A Literary Analysis of The Onion Article Bangor Police Bring in Stephen King to Help Track Demonic Car that Killed Woman

The article that is being analyzed is a mock press release from The Onion. The headline says it all “Bangor Police Bring in Stephen King to Help Track Demonic Car That Killed Woman.” Indubitably, this is an allusion to his bestselling novel and movie “Christine” about a car possessed by supernatural forces.

The article begins by Bangor Police bring in Stephen King to help track down a demonic car that killed a woman, detectives “confirmed they are hoping King’s specialized insight will help them locate the bloodthirsty and allegedly homicidal vehicle.” The article uses anthropomorphism by the usage of “bloodthirsty and allegedly homicidal vehicle” The article also states that due to King’s knowledge of demonic cars he was able to set the scene and determine what happened when the Bangor P.D. didn’t.

In the third paragraph The Onion depicts King with a “cane” and “hobbling”. King uses repetition by saying “So you’ve got no means, no motive, and no opportunity...” In the following the police chief says the “celebrated novelist and longtime Maine resident has assisted with a number of high-profile cases over the years, including one in which a telekinetic teenager destroyed a local high school gym and another in which a bloodsucking undead being and his elderly caretaker conspired to turn all the residents of a nearby town into vampires.” Clearly the writer is talking about another one of Stephen King novels “Salem’s Lot” and “Carrie”.

The article comprises of personification by saying the car has “…a taste for blood, it’s going to start seeking revenge on anyone it feels may have wronged it.” “That means the clock’s ticking if we want to prevent another murder. “Is another literary device that King uses instead of actually saying hurry up before another murder takes place. The article makes sure the reader recalls that King is an author, by stating “the award-winning writer”, “bestselling author”, and “the author”.

In summation, through the use of satirical rhetorical strategies The Onion created an overall witty and humorous article. Despite the fact that King is just an author not a certified crime scene technician but still the Bangor Police used the author to solve a crime similar to the plot of one of his novels.