Content Warning: This guide contains references to death by suicide and people with alcohol addictions. The referenced book engages in ableism and stereotypes about physical disabilities. It depicts people with physical disabilities in a problematic manner.

The University of Missouri is a setting and a symbol in this novel. The campus novel relies on the setting of the university as a metaphorical and literal space. When Stoner first arrives on campus, he is instantly intimidated and inspired by the physicality of the university. It provides a juxtaposition to his family farm, the only setting he knew existed in the world prior to arriving on campus. The University of Missouri ultimately takes a firm hold over Stoner. He moves there when he is 19 years old and never leaves. The university is a space that symbolizes his isolation, his dedication to quiet scholarship, and his passion for peaceful settings. The University of Missouri provides a home for Stoner, but it also is a safe haven that protects him from war, economic downturns, and other types of unhappiness. Whatever challenges life throws at Stoner, he can always rely on his office on campus to give him the space to be by himself and in communion with his beloved books.