A critical movie analysis of the shining by stanley kubrick. In the very first chapter, king lays his cards on the table. To watch my previous video analysis of the shining, based upon some of the concepts described in the text of the article, scroll to the bottom of this page. King is writing up here, reaching for a more literary bar than a lot of genre fiction. Jack torrance character the story take place in colorado and begins with jack torrance, going to a place by the name of the overlook hotel to be the caretaker over the winter months, because of coast of keeping a twentyfive mile road, in which it take to.
Movie, hell be taking a critical look at movie adaptations of horror novels. Analysis of the shining, by stanley kubrick essay bartleby. Shining or shining on is the phrase used by dick halloran to describe his and fiveyearold danny torrances ability to read minds and mentally converse with others who read minds. You may choose to use some of the following topics. The shining is generally considered by critics and king enthusiasts to be one of his best novels, along with carrie 1974, salems lot 1975, and the stand 1978. The grapes of wrath critical reception steinbeck in the. The shining is the most wellexecuted example of foreshadowing in modern fiction. This analysis was a long time coming, considering its not only one i had been intending to do for years and even hinted at in a previous video, but also because its the film that everybody has. The grapes of wrath means a lot of different things to different people. The story of this film is based off the book, the shining by stephen king. The novel looks at a variety of factors which impact how reality is perceived and even perverted or masked. The shining was stephen kings third published novel, written as his rise to fame as a.
I couldnt help but feel sympathetic for jack because hes come from such a horrible place, tried to rise above it, but is destroyed by this malevolent place. The shining stanley kubrick, 1980 since its creation in 1980 by the late, great stanley kubrick, the shining has since developed a cult following and is now considered to be one of the greatest and most terrifying horror films ever created. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics. Stephen kings the shining, published in 1977, is a horror novel. This is not an example of the work produced by our essay writing service.
With remarkable visual panache and a keen sense of irony, stanley kubrick rehabilitates stephen kings trashy, terrifying novel. A critical look at stephen kings epic jenifer michelle delia university of south florida follow this and additional works at. The shining is a stanley kubrick film, and as such it makes impeccableif also horrificsense. The shining is a supernatural horror novel written by stephen king and. The shining is a tale about the lives of a family in which the husband works as a caretaker in a hotel overlooking colorado, named the overlook hotel, and much to the husband and wifes unknowing, the hotel has a force within it that transcends the eras and would like to spread further terror to the ones inside it, and the one to notice, and experience it firsthand is the familys son, danny torrance. What role did narcissistic injury and cultural circumstance play in jacks breakdown. But its a testament to the power of kings novel that it holds its own against the film. We can see that he spends most of his time either typing or sitting by his type writer. Before the end of the 1980s, i wasnt the only one to do a 180degree turn and decide the shining was a great horror movie after all. It was his third published novel, after carrie and salems lot. Both the hotel and jack have trouble overcoming their past. But these faults pale in comparison to the books successes.
Analysis of the shining the shining is a supernatural horror novel written by stephen king and published in 1977. The shining is two stories, both the same, but somehow very different. Danny thinks in surprisingly deep ways throughout the story. I thought of that experience last week while reading doctor sleep, stephen kings new sequel to the shining. I read the novel three times, although over fifteen years have passed since. From the first intercalary chapter, showcasing steinbecks control of language, to the unforgettable ending, in which rose of sharon breastfeeds a starving man, the grapes of wrath remains a controversial work in both critical and political discussions, with themes that are uniquely american. Unlike your average fiveyear olds, danny has a gift called the shining, in which he could sense, experience unnatural phenomena, have dreams about the future, and even read other peoples minds. Seriously exhaustive analysis of the shining shows. Yet three of the most important details in the shining appear before the novel even begins. As robert demott explains in his introduction to the 2006 edition, the novel is part naturalistic epic, part labor. Detailed analysis of characters in stephen kings the shining.
This onepage guide includes a plot summary and brief analysis of the shining by stephen king. The shining analysis axe killing your family is one thing one very bad thing, but killing them with an axe and chopping them into little bits is a whole different level of brutality. Seriously exhaustive analysis of the shining shows kubricks inversion of kings novel. Select a theme of the novel and discuss how the symbols and setting support the theme. The film has been called the most suspenseful of all time and one of the most carefully thought out movie ever. Briefly summarize the plot of the novel you read, and explain how the narrative fulfills the authors purpose based on your wellinformed interpretation of same.
Fiveyearold danny torrence and his parents, jack and wendy, are spending the winter at a resort high in the colorado mountains. We examine the five elements that stanley kubrick and all of his collaborators use. Brought to screen by the mastermind of stanley kubrick, is this adaptation of the stephen king novel by the same name. The shining is a 1980 psychological horror film produced and directed by stanley kubrick and cowritten with novelist diane johnson. The literary equivalent of a big mac and fries academics.
Mar 12, 2019 in, the shining, it is often argued that jack starts the story as the primary antagonist, one that he would have gone down his path regardless of his choices, however, king breaks down jack torrances flaws and inner demons that allow him to be a tragic hero. The shining by stephen king misscole december, 2011 at 12. May 25, 20 the shining, one of kubricks later movies, is now widely considered one if not the greatest horror movies ever made, and an excellent example of what an alist director at the top of their game can do with the genre. Part of theamerican studies commons this dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the graduate school at scholar commons. Kubrick was right to reject the killer topiary bunnies. How the yellow vw is able to comically hold so much relates to a yellow bag albertine dreams about and the credenza in which bill hides the rainbow fashions bag. Seriously exhaustive analysis of the shining shows kubrick. Nov 20, 2007 s tanley kubricks indelible take on both the horror genre and the popular fiction of stephen king, the shining is both a radical distillation of its source novels densely stuffed ghostsandgore imagery as well as a conflation of its hidden central theme of the truelife horrors of domestic abuse. Describe how to write a critical literary analysis of the shining. The shining in the shining, king domesticated his approach to the theme of parentchild relationships, focusing on the threat to the family that comes from a trusted figure within it. Click below to read the post and see how kubrick took kings novel and made. You shine on boy, harder than anyone i ever met in my life. A space odyssey, a clockwork orange and barry lyndon expresses his true style.
Drama analysis of the shining the shining is a 1980 psychological horror film directed by stanley kubrick. The problem with criticism of the shining is that almost every. The setting and characters are influenced by kings personal experiences, including both his visit to the. Stephen king s the shining, published in 1977, is a horror novel. Seriously exhaustive analysis of the shining shows kubricks. I love the shining because of how jack unravels and because of how real the overlook feels. Oct 21, 2017 this weeks video essay and film analysis is a closer look into stanley kubricks the shining. Kubrick having already cemented his status as an acknowledged master filmmaker. The shining was stephen king s third published novel, written as his rise to fame as a horror writer was beginning. Jack, wendy, and danny, each in their own way are trying to make sense of their realities. Jack is a failed writer who has battled alcoholism. Stanley kubricks the shining was released in 1980, and since has been hailed as one of the greatest horror movies ever made. The shining is the first book stephen king wrote from a position of financial stability.
Critical genre analysis the shining, stanley kubrick stanley kubricks the shining 1980 often described as a cinematic masterpiece wasnt always met with this kind of praise. Jack torrances new job at the overlook hotel is the perfect chance for a fresh start. As the offseason caretaker at the atmospheric old hotel, hell have plenty of time to spend reconnecting with his family and working on his. Adapted, fairly loosely, from then upandcoming author stephen kings novel, the film is a fascinating, twisted and dark. The process of developing a critical literary analysis effectively varies from one student to another, but generally, there are a. Published in 1977, it is kings third published novel and first hardback bestseller. The shining essays are academic essays for citation. The possibilities of mental illness in the shining. May 31, 20 seriously exhaustive analysis of the shining shows kubricks inversion of kings novel shares the documentary room 237 has been called a diy mashup of the many theories put forward over the years as interpretations of stanley kubrickss 1980 horror classic, the shining. It seems, poetically apt that, at the time stanley kubrick was describing arabesques rounds space stations and star corridors and the history of human consciousness in space odyssey, michael snow was making wavelength, the birth of a. The shining is a horror novel by american author stephen king. It centers on the writer jack torrence and his family, as they become the isolated, winter caretakers of the overlook hotel in the rockies. The shining has lost its shine kubrick was slumming it in a.
The main character jack torrance is a violent, recovering alcoholic who has broken his son, dannys arm while drunk before. The shining is a gothic horror novel by stephen king, first published in 1977. Jack torrance, a writer, arranges to oversee a mountain resort during the winter months, when it is closed due to snow. A space odyssey and a clockwork orange, kubrick works across genres and his movies come with impeccable directing, atmosphere and a sense of intelligence. In recent years, however, the grapes of wrath has seen a critical renaissance as modern critics, looking at the book through economic, historic, and materialistic lenses, replace the new critical methodology and its strict adherence to textual analysis. This weeks video essay and film analysis is a closer look into stanley kubricks the shining. Eclipsed perhaps only by its 1980 film adaptation, the novel is one of the most.
The documentary room 237 has been called a diy mashup of the many theories put forward over the years as interpretations of stanley kubrickss 1980 horror classic, the shining. The question and answer section for the shining is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. Writing a novel analysis allows you to dissect a work of fiction to see what makes it so gripping. The shining study guide contains a biography of stanley kubrick, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of the shining by stanley kubrick. Its pendulum swung to and fro with a dull, heavy, monotonous clang.
Pierreauguste renoir and the statutte of a woman found at willlendorf by. He tells you the last caretaker went crazy he tells you the last caretaker murdered his family with. Critical genre analysis the shining, stanley kubrick. It was in this apartment, also, that there stood a gigantic clock of ebony. The shining has lost its shine kubrick was slumming it. The story centers on jack torrance, a struggling writer and recovering. The shining questions the nature of reality at every turn. Dive deep into stephen kings the shining with extended analysis, commentary, and discussion. The relationship of the yellow vw in the shining to the traumnovelle novel. Dec 18, 2014 stanley kubricks the shining 1980 often described as a cinematic masterpiece wasnt always met with this kind of praise. What are the literary devices used in the novel the. Art appreciation art 11v1 june 9, 2012 renoir was born on february 25, 1841 in limoges, hautevienne, france.
Oct 27, 2016 before the end of the 1980s, i wasnt the only one to do a 180degree turn and decide the shining was a great horror movie after all. Kings new novel might have come straight out of that basement library. Check out his first column below, exploring the shining. It was made into a film by stanley kubrick in 1980. You can view samples of our professional work here. This novel is about a a threemember family including jack torrance father, wendy torrance mother, and a six year old boy named danny son who stay the winter at the overlook hotel.
Analysis of stephen kings novels literary theory and. An analysis of the literary elements in the shining, a gothic novel by stephen king. Stephen kings the shining is arguably his most renowned book, both due to the novel itself. Oct 11, 20 i thought of that experience last week while reading doctor sleep, stephen kings new sequel to the shining. However, the text version is a much more thorough breakdown of the film and includes video stills and other research sources.
Review and analysis posted on may 25, 20 by carl 21 comments stanley kubrick remains one of americas strongest filmmakers best known for classics such as 2001. A very important, and often heated, area of discussion is the comparison between kubricks film and the original novel of the shining by stephen king. Nov 15, 2016 this analysis was a long time coming, considering its not only one i had been intending to do for years and even hinted at in a previous video, but also because its the film that everybody has. A boys special perception and a possessed hotel interact with deadly results in the novel the shining by stephen king. It was his third novel and his first hardback best seller. Learn all about how the characters in the shining such as overlook hotel and danny torrance contribute to the story and how they fit into the plot. The most significant elements of the film, eyes wide shut. Analysis of kubricks the shining, table of contents. Oct 09, 2016 the shining is a supernatural horror novel written by stephen king and published in 1977.
When halloran talks to danny privately he tells him. The the shining 1977 novel community note includes chapterbychapter summary and analysis, character list, theme list, historical context. Not a horror film in any traditional sense, but a perversely comic, occasionally frightening melodrama of intrafamilial rage, the shining retains the oedipal structure of kings narrative while running rings around its pulpy sensibility. These detailsfound in the novel s three epigraphsare essential for understanding kings literary aspirations. Critical genre analysis the shining, stanley kubrick faye. Read stephen kings the shining and write a 2 page literary analysis. Jack torrance, a writer, arranges to oversee a mountain resort during the winter months, when it. What actions do kings characters take that develop and define their character.
In his 2006 introduction, robert demott defines grapes as part naturalistic epic, part labor. The essay closely examines the main elements of the genre, such as characterization, theme and plot, and how they work together to create a unified story. The grapes of wrath critical reception steinbeck in. The shining stanley kubrick, 1980 june 28, 2010 andy buckle leave a comment go to comments since its creation in 1980 by the late, great stanley kubrick, the shining has since developed a cult following and is now considered to be one of the greatest and most terrifying horror films ever created. Eclipsed perhaps only by its 1980 film adaptation, the novel is one of the most popular and enduring horror stories of all time.
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