Stephen King established himself as a preeminent writer in the horror genre with The Shining, published in 1977. The themes are like others in his literary output: the thin line dividing reality from fantasy. His frightening plots emerge from ordinary daily routines. The storylines are not scary in and of themselves. But the way that bizarre occurrences affect believable characters cause terror to the reader. The ways ordinary people become monstrous by their own doing, mirroring King’s own history of drug and alcohol abuse.

The Shining contains many elements of Gothic literature. It is rooted in the power of the past and how irrational violence influences the world.  What Makes a Gothic Novel  (Carla M. Paton. The Writing Collective. 2022, Mar 2) – Atmosphere & setting, Visions and Omens, Supernatural events: Mystery & fear, Women in distress, Tyranny of men. Enjoy these other examples of gothic literature.