Shakespeare Anyone? Mini: Shakespeare and Stephen King with Caroline Bicks, author of Monsters in the Archives
May 6, 2026
Caroline Bicks, Stephen E. King Chair in Literature and author of Monsters in the Archives, explores how Stephen King’s drafts echo Shakespeare. She discusses grief as horror’s core, surprising Shakespearean traces in King’s manuscripts, King's ear for sound and revision choices, and how monsters reveal human stories. Short, witty, and a bit spooky.
42:32
How A Shakespeare Scholar Entered King's Archive
- Caroline Bicks got the Stephen E. King Chair while working as a Shakespeare scholar and was invited by King after four years in the post.
- She spent a sabbatical reading King's early drafts in the Kings' climate-controlled archive, an opportunity King and his family permitted her to pursue.
Sound Choices Make Words Haunt Readers
- King's language sticks because he crafts sound as carefully as meaning, making prose function like poetry that echoes in readers' heads.
- Manuscripts show King debating exact words and telling editors "say it out loud, you'll see," prioritizing auditory effect in revision.
Grief, Not Gore, Is King's Core Horror
- King's most enduring horror moments connect to real human grief and trauma rather than mere gore or jump scares.
- Pet Sematary exemplifies this: King admitted it was so horrific he nearly didn't publish it because it's about a child's death and grief-driven bad decisions.
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Intro
00:00 • 6min
Caroline's Shakespeare beginnings
06:13 • 3min
Being the Stephen E. King Chair
09:32 • 2min
How meeting King led to archives access
11:50 • 1min
Why King appealed to a Shakespearean
12:53 • 3min
Grief as horror's emotional core
16:03 • 4min
Shakespearean links across King's novels
19:55 • 39sec
King's attention to word sound
20:34 • 3min
Shakespeare embedded in early drafts
23:35 • 37sec
Macbeth's influence on Carrie
24:12 • 3min
Cultural capital and genre respect
27:30 • 3min
Gore, restraint, and suspense
30:28 • 2min
King's praise for the book
32:06 • 2min
Talking with King about place and memory
34:15 • 4min
Monsters as vehicles for human stories
38:36 • 43sec
Pairing a cocktail to the book
39:19 • 2min
Outro
41:16 • 2min
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Shakespeare, Not Stirred
Cocktails for Your Everyday Dramas
Caroline Bicks
Michelle Ephraim
Co-authored by Caroline Bicks and Michelle Ephraim, this lighthearted book pairs Shakespearean plays, characters, and iconic lines with cocktail recipes designed for everyday dramas.
It blends literary wit with mixology, offering themed drinks and serving suggestions tied to famous scenes.
The book aims to make Shakespeare approachable and fun for general readers, using humor and accessible commentary.
It also reflects the authors' public-facing engagement with Shakespeare, including podcasts and teaching.
The recipes and notes invite readers to celebrate or commiserate with theatrical moments through crafted beverages.
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MIDWIVING SUBJECTS IN SHAKESPEARE'S ENGLAND
Caroline Bicks
Caroline Bicks's book examines the role of midwives and practices of childbirth in Shakespeare's England, blending literary analysis with medical and social history.
It explores how early modern texts represent midwifery, maternal bodies, and the professionalization of birth attendants.
By analyzing drama, pamphlets, and legal records, Bicks reveals how midwifery shaped gendered identities and cultural anxieties.
The book situates these practices within broader shifts in medical knowledge and social power during the period.
It contributes to scholarship on gender, medicine, and the cultural history of childbirth.
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Cognition and Girlhood in Shakespeare's World
Caroline Bicks
Caroline Bicks investigates historical and literary understandings of girls' cognitive development and adolescence in early modern England, using Shakespeare's plays as central texts.
She argues that contemporary and historical perceptions shaped portrayals of young female characters and their mental lives.
The work combines cognitive theory with close readings of plays to trace how girlhood was constructed and represented.
Bicks situates literary examples within broader cultural practices, showing how girlhood intersected with education, labor, and social expectations.
The book contributes to scholarship on early modern cognition, gender, and childhood studies.
#376
• Mentioned in 81 episodes
Hamnet
Lolita Chakrabarti
Maggie O’Farrell
The novel is set in Warwickshire in the late 16th century and revolves around the life of Agnes, the wife of William Shakespeare, and their children.
It fictionalizes the events surrounding the death of their son Hamnet, who died of the plague in 1596 at the age of eleven.
The story delves into the grief and emotional turmoil faced by the family, especially Agnes, and how this tragedy influenced Shakespeare's writing, including his play 'Hamlet'.
The narrative alternates between different timelines, exploring Agnes's early life, her marriage, and the years following Hamnet's death.
