Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. In what genre or genres does Stephen King typically write? What are some of King’s popular works? Are there any topics to which King returns across different works?

Teaching Suggestion: Misery is written by Stephen King, who is well known in the realm of popular fiction as a novelist in the horror, suspense, fantasy, and thriller genres; the book is often thought to be somewhat autobiographical and based on some of King’s experiences as a famous author. King’s Misery addresses some of the horrors of fandom and how these experiences may shape the writing of his protagonist, Paul.

• This article provides a brief biography of Stephen King.
• This 9-minute video describes Stephen King’s childhood.
• This feature from The New York Times Magazine (2013) profiles King’s family members who also turned to writing in their careers.

2. What is believed to be the first horror novel? How did people receive it? What are some of the elements used in the horror genre?

Teaching Suggestion: Misery belongs to the horror genre, and King uses some of the genre’s elements to create suspense in the novel.