Recurring Character Archetypes
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The Troubled Writer
Reflecting King's own experiences, many protagonists are writers struggling with addiction, block, or personal demons.
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The Innocent Child with Powers
Young characters with psychic or supernatural abilities (Danny Torrance, Charlie McGee, Carrie White).
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The Everyman Hero
Ordinary people thrust into extraordinary circumstances who find courage they didn't know they possessed.
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The Mother/Father Protector
Parents fighting desperately to protect their children.
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The Embodiment of Evil
Antagonists ranging from supernatural entities (Pennywise, Randall Flagg) to human monsters (Annie Wilkes, Norman Daniels).
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The Group of Friends
Childhood friends or found families uniting against darkness (The Losers' Club, the characters in The Stand).
Horror Movies Personal Questionnaire
Horror Expressions
- "It sends shivers down your spine"
- "It keeps you on the edge of your seat"
- "I couldn't put it down"
- "It scared the life out of me"
- "It's a real nail-biter"
- "It gave me goosebumps"
- "It made my blood run cold"
- "It made my hair stand on end"
- "It sent chills down my spine"
- "It scared me out of my wits"
- "It gave me the creeps"
- "It made my skin crawl"
- "I was scared stiff"
- "I was shaking like a leaf"
- "I jumped out of my skin"
- "My heart was pounding"
- "I slept with the lights on"
- "I couldn't sleep a wink"
- "It haunted me for days"
- "I was on tenterhooks"
- "It's the stuff of nightmares"
- "It's nightmare fuel"
Vocabulary from the Void
Complete the sentences below using one of the horror expressions from the previous list. Be careful, the wrong answer could have... consequences.