What are the common settings for many Stephen King stories?

One common setting is small, seemingly ordinary towns in New England. For example, in 'Salem's Lot', the town of Jerusalem's Lot serves as a spooky backdrop. These small towns often have a sense of isolation which allows for the build - up of mystery and horror. There are also old, decrepit houses which are full of secrets. Like in 'The Shining', the Overlook Hotel is a setting that is both grand and menacing.

Well, in many of his stories, the settings are ordinary places that take on a menacing quality. A small town that should be a place of safety becomes a place of horror. The familiarity of a home, like in 'The Amityville Horror' - style settings in some of his works, is turned on its head. The home becomes a place where the walls seem to have eyes and the attic or basement holds unspeakable terrors. The settings make the reader constantly on edge, not knowing when the ordinary will turn into the extraordinary and terrifying.

The isolated small - town settings create a feeling of claustrophobia. Since there's not much escape, it intensifies the sense of dread. For example, in 'Under the Dome', the town being cut off from the outside world makes every threat within the dome seem more menacing.

Stephen King's novels often take place in small towns in Maine or other rural areas. These settings add a sense of isolation and mystery to the stories.

One common element is the use of ordinary settings that turn terrifying. For example, a small town like in 'Salem's Lot' which seems normal at first but is filled with vampires. Another is the complex and often flawed characters. They are not the typical heroes but regular people faced with extraordinary horror, like Jack Torrance in 'The Shining' who has his own inner demons. Also, the sense of an unseen and malevolent force that slowly reveals itself throughout the story.

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.

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.

Some common key words for Stephen King stories are horror, supernatural, small town, fear, and death. His stories often revolve around these elements, creating a sense of dread and unease.

One common feature could be the strong sense of atmosphere. Stephen King is great at creating a spooky or tense mood in his stories. Another might be his complex and relatable characters.

I'm not sure exactly how many there are. It's difficult to get an exact count as some might be in his personal archives and not widely known.