The Shining Plot Map – Visual Storyline for Film Fans
by Mike Bell
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This plot line map traces The Shining scene by scene, tracking the characters through the haunted geography of the Overlook Hotel. Suppose you’re looking for unusual film merchandise or a gift for fans of Stanley Kubrick’s work. In that case, this Shining plot map offers something a bit different — a structured, visual way to understand how the story unfolds.
The Film’s Timeline – Key Plot Movements
- Arrival at the Overlook and early routines
- Strange occurrences begin: Room 237, the hedge maze, visions
- Jack’s descent into isolation and anger
- Wendy and Danny become trapped
- Dick Hallorann's journey and final confrontation
- The climax in the maze and the final hotel shot
The map plots each of these turning points, with character lines moving between the hotel’s spaces, the lobby, ballroom, boiler room, kitchen, and maze, and their emotional shifts. Danny, Jack, Wendy, and Hallorann all appear with intersecting lines that mark out their paths and encounters.
What’s in My Film Plot Map?
This plot map follows the movements of the main characters: Jack Torrance, Wendy Torrance, Danny, and Hallorann. It also includes the more symbolic presences — the Grady twins, the bartender Lloyd, and certain ‘locations’ that act as characters in their own way.
Each storyline is shown as a coloured line moving through the film’s timeline. Where characters cross paths, physically or psychically, those intersections are marked. It’s not a mood board or tribute poster. It’s a way of seeing how the film is structured. Built entirely from my notes while watching the film repeatedly and tracking each character’s movement scene by scene.
Why I Designed This Plot Map
I’ve always been struck by how *The Shining* feels orderly and chaotic at the same time. The hotel is symmetrical and still, but the characters spiral. I wanted to draw something that held onto both those things. The result is part schematic, part storytelling tool. You can follow Jack’s isolation, or Danny’s awareness, and see when their paths diverge or lock in. It helped me understand the film better, and perhaps it does the same for others.
Available Art Print Formats
This *Shining* plot map is available as a fine art print in A1, A2, and A3 sizes. Printed on heavyweight paper. Free UK shipping is included, and international delivery is also free worldwide.
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