Examine the Dark Tower as both a figurative symbol and a literal place. How does King intentionally construct ambiguity around this central goal? How does King use this ambiguity to build layers of meaning around the symbols of towers? Would the tone of the novels change if the Dark Tower’s purpose and location were clearer?

King uses many real-world pop-culture references throughout the novel, especially in the sections written from Eddie’s point of view. Examine three such references from the novel and analyze how they enrich the text’s themes or motifs. Cite passages from the text to support your views.

The Dark Tower series has been described as a genre-spanning work. Using examples from the book, name at least three genres under which the series can be included and why.