52 pages 1 hour read

Stephen King

The Body

Fiction | Novella | YA | Published in 1982

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.

Introduction

Teacher Introduction

The Body

  • Genre: Fiction; novella; bildungsroman
  • Originally Published: 1982 (as part of the collection Different Seasons)
  • Reading Level/Interest: Lexile 720L; grades 10-12; college/adult
  • Structure/Length: 34 chapters; approximately 192 pages
  • Protagonist/Central Conflict: The Body is a coming-of-age novella that follows the adventures of four friends—Gordie, Chris, Teddy, and Vern—in the summer of 1960 in the fictional town of Castle Rock, Maine. The central conflict revolves around their quest to find the dead body of a missing boy named Ray Brower. As they embark on a journey through the woods, they encounter various challenges and obstacles, including personal demons and the harsh realities of their lives. The novella explores friendship, adolescence, loss of innocence, and the complexities of growing up.
  • Potential Sensitivity Issues: Death; violence; profanity; sex; loss of family members; trauma; child abuse; assault

Stephen King, Author

  • Bio: Born 1947; American author known as the "Master of Horror" for his prolific contributions to the horror and supernatural genres, including over 65 novels and novellas; spans a wide range of genres, including suspense, thriller, fantasy, and nonfiction
  • Other Works: Carrie (1974); The Shining (1977); The Dark Tower series (beginning with The Gunslinger, 1982); Pet Sematary (1983); It (1986); Dolores Claiborne (1992); Under the Dome (2009); Finders Keepers (2015); Fairy Tale (2022)

Related Titles

By Stephen King

Plot Summary

logo

Bag of Bones

Stephen King

Bag of Bones

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Billy Summers

Stephen King

Billy Summers

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Children of the Corn

Stephen King

Children of the Corn

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Different Seasons

Stephen King

Different Seasons

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Doctor Sleep

Stephen King

Doctor Sleep

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Dolores Claiborne

Stephen King

Dolores Claiborne

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Elevation

Stephen King

Elevation: A Novel

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

End of Watch

Stephen King

End of Watch

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Fairy Tale

Stephen King

Fairy Tale

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Finders Keepers

Stephen King

Finders Keepers

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Firestarter

Stephen King

Firestarter

Stephen King

Plot Summary

logo

From a Buick 8

Stephen King

From a Buick 8

Stephen King

Plot Summary

logo

Full Dark, No Stars

Stephen King

Full Dark, No Stars

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Gerald's Game

Stephen King

Gerald's Game

Stephen King

Study Guide

logo

Gwendy's Button Box

Stephen King, Richard Chizmar

Gwendy's Button Box

Stephen King, Richard Chizmar