Stephen King was born on September 21, 1947, and was raised with his brother by their mother in Indiana, Connecticut, and Maine. His family struggled to make ends meet, and King often escaped his childhood reality by reading voraciously. King attended the University of Maine, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English. While a student, he was active in student politics and wrote some of his early stories, some of which were published in magazines. King continued to write and publish short pieces while pursuing a teaching career. When he secured a permanent position at Hampden Academy in 1971, King wrote in his spare time, gaining fame and recognition for his first novel, Carrie, in 1974. The financial hardship of King’s early life has been credited for his love of literature, his interest in the darker side of life experience, and his productivity as an author. In “Survival Type,” King explores the life choices of a character who seeks success after a modest upbringing, and the negative ways in which this character frames that upbringing.

Stephen King is often referred to as “The King of Horror.” He is an exceptionally prolific author in this

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