Insomnia

Analyze how death is portrayed and experienced by the characters. How do different characters conceive of and react to death? What does the novel suggest about the nature and experience of death?

While King is best known as a horror novelist, Insomnia sometimes veers away from traditional genre elements. What are the elements in this novel that harken to King’s horror roots? When does he stray into other genres?

Comment on the depiction of Ralph’s late wife, Carolyn. How is she characterized? What is her role and wider significance in the text?

Discuss King’s decision to depict Clotho and Lachesis as a pair and Atropos as a solo agent. How does this feature of their characterization resonate with the value they represent?

Ralph and Lois frequently wrestle with the morality of drawing from other people’s auras to sustain themselves throughout their mission. What do auras represent in the novel? How do they function in the narrative?

The novel frequently alludes to the poem “Pursuit” by Stephen Dobyns. How does this poem resonate with the narrative and thematic elements of Insomnia?

Consider the gender dynamics of the novel, such as Ralph and Lois’s developing relationship and/or Helen’s experiences escaping Ed’s abuse. How do gender dynamics shape the characters’ lives and experiences? In what ways does the novel reflect or subvert traditional gender dynamics and/or stereotypes?

Analyze Ralph’s relationship with the Old Crocks of Derry and Ralph and Lois’s experience of being elderly. How does the novel explore the experience of aging and the treatment of the elderly?