Stephen King is one of the most published contemporary authors. He has written more than 50 novels and movie scripts, some of them under the pseudonym of Richard Bachmann. His stories deal with the supernatural, with aliens or the abysses of the human mind. Due to his topics, his books are often regarded as trivial literature by many of his readers and also by people who have never read a single one of his books and who only judge him by his name. But what these critics seem to miss is the fact that Stephen King has adapted many themes and motifs from highly regarded authors of classic Gothic fiction, such as Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe and Bram Stoker, to mention just a few.
In each of Stephen King’s books, the reader can identify traces of classic Gothic fiction, although the topics and settings are normally adapted to modern times.
Stephen King says of himself that ‘most of my [Stephen King’s] books have been derivative to some extent…’ (Bloom, p.96), which is not surprising regarding his educational background: After studying English at the University of Maine, Stephen King worked as a high school teacher, although he did not get too much teaching practice due to the commercial success of his books. Therefore, it is not very surprising that Stephen King uses the sources he has become acquainted with during his studies. He uses the motifs of Gothic novels in different ways and in many of his books. In fact, he says that ‘what I [Stephen King] try to do…is to pour new wine from old bottles’ (Bloom, p.96).
What I would like to do in this term paper is to show some of the Gothic motifs Stephen King uses in his books and in what way he uses them. For this purpose, I have chosen two novels from Stephen King’s earlier working period: Salem’s Lot and The Shining. But before actually beginning the comparison between Stephen King’s books and classic Gothic novels I will give an overview over the characteristic features of Gothic writing in order to enable the reader to identify the tradition Stephen King’s writing stands in.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1 What is a Gothic novel and what are ist main features?
2. The Shining
2.1 The Overlook Hotel
2.2 Jack Torrance
3. Salem’s Lot
3.1 Ben Mears and Barlow
3.2 The Marsten House
3.3 The Vampire hunters
3.4 The End
3.5 Further Parallels
4. Conclusion
5. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper explores the integration of classic Gothic literary motifs in the early novels of Stephen King, specifically focusing on how he adapts traditional horror elements to contemporary settings. The research aims to demonstrate that King's work is deeply rooted in the Gothic tradition, moving beyond its perception as merely trivial literature.
- Analysis of core Gothic features and their evolution into modern literature.
- Examination of the haunted house motif in "The Shining" and its parallels to classic Gothic structures.
- Investigation of the "Gothic villain" archetype through the transformation of Jack Torrance.
- Comparative analysis of "Salem’s Lot" and Bram Stoker’s "Dracula" regarding plot, characters, and thematic elements.
- Evaluation of King's literary intent and his engagement with the Gothic legacy.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1 The Overlook Hotel
A common motive in gothic novels is the castle as the architectural background: Decaying, bleak and full of hidden passageways, the castle was linked to other medieval edifices […] that, in their general ruinous states, harked back to a feudal past associated with barbarity, superstition and fear….In later fiction, the castle gradually gave way to the old house: …it became the site where fears and anxieties returned in the present. (Botting, p. 3)
In Stephen King’s books, castles or the ancestors of medieval castles (as America is a relatively ‘young’ continent, medieval castles would not be a very convincing setting in a modern North-American town), old houses, also play an important role.
As the castle or old house is a component always present in Gothic fiction, there are many examples for castles which can be compared to Stephen King’s Overlook Hotel. But there are three castles or houses in Gothic fiction which bear especially many similarities to the Overlook hotel: the castle in Ann Radcliffe’s Mysteries of Udolpho, the house in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher and Manfred’s castle in Horace Walpole’s The Castle of Otranto.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation by defining the characteristics of the Gothic novel and introducing Stephen King’s intention to adapt these traditional motifs in his own work.
2. The Shining: The author examines how the Overlook Hotel functions as a sentient Gothic space and how Jack Torrance embodies the psychological decline typical of a Gothic villain.
3. Salem’s Lot: This chapter presents a detailed comparison between "Salem’s Lot" and Bram Stoker’s "Dracula," identifying similarities in character archetypes, the architectural setting of the Marsten House, and the struggle against the supernatural.
4. Conclusion: The concluding section synthesizes the findings, asserting that Stephen King is a conscious practitioner of Gothic literature who skillfully revitalizes the genre for modern readers.
5. Bibliography: This section lists the primary texts and secondary critical sources used for the analysis.
Keywords
Stephen King, Gothic literature, The Shining, Salem’s Lot, Dracula, Gothic motifs, Horror fiction, Literary tradition, Haunted house, Gothic villain, Vampire, Bram Stoker, Edgar Allan Poe, Supernatural, Psychological horror.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this paper?
The paper examines how Stephen King incorporates classic Gothic motifs into his early novels, "The Shining" and "Salem's Lot," to establish his work within the literary tradition of the Gothic genre.
What are the primary themes discussed?
Key themes include the architectural significance of the haunted space, the evolution of the Gothic villain, the struggle against the supernatural, and the literary parallels between King's modern horror and classic works like "Dracula."
What is the main research objective?
The goal is to move past the perception of King's work as "trivial literature" by showing its clear adaptation of motifs from esteemed authors such as Horace Walpole, Ann Radcliffe, and Bram Stoker.
Which scientific approach does the author use?
The author uses a comparative literary analysis method, juxtaposing King's narrative elements and character developments with established conventions and works from the Gothic tradition.
What content is covered in the main body?
The main body breaks down the analysis into specific chapters covering "The Shining" (focusing on the Overlook Hotel and Jack Torrance) and "Salem's Lot" (comparing it extensively to Stoker's "Dracula").
How can this work be characterized?
This work is a literary study that emphasizes the continuity of horror tropes, the psychological depth of Gothic settings, and the deliberate homage King pays to the history of the Schauerroman.
In what way does the "Overlook Hotel" mirror traditional Gothic castles?
The paper argues that the Overlook Hotel serves as the sentient, architectural origin of horror, mirroring the role of decaying castles in classic literature by trapping its inhabitants and driving them to psychological destruction.
How does the paper differentiate King's version of the "Vampire Hunters" from Stoker's?
The author notes that while the group structure is similar, King's "vampire hunters" in "Salem's Lot" are depicted as less heroic and suffer greater losses, acting almost as caricatures of Stoker’s original figures.
- Quote paper
- Judith Schwickart (Author), 2004, Gothic Motifs in Stephen King's Work With Special Regard to Salem's Lot and The Shining, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/38900