The book is a poignant study of motherhood, childhood, and the depths of grief, offering a vivid portrayal of family life during the Tudor period.
#13688
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Dance Macabre
Susanne Saville
#3595
• Mentioned in 14 episodes
Salem's Lot
Stephen King
In 'Salem's Lot, writer Ben Mears returns to his childhood hometown of Jerusalem's Lot, Maine, to write a book about the Marsten House, a place that has haunted him since childhood.
However, he soon discovers that the town is being taken over by vampires, led by the ancient and powerful Kurt Barlow.
Along with a small group of allies, including high school teacher Matt Burke, doctor Jimmy Cody, and young Mark Petrie, Ben must confront the supernatural forces threatening the town.
The novel explores themes of evil, faith, and the struggle against overwhelming horror, culminating in a desperate battle to save the town from the vampires.
#1910
• Mentioned in 24 episodes
Pet Sematary
Stephen King
Pet Sematary, written by Stephen King, is a horror novel that delves into the darker aspects of human nature, exploring themes of grief, loss, and the consequences of tampering with the natural order of life and death.
The story follows Dr. Louis Creed, who moves his family from Chicago to Ludlow, Maine, where he takes a job as the director of the University of Maine's campus health service.
After their cat, Church, is killed by a truck, Louis's elderly neighbor, Jud Crandall, introduces him to an ancient Indian burial ground behind the 'pet sematary' where local children bury their pets.
Despite warnings, Louis buries Church there, and the cat returns to life but is fundamentally different.
The novel takes a darker turn when Louis's young son Gage is killed by a truck, and Louis considers using the burial ground to bring him back, despite the dire consequences that have been hinted at through the story of Timmy Baterman.
The book is a profound exploration of the human fear of death and the devastating repercussions of attempting to defy it.
#8014
• Mentioned in 7 episodes
Night Shift
Stephen King
Stephen King's "Night Shift" is a collection of short stories that showcases his early mastery of horror.
The stories range from chilling tales of supernatural encounters to dark explorations of human nature.
The collection features iconic stories like "Jerusalem's Lot" and "The Children of the Corn," establishing King's signature style and themes.
The stories are characterized by their suspenseful plots, memorable characters, and unsettling atmosphere.
"Night Shift" remains a cornerstone of King's work, demonstrating his ability to craft terrifying and thought-provoking narratives.
#134
• Mentioned in 153 episodes
Hamlet
William Shakespeare
The play revolves around Prince Hamlet's journey to avenge his father's murder, which was committed by his uncle Claudius.
Hamlet's father's ghost appears and reveals that he was poisoned by Claudius, who then married Hamlet's mother, Gertrude.
Hamlet feigns madness while he investigates and plots his revenge.
The play explores themes of betrayal, mortality, and the human condition, culminating in a tragic finale where nearly all main characters die, including Hamlet, Claudius, Gertrude, and several others.
#691
• Mentioned in 51 episodes
King Lear
William Shakespeare
King Lear, written by William Shakespeare around 1604-1606, is a tragedy that follows the story of King Lear, who decides to retire and divide his kingdom among his three daughters: Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.
The division is based on the eloquence of their declarations of love for him.
However, Lear's youngest and favorite daughter, Cordelia, refuses to flatter him and is disinherited.
The play unfolds with Lear's descent into madness, the betrayal by his elder daughters, and the subplot involving the Earl of Gloucester and his sons.
Ultimately, the play ends in tragedy with the deaths of Lear, Cordelia, and several other main characters, highlighting themes of deception, power, and the consequences of poor judgment.
#711
• Mentioned in 50 episodes
The Shining
Stephen King
In 'The Shining,' Stephen King tells the story of the Torrance family—Jack, Wendy, and their young son Danny—who move into the isolated Overlook Hotel in the Colorado Rockies.
Jack, a recovering alcoholic and aspiring writer, takes the job as the hotel's winter caretaker to overcome his personal demons and reconnect with his family.
However, the hotel, with its dark and violent history, exerts a malevolent influence on Jack, exploiting his weaknesses and threatening his family.
Danny, who possesses psychic abilities known as 'the shining,' is particularly vulnerable to the hotel's supernatural forces.
As the winter isolates them, the family faces terrifying events that culminate in a tragic confrontation with the hotel's evil presence.
#158
• Mentioned in 142 episodes
On Writing
A Memoir of the Craft
Stephen King
This book is both a memoir and a writing guide.
It details Stephen King's life, from his childhood and early writing endeavors to his struggles with addiction and his near-fatal accident in 1999.
The book is divided into sections that cover King's life ('C. V.
'), the nature of writing ('What Writing Is'), writing mechanics ('Toolbox'), his advice on the craft ('On Writing'), and his recovery from the accident ('On Living: A Postscript').
