After his accident, Johnny possesses an extraordinary ability. How does this event support King’s examination of the costs of doing good?

Herb and Vera’s marriage grows increasingly strained. How does King portray the clash between Vera’s faith and Herb’s practicality? What might King be suggesting about how beliefs connect or divide people?

Compare and contrast Dodd and Stillson. Which of these two antagonists is Johnny more obligated to confront? Does King portray them as equally evil?

Fiction

Fantasy

Emotions & Behavior

Fear

Values & Ideas

Good & Evil

Grief

Hate & Anger

Horror, Thrillers, & Suspense

Mystery & Crime

Pride & Shame

Humanities

Religion & Spirituality

Science Fiction & Dystopian Fiction

Social Issues

Sexual Harassment & Violence

Stephen King

Adult

Novel

Guide

Study Guide

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore The Dead Zone and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

The Dead Zone Summary and Study Guide

chapter

chapterType

section

Chapter Summaries & Analyses

Part 1: “The Wheel of Fortune”

Prologue and Part 1, Chapters 1-8

The Dead Zone Prologue and Part 1, Chapters 1-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 9-16

The Dead Zone Part 1, Chapters 9-16 Summary & Analysis

Part 2: “The Laughing Tiger”

Part 2, Chapters 17-21

The Dead Zone Part 2, Chapters 17-21 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 22-27

The Dead Zone Part 2, Chapters 22-27 Summary & Analysis

Part 3: “Notes from the Dead Zone”

Part 3 The Dead Zone Part 3 Summary & Analysis

character

Character Analysis

The Dead Zone Character Analysis

theme

Themes

The Dead Zone Themes

Symbols & Motifs

The Dead Zone Symbols & Motifs

quote

citation

Important Quotes

The Dead Zone Important Quotes

primaryCharacter

Essay Topics

The Dead Zone Essay Topics

The Dead Zone