88 pages 2 hours read

Stephen King

The Shining

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1977

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Part 5, Chapters 53-58Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 5: “Matters of Life and Death”

Part 5, Chapter 53 Summary: “Hallorann Laid Low”

Hallorann soaks the lion with gas from a gas can and lights it with a cigarette lighter, destroying the creature. His arm catches fire, and he extinguishes the flames in a snowbank. When he gets to the Overlook, the other animals are guarding the front steps. He manages to get around them, reach the door, and call for Danny.

Jack sneaks up on him and knocks him unconscious with the mallet. Jack then goes through the hotel shouting for Danny.

Part 5, Chapter 54 Summary: “Tony”

Tony is calling Danny from a great distance. He says Wendy will be hurt, and Hallorann will die. He also says that Danny brought him here. Finally, Tony appears to Danny again, but for the first time he is close enough for Danny to see more details about him. Tony looks like Danny, but ten years older. Danny’s middle name is Anthony; he realizes that a future version of himself—Tony—has been trying to warn him about the Overlook.

Jack appears and chases Danny, who sees two bodies by the door of the Presidential Suite as he runs. Suddenly, everything is silent except the elevator, which is coming up. Danny runs to the attic, but it is locked with a padlock.