in modern funeral practices and may offer more options for customization and presentation, while coffins have historical roots and can be associated with older burial practices.

While the other options do present various attributes of caskets and coffins, they don't accurately capture the fundamental difference in shape and design that is best represented in the correct answer. Understanding this distinction is valuable for those in the funeral service industry, as it relates to both the handling of deceased individuals and the preferences of families during arrangement discussions.