Chapter 1: The Interview
In a snowy Colorado town, Jack Torrance, a struggling writer and recovering alcoholic, interviews for the position of winter caretaker at the isolated Overlook Hotel. The manager, Stuart Ullman, explains that the solitude of the hotel may help Jack overcome his writer's block. Jack accepts the job, hoping it will also benefit his wife Wendy and their five-year-old son Danny.
Example:
"Jack Torrance, I believe? We've been expecting you," Ullman said, extending a pale hand. "Please, have a seat."
Jack felt a surge of unease as he entered the opulent lobby of the Overlook. The grand staircase and life-sized topiary animals created an eerie atmosphere.
Chapter 2: The Shining
As the Torrance family settles into the hotel, Danny begins to experience strange visions and the ability to communicate with the hotel's spirits. He forms a bond with the cook, Dick Hallorann, who shares Danny's gift and warns him of the hotel's dark past.
Example:
In the hallway, Danny stopped abruptly, his eyes wide. "There's a lady in my room," he whispered to his mother.
Wendy smiled, thinking it was just his imagination. "I'm sure there's no lady in your room, honey."
But Danny's face remained serious. "She's here, Mom. She's sad."
Chapter 3: The Haunting
Jack, initially skeptical of Danny's visions, begins to witness his own disturbing experiences. He hears voices in the empty rooms, sees grotesque apparitions, and becomes increasingly irritable and violent. Wendy becomes concerned about Jack's mental health, while Danny's powers continue to grow.
Example:
Jack's typewriter sprang to life, keys clattering erratically. He stumbled towards it, his face contorted in anger. "Stop it, you fools!" he yelled.
Wendy watched in horror as Jack began to type furiously, his fingers bleeding onto the page. "We're here now, Wendy!" he wrote.
Chapter 4: The Maze
As the winter storms rage outside, the hotel becomes a prison for the Torrance family. Jack's madness escalates, and he becomes determined to kill his wife and son. Danny realizes that the ghosts inhabiting the Overlook are trapped within the hotel's hedge maze.
Example:
Danny stood on the threshold of the maze, the snow swirling around him. He could sense the malevolent presence lurking within.
With each step he took, the hedges grew taller, and the air grew heavy. "Come on, Danny," a whisper echoed through the labyrinth. "We have a surprise for you."
Chapter 5: The Redrum
Jack orchestrates a final confrontation in the maze, where Danny confronts the evil spirits that possess both the hotel and his father. Wendy escapes and seeks help from Hallorann, while Danny uses his powers to destroy the ghosts.
Example:
In the depths of the maze, Jack stood before Danny, his axe raised. "Redrum," he hissed, the word playing backward in Danny's mind.
Danny closed his eyes and concentrated. The snow around them began to swirl, forming a protective barrier. "No, Dad," he whispered. "I love you."
With a cry of anguish, Jack crashed to the ground, the axe slipping from his grasp. The spirits that had controlled him dissipated into nothingness, and the Overlook was finally free.
