- Stephen King

“The scariest moment is always just before you start.”

Based on these two covers, what can you infer about Stephen King’s story, The Body? Consider everything you can see, in addition to your own background knowledge. It’s important to not judge a book by its cover; however, a cover can still be a useful source of information prior to reading a book.

Stephen King Stephen King is the highest-earning author in the world. Since selling his first book in 1973, he has published over 40 books and his name has become synonymous with the horror genre. However, all of his success was achieved from poor beginnings.

About the author . . . • born in Portland, Maine in 1947

• he and his older brother, David, were raised by his mother in Durham, Maine.

• graduated from Lisbon Falls High School in 1966

• graduated from University of Maine in 1970 with a B.A. in English and qualified to teach on the high school level

• wrote a weekly column for the school newspaper and was active in student politics

• Vietnam War was underway during this time, but King failed a draft board examination due to high blood pressure, limited vision, flat fee, and punctured eardrums

About the author . . . • King met Tabitha Spruce in the library while at college and they married in

January of 1971

• during the early years of their marriage, Stephen sold short stories to men’s magazines to bring in extra money

• fall of 1971 – began teaching high school English classes at Hampden Academy

• writing in the evenings and on the weekends, he continued to produce short stories and began working on novels.

• in the spring of 1973, Doubleday & Co. accepted the novel Carrie for publication – several weeks later on Mother’s Day, his new editor told him that a major paperback sale would provide him with the means to leave teaching and write full-time.

• the Kings have three children: Naomi Rachel, Joe Hill, and Owen Phillip, and four grandchildren. Stephen and Tabitha provide scholarships for local high school students and contribute to many other local and national charities.

Perseverance Pays Off . . .• King was no stranger to

hard work. As mentioned before, he spent time writing every moment he could when not working or taking care of his family.

• His life experiences also helped him become the writer he is today.

• Much of his work was born out of real-life events and his own fears and shortcomings.

• Abandoned by his father as a toddler

• Bullied as a child

• Moved many times as a kid and as an adult

• Watched a friend get struck by a train at the age of seven

• His pet cat was killed by a car

• King, himself, was hit by a van in 1999 and almost died – the long-lasting pain and inability to focus made it difficult to write for months following the incident

• Early on in life, King became addicted to radio horror tales and science fiction films

What is so great about King?

- He is, first and foremost, a good storyteller.- He uses terror, horror, and “gross” techniques to captivate his readers.- He cleverly creates the unexpected.- He provides insights into the dark side of humanity.- The forces of good and evil are often equal combatants.- The fragility of life is a major theme.- Characters often harbor evil and/or vengeful feelings that compel their actions.

Based on these two covers, what can you infer about Stephen King’s story, The Body? Consider everything you can see, in addition to your own background knowledge. It’s important to not judge a book by its cover; however, a cover can still be a useful source of information prior to reading a book.

The BodyThe Body is quite different from most of Stephen King’s other work, in that it is not a horror story. It was originally published as part of a collection of tales called Different Seasons (1982), a book in which King wished to show the different side of his imagination. The semi-autobiographical story concerns four young boys, growing up in a poorer area of 1960s Maine. The boys are all about to turn thirteen. When they hear about the death of another boy, who was walking in the forest miles from his home, they cannot resist the temptation to go and look for his body, though they know the journey will be long and dangerous. The adventure becomes a turning point in all their lives as they face the dangers and wonders of the forest and some of the bigger questions of their lives to come. Full of the atmosphere of a teenage summer, The Body is both an adventure story and a portrait of four boys on the first step of their journey into adulthood.

Fall From Innocence

“The most important things are the hardest things to say.”

It can be difficult to explain things we are experiencing at the moment whereas things from the past are more easily put into words.

What’s the plan?• You will be reading this book in class and at home.

• Keep track of deadlines – will be posted on webpage

• Study Guide will be collected for points – may also use on quizzes/tests

• Three quizzes

• One test

• In-class journals

• In-class discussions

• Viewing film adaptation, Stand by Me

Sources

Originally written by Tabitha King, updated by Marsha DeFilippo.

Photo Credit: Shane Leonard.

www.stephenking.com and Pearson Education Limited

Searched on October 12, 2015