The Shining Study Guide Flashcards

Questions and Answers

When was the release date of The Shining?

May 23, 1980

Who is the director of The Shining?

Stanley Kubrick

Why is it that in the book The Shining the haunted room is 217 but in the movie it is 237?

He was trying to show how the hotel is evil and how spirits can curse the place.

Who is the author of The Shining?

Stephen King Signup and view all the answers

Where does The Shining take place?

Colorado Signup and view all the answers

Who was the first caretaker of the Overlook Hotel?

Delbert Grady Signup and view all the answers

Why do people frequently turn to alcohol and gambling as a response to depression and financial stress?

Because it makes you forget about everything and calms you down. Signup and view all the answers

Define and describe the character of Jack Torrance.

Former teacher, alcoholic, violent. Signup and view all the answers

What author does King credit with being his biggest influence?

Poe Signup and view all the answers

In what fellow snowy state did Jack Torrance teach?

Vermont Signup and view all the answers

What similar inner demons do Jack and Wendy Torrance face every day?

The ghost of the hotel Signup and view all the answers

What is The Shining?

The ability to read minds and talk with others of the same skill set; can see the past and what might happen in the future. Signup and view all the answers

Who is Tony and what role does he play in the novel?

Tony is Danny's imaginary friend, who is actually Danny in the future. Signup and view all the answers

What role does Dick Hallorann play in the novel?

He plays as a hero, protecting Danny and his mom. Signup and view all the answers

Why does Danny ignore his visions before going to the Overlook?

Because he senses that the care-taking job is important to his father and the family's future. Signup and view all the answers

How is the wasp's nest perfect imagery for the idea that evil never dies?

Because once you think you have killed it or defeated it, it comes back stronger. Signup and view all the answers

How does Danny ultimately defeat the hotel?

By losing Jack in the maze, using his shining against him, and outsmarting his dad. Signup and view all the answers

By having Jack freeze to death in the movie rather than explode with the hotel in the novel, what does Stanley Kubrick ultimately change about the story?

It can make him seem like a ghost, turning him into a ghost at the hotel like the previous caretakers. Signup and view all the answers

In your opinion, why is Wendy's character such a weak one in the movie?

Because it shows the power that Jack has over her. Signup and view all the answers

How does the film's final scene echo Grady's comment that Jack 'has always been the caretaker'?

The postcard picture at the end of the film shows the date as 1921, with Jack in the picture. Signup and view all the answers

How does Grady's comment show us that it doesn't matter who serves as the caretaker?

Because caretakers have always been part of the hotel; it's just a matter of time when you formally serve. Signup and view all the answers

Why did Grady kill his family in The Shining?

He was isolated away from the rest of society, known as 'cabin fever'. Signup and view all the answers

This inhuman place makes human monsters.

The sleep of reason could suggest that if we ignore the unreasonable, we might turn into monsters. Signup and view all the answers

At what point in the story do you know that Danny will survive the ordeal?

When we learn that Tony is Danny in the future, suggesting Danny can see the future. Signup and view all the answers

In Part Three, how is Jack's indifference to hotel work a metaphor for much of his life?

Because his life is messed up and he has put everything off to fix it later. Signup and view all the answers

Why does the hotel want Danny?

Because Danny has the shining and there are bad things at the Overlook that only people who shine can see. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Shining Overview

Release date: May 23, 1980
Directed by: Stanley Kubrick
Author of the book: Stephen King
Set in: Colorado, at the Overlook Hotel

Key Characters

Jack Torrance: former teacher, alcoholic, prone to violence
Wendy Torrance: struggles with Jack's dominance and abusive behavior
Danny Torrance: possesses "the shining," an ability to see the past and future
Dick Hallorann: a hero who protects Danny and his mother
Delbert Grady: the first caretaker of the hotel

Themes and Concepts

The Shining: described as the ability to read minds and communicate telepathically, also seeing past and future events
Jack’s inner demons are represented by the ghost of the hotel
Connection between alcohol/gambling and escaping depression and stress

Symbolism and Imagery

Room 217 in the book changed to 237 in the film to emphasize the hotel's malevolent spirit
Wasp’s nest symbolizes the idea that evil does not perish; it returns stronger
The hotel influences characters, turning them into monsters through isolation (cabin fever)

Plot Points and Character Development

Danny ignores his visions out of concern for his family’s future
Jack is ultimately defeated by being lost in the maze, showcasing Danny’s cleverness and use of his shining
The final scene in the film alludes to Grady’s statement, showing Jack's transformation into a ghostly caregiver at the hotel

Narrative Shifts

Jack's fate differs between the book and film; he freezes to death in the movie, suggesting he becomes another hotel's ghost
Tony, Danny's imaginary friend, is revealed to be a future version of Danny, indicating Danny's ability to see futures

Personal Reflections

Wendy's character is portrayed as weak to highlight Jack's control over her
Grady's murder of his family illustrates the psychological breakdown caused by isolation

Important Messages

Caretakers of the hotel are seen as timeless; the true essence of caretaking transcends individual identities over time
Danny's survival is foreshadowed through his connection to Tony, whom he identifies as his future self

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Description

Test your knowledge of 'The Shining' with these flashcards! Covering essential details such as the release date, director, and key differences between the book and movie adaptations, this quiz is perfect for fans of horror literature and film. Challenge yourself and deepen your understanding of Stephen King's classic story.