27 pages • 54 minutes read
Stephen KingThe Monkey
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 1980A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Literary Devices
Atmosphere
In literature, atmosphere refers to the feeling that readers get from a narrative based on details such as setting, diction, and tone. In “The Monkey,” the atmosphere is one of tension, unease, and impending doom, underscoring the toy’s malevolence and building suspense as the narrative approaches its climax.
One element that contributes to this atmosphere is the setting. The story takes place primarily in a few rooms: the attic/storage spaces of Hal Shelburn’s childhood homes, his bedroom, and the hotel room of the present storyline. These are all relatively cramped and therefore claustrophobic spaces; that they are limited in number heightens the sense of the characters’ isolation and vulnerability, as they seem to be trapped with the evil toy.
Another technique Stephen King uses to create atmosphere is vivid sensory descriptions. The story’s detailed imagery immerses the reader in an eerie and unsettling world. For instance, King describes the monkey toy as having “the sun of a burning pinpoint in one glass eye” and its mouth as “grinning saucily back at [Hal]” (175). These detailed descriptions attribute energy and consciousness the toy, intensifying the overall atmosphere of dread. Imagery also enhances the uncanniness of the work’s setting. For example, when Hal and his family first encounter the monkey, they are in his aunt’s attic with the wind whistling through the eaves of the roof. The weather intensifies the feeling of unease, as if the natural elements themselves were aligned with the sinister toy.
Additionally, King’s use of foreshadowing contributes to the atmosphere of tension. From the beginning, there are subtle yet ominous hints that something terrible is about to happen. For example, when Hal’s son discovers the monkey toy, Hal thinks about it “grinning its old familiar grin” (159). That the grin is “familiar” implies Hal has extensive experience with the toy, foreshadowing the many violent deaths that punctuate the story’s flashbacks.
The pacing and structure of the story also play a role in establishing the atmosphere. King builds suspense gradually, allowing the tension to escalate as the story unfolds. For example, the first time the monkey causes a death, it plays its cymbals while Hal is sleeping. The second time it does so, he is awake but in another room. The third time, Hal himself winds the toy. Hal’s involvement with the toy (and therefore with the death) escalates each time, raising the stakes as the narrative progresses.
Juxtaposition
Juxtaposition is a literary device that involves placing two images, characters, ideas, etc. side by side to create contrast. Through juxtaposition, King explores the themes of The Loss of Childhood Innocence and The Nature of Evil. As a child’s toy, the monkey would seem to represent innocence. However, these associations are juxtaposed with its sinister and malevolent presence. The monkey’s appearance—its “funny” smile and “glassy” eyes—is deceiving, as it is neither benevolent nor inanimate. Through these contrasts, King explores the fragile nature of innocence and the complexities of human nature, including its capacity for unexpected darkness.
Repetition
Repetition, the intentional use of a word or phrase two or more times in a literary work, can enhance suspense, emphasize key themes, and draw parallels between different characters or events. Through the strategic use of repetition, King creates a rhythmic pattern that intensifies the impact of certain elements, adding depth and tension to the story.
The recurring description of the monkey toy itself is a key example. The monkey’s physical attributes feature throughout the narrative, often with the same words attached to them—e.g., its fixed “grin” and “nappy” texture. This repetition seeks to create a vivid and unsettling image in the reader’s mind, emphasizing the eerie and malevolent nature of the toy. It also creates a sense of inevitability and circularity that mirrors the story’s depiction of evil itself as cyclical and self-perpetuating. Likewise, certain events and images recur, suggesting a pattern of tragedy and darkness. For example, the repetition of the wind blowing when the monkey is around reinforces the notion that the characters are trapped in a cycle of destruction, unable to escape the sinister influence of the monkey.
Point of View
Point of view is the perspective from which a story is told; it governs the reader’s access to events and characters and also has significant bearing on the work’s tone. “The Monkey” employs a limited third-person point of view, focusing on the thoughts, perceptions, and experiences of a specific character. By adopting this viewpoint, King immerses the reader in the mind of the protagonist, Hal, encouraging intimate exploration of Hal’s inner thoughts, fears, and struggles and thus facilitating his characterization. Through this focused lens, the reader gains insight into Hal’s complex relationships, such as his strained dynamic with his wife and his protectiveness of his son Petey. The limited viewpoint therefore encourages the reader to empathize with Hal.
The flipside of this is the subjective nature of third-person limited narration. As the reader is confined to Hal’s perspective, they can only understand events and characters to the extent that Hal does. This generates suspense, as the reader is left in the dark alongside Hal, attempting to piece together the enigmatic nature of the monkey and its malevolent influence. It also raises the possibility that the story’s events are not precisely what they seem, as the reader has little but Hal’s word that the monkey is responsible for the deaths that occur. The point of view thus facilitates the story’s ambiguity, allowing readers to interpret it as a straightforward narrative about an evil toy, an allegory of abuse and trauma, or something in between.
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