What are the common themes in Stephen King's short horror fiction stories?

Fear of the other or the different is also a theme. For example, in 'I Am the Doorway', the main character's transformation makes him something other than human, and that scares people around him. It shows how humans often fear what they don't understand.

One common theme is the horror of the ordinary. He often takes everyday situations and twists them into something terrifying. For example, in 'The Boogeyman', a simple fear of the dark in a child's bedroom becomes a real and deadly entity. Another theme is the power of the human mind, both its strength and its vulnerability. His characters sometimes face their inner demons which are manifested in external horrors. And there is also the theme of small - town secrets and the darkness that can lurk beneath a seemingly idyllic surface.

A common theme is friendship. For example, in 'The Body', the boys' friendship is a central element as they face various challenges together on their journey. It shows how friendship can be tested and strengthened.

One common theme is the fear of the unknown. In many of his short stories, King creates a sense of unease by introducing elements that are not fully understood, like in 'The Mist' where the origin of the mist and the creatures within it remain mysterious. Another theme is the fragility of the human mind. His characters often face situations that push them to the brink of sanity, as seen in '1408' where the protagonist battles with the horrors within the haunted hotel room. Also, small - town secrets and the darkness that can lurk beneath an ordinary - looking community are frequently explored, such as in 'Children of the Corn' where a seemingly idyllic rural town has a dark and deadly secret.

One common theme is horror. His stories are filled with elements that scare readers, like supernatural beings, dark secrets, and terrifying situations. Another theme is the battle between good and evil. Often, his characters are faced with some form of malevolent force and have to fight against it.

The themes in Stephen King's Gothic short stories are diverse. There's the theme of the supernatural. This can range from ghosts to demons. The decay of the human psyche is another theme. We see characters slowly losing their minds because of the terrifying situations they're in. And there's the theme of small - town secrets. In some stories, there are dark secrets hidden within a seemingly normal small town that the characters uncover.

There are a few shared themes. Both Stephen King and Lovecraft often touch on the theme of isolation. In King's short stories, a character might be isolated in a spooky house or a desolate place, which amplifies the horror. Lovecraft also has this, like in his stories where a character is alone in a strange, otherworldly place. Also, the theme of the past coming back to haunt is present in both. King might have a character haunted by a childhood trauma, while Lovecraft could have an ancient evil resurfacing.

One common theme is the fear of the unknown. King often creates situations where the characters are faced with mysterious and unexplainable forces, like in 'It' where the shape - shifting entity Pennywise represents the unfathomable evil lurking in the sewers. Another theme is the fragility of the human mind. His characters often struggle with their own sanity, as seen in 'The Shining' where Jack Torrance slowly descends into madness in the isolated Overlook Hotel. Also, small - town secrets are a recurring theme. Many of his novels are set in seemingly ordinary small towns that hide dark and disturbing secrets, such as in 'Salem's Lot' where the town has a vampire infestation.

Isolation is also a recurring theme. Consider 'I Am the Doorway'. The main character is isolated because of his strange condition, and this isolation adds to the overall sense of unease and horror. King often uses isolation to heighten the sense of fear and make the reader feel the character's vulnerability.

Common themes in Stephen King's stories include the power of the past. Many of his tales have events from the past that come back to haunt the present. In 'Pet Sematary', the ancient burial ground has dark powers that are awakened by the actions of the characters. There's also the theme of the fragility of sanity. His characters are constantly on the verge of losing their minds due to the terrifying situations they find themselves in, which adds to the overall sense of dread in his works.