The Hedge Animals' Awakening

The topiary animals come to life, becoming physical manifestations of the hotel's evil that hunt Danny.

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First Sighting

The Hallucination The Trimming Jack goes to trim the hedge animals. He notices they seem to have moved. The rabbit is on all fours instead of standing. The lions are closer to the path. The Fear Jack is terrified. He closes his eyes and when he opens them, the animals are back in their original positions. He dismisses it as a hallucination. The Denial Jack does not tell anyone about the incident. He is afraid of being thought crazy. The hotel is already affecting his mind.

Danny's Chase

The Pursuit The Playground Danny goes to the playground. The hedge animals come to life and chase him. The dog, lions, and rabbit all move toward him. The Scratch A lion scratches Danny's leg as he escapes. The wound is real. The animals are not just illusions. The Terror Danny is terrified. He tells his parents, but Jack does not believe him. Wendy is frightened. The hedge animals are now a clear threat.

Hallorann's Battle

The Attack The Lion As Hallorann approaches the Overlook on a snowmobile, a hedge lion attacks him. It is fast and strong. The Fire Hallorann uses gasoline to set the lion on fire. It burns, but not before injuring him. The other hedge animals retreat. The Victory Hallorann's victory over the lion shows that the hotel's power can be fought with fire. The hedge animals are vulnerable.

The Death of the Hedges

The Destruction The Fire When the Overlook explodes, the hedge animals are caught in the blaze. They are burned and withered. The End With the hotel destroyed, the hedge animals lose their power. They become dead, blackened branches. The Symbolism The death of the hedge animals symbolizes the end of the hotel's evil. They were extensions of the hotel's will.

late October, during Jack's hedge trimming

late November, after the snow

December 2, evening

December 2, after the explosