The Mist

• Genre: Fiction; horror novella
• Originally Published: 1980
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 11 chapters; approx. 230 pages; approx. 5 hours, 19 minutes on audio
• Protagonist and Central Conflict: David Drayton, his son Billy, and their neighbor Brent Norton get trapped in the grocery store with several people after a mysterious mist descends on the town. A religious zealot inside the store tries to convince them that the mist is punishment for their sins against God and that a sacrifice must be made. The people split into two factions—those for sacrifice and those against—and staying may prove fatal for those who do not wish to make a sacrifice. When they attempt to escape, they find that what’s outside is much worse.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence; monster gore; death              

Stephen King, Author

• Bio: Born in 1947 in Portland, Maine; attended University of Maine; prolific novelist of horror and suspense; earned a teaching degree but worked initially in an industrial laundry; sold short stories early in his career; worked as an English teacher in a public high school; left teaching with the success of his first published novel, Carrie, in 1973; has earned great fame with over 65 published novels and novellas, many short stories, movies from his works, and several nonfiction works
• Other Works: The Shining (1977); Christine (1983); IT (1986); Needful Things (1991); Under the Dome (2009)
• Awards: World Fantasy Award nominee (1981); Locus Award nominee (1981)                       

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Unit:

• The Loss of Humanity
• The Fear of the Unknown
• Religious Fanaticism

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Unit, students will:

• Analyze and evaluate the literary context of the story and explore texts that blend elements of horror and science fiction.
• Analyze and discuss how individuals respond to emergencies, how groups form and hold together, and other topics for comparison to character and plot conflicts.
• After reflecting on the plot conflicts, create an emergency preparedness plan that can be put in place as a response to an environmental or other disaster.
• Examine and appraise the author’s purpose to draw conclusions and create structured essay responses regarding the causes, likelihood, and solutions/prevention of each.