Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

1. If you have read another work by Stephen King, discuss the similarities that you found to it in 1922. What do you like or dislike about his writing?

2. How did you feel about the balance of plot and horror in 1922? Could there have been more of one to make the story more enjoyable for you?

Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

1. Have you ever done something you would consider wrong or morally questionable? How did you justify your actions to yourself? How does this impact your view of Wilf’s self-justification in the text?

2. How do you feel about Wilf’s relationship with Henry? Does it remind you of any parent-child dynamics you’ve witnessed in your life? Aside from convincing Henry to commit murder, discuss some other negatives or even positives you saw in their relationship.

3. Discuss how the remote isolation in Nebraska impacted your understanding of the story. Have you ever lived or been somewhere that felt isolating? How did it change your behavior? Compare and contrast your experiences with Wilf, Arlette, and/or Henry.

4. Discuss how the confession-style narrative impacted your view of Wilf and the story. What parts seemed particularly unreliable? Did it make you sympathize with or dislike Wilf more than a typical narrative style would have?

5. How did reading 1922 impact your view of human emotions like fear, anger, guilt, and regret? In what ways did it force you to reconsider how humans cope with and respond to these emotions? Did it change your view of how impactful negative human emotions can be?

Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

1. How does 1922 critique American views of land ownership, self-reliance, and the American Dream, especially in the early 20th century? In what ways are these ideals still relevant today?

2. How do the experiences of Wilf and Arlette reflect traditional gender expectations for men and women? What does Wilf’s violence say about power dynamics and control? How have you experienced or seen this in your own life today?

Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

1. What impact does the framing device, a written confession, have on the overall story? Choose three specific points in the novella and discuss how the retrospective narration adds irony, suspense, and/or tension.

2. In what ways does the setting function as more than just a time and location in the text? Discuss specific moments where the location, weather, and/or time reflect Wilf’s internal mental state.

3. How does King’s diction evoke horror and discomfort for the reader? What techniques does he use (like imagery, figurative language, or pacing) to make the events of the novella psychologically disturbing?

4. Do you believe the supernatural events of the novella are real or just exist only in Wilf’s mind? Discuss specific scenes from the story to support your assertion. What theme is conveyed through the debate that stems from the ambiguity surrounding the supernatural aspects of the story?

Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

1. Choose one specific scene from the novel and rewrite it from either Arlette, Henry, or Sheriff Jones’s perspective. Discuss how shifting the point of view changed the emotional impact or thematic interpretations of the scene.

2. Create a collage, draw a picture, or discuss a movie poster you would create that you feel thematically reflects the events of 1922. Discuss what specific visual elements from the story you focused on and why you chose them.