The Literary Value of Stephen King: Reading Popular Fiction in a Scholarly Context

After Stephen King was presented with the National Book Award in 2003, many literary critics bemoaned the respected institution's decision to grant a writer of popular fiction such a prestigious honor. However, popular fiction is not always unintelligent or inartistic and can be literary in nature. King's work should not be dismissed simply because of its popularity; in fact, by producing works that speak to the human condition and can be read on many levels, King may finally be bridging the gap between popular fiction and literature. This study aims to demonstrate that King's writing is worthy of critical attention and examination by exploring the universal and archetypal elements of King's works and by demonstrating, through an analysis of The Shining, that a King novel that can withstand critical scrutiny. This analysis should prove useful to those interested in challenging the literary canon, seeking to read or teach popular fiction as literature, or learning more about Stephen King's work.