King offers practical tips on writing, including the importance of vocabulary, grammar, and style, as well as the need for consistent writing routines and ruthless editing.
He emphasizes that good writing comes from within, driven by curiosity, wonder, and emotional honesty rather than commercial motives.
#14870
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Titus Andronicus
William Shakespeare
Shakespeare's "Titus Andronicus" is a tragedy known for its extreme violence and revenge.
The play follows Titus Andronicus, a Roman general, as he seeks revenge for the murder of his son and the rape of his daughter.
The play's graphic violence and exploration of revenge have made it a controversial but enduring work.
Its exploration of these themes continues to resonate with audiences today.
#12849
• Mentioned in 4 episodes
Monsters in the Archives
My Year of Fear with Stephen King
Caroline Bicks
Caroline Bicks' 'Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King' recounts her sabbatical project studying Stephen King's archival manuscripts, focusing on five early works that shaped her adolescence.
She examines King's revision process, attention to sound and wording, and how he crafted empathetic characters and enduring fears.
The book blends archival scholarship with personal memoir, recounting Bicks' interactions with King and her discoveries in the papers.
It argues for King’s literary significance by showing how his craft mobilizes themes of trauma, grief, and memory through carefully chosen language.
Bicks aims the book at a wide audience interested in writing, revision, and why certain stories stick in readers’ minds.
#1007
• Mentioned in 39 episodes
Carrie
Stephen King
Set in Chamberlain, Maine, 'Carrie' by Stephen King tells the story of Carietta 'Carrie' White, a 16-year-old girl who is ridiculed and bullied by her peers and abused by her ultra-religious mother, Margaret.
Carrie discovers she has telekinetic powers after a humiliating incident in the school locker room where she gets her first period.
The story unfolds through multiple narratives, including newspaper reports, court transcripts, and personal memoirs, detailing Carrie's transformation from a shy and isolated girl to a force of vengeance.
After being humiliated at the school prom, Carrie unleashes her powers, causing widespread destruction and death in the town.
The novel explores themes of ostracism, bullying, and the psychological trauma experienced by its characters.
Want to support the podcast? Join our Patreon or buy us a coffee. As an independent podcast, Shakespeare Anyone? is supported by listeners like you.
In this episode, we are joined by author and Shakespeare scholar, Caroline Bicks, to discuss her latest book, Monsters in the Archive: My Year of Fear with Stephen King. Caroline will share with us how Shakespeare some of Stephen King's most famous works, and the surprising similarities she discovered between Shakespeare's writing and King's.
Monsters in the Archive: My Year of Fear with Stephen King is out now.
About Caroline Bicks
Caroline Bicks is the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine, where she teaches courses in Shakespeare, early modern culture, and horror fiction. She is the author of Cognition and Girlhood in Shakespeare's World and Midwiving Subjects in Shakespeare's England; co-author of Shakespeare, Not Stirred: Cocktails for Your Everyday Dramas; and co-host of the Everyday Shakespeare podcast. Her essays and humor pieces have appeared in the Modern Love column of the New York Times, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, and the show Afterbirth. She lives in Blue Hill, Maine, with her family.
About Monsters in the Archives: My Year of Fear with Stephen King
After Caroline Bicks was named the University of Maineʼs inaugural Stephen E. King Chair in Literature, she became the first scholar to be granted extended access by King to his private archives, a treasure trove of manuscripts that document the legendary writerʼs creative process—most of them never before studied or published. The year she spent exploring King's early drafts and hand-written revisions was guided by one question millions of Kingʼs enthralled and terrified readers (including her) have asked themselves: What makes Stephen King's writing stick in our heads and haunt us long after we've closed the book? Bicks focuses on five of his most iconic early works—The Shining, Carrie, Pet Sematary, ʼSalemʼs Lot, and Night Shift—to reveal how he crafted his language, story lines, and characters to cast his enduring literary spells. While tracking King's margin notes and editorial changes, she discovered scenes and alternative endings that never made it to print but that King is allowing her to publish now. The book also includes interviews Bicks had with King along the way that reveal new insights into his writing process and personal history. Part literary master class, part biography, part memoir and investigation into our deepest anxieties, Monsters in the Archives—authorized by Stephen King himself—is unlike anything ever published about the master of horror. It chronicles what Bicks found when she set out to unearth how King crafted some of his scariest, most iconic moments. But it's also a story about a grown-up English professor facing her childhood fears and getting to know the man whose monsters helped unleash them.
Shakespeare Anyone? is created and produced by Kourtney Smith and Elyse Sharp.
Music is "Neverending Minute" by Sounds Like Sander.
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