9. The term ‘The Shining’ makes us think of lamps and of lights in dark places. Why do you think this is so? What role does this image of light amid darkness play in the book?

[Jen]

Comments:

[Pip]

I hadn't thought of it as shining a light in dark places, I felt the use of the gerund as clumsy. I kept concentrating on the inconsistencies. If Danny could use "The Shining" to predict the future, why did he not know that there was a lock on the attic trapdoor, for example.?Maybe because he was a beacon of light, the evil influence of the hotel could not reach him, but I did not think that the differences in susceptibility between himself, his father, and his mother were explained satisfactorily.

[Paula]

Like Pip, I didn't think of it as illuminating anything, more like he was shining and easy to see for those who could see shine. Thinking back, of course one could interpret the shine as seeing into the dark future. Danny just couldn't control his shine since he was so young and didn't know how to do that.

[Patrick]

I likened the shining to some form of aura (visible or not), which helped their bearers to recognize each other. Hallorann often mentions the degree to which people affected by the shining shine: Danny is the brightest he has ever witnessed, but he also comes across multiple people who only shine a little and perhaps are not aware of their ability.

[Kristel]

I also did not really think of it as light and dark. I thought more along the lines of Patrick and Paula. It is a gifting where you can see things. But the term used by Dick indicates that it is something "he, Dick" recognizes in other people. That they have the gift. It did appear to be inconsistent and I think Danny does say that he tries to not use the gift at times. I also thought that there was inconsistencies, such as why did the hotel want Danny and was the hotel trying to "use" Danny or kill Danny and why? This is why I gave the story 3.8 stars instead of 5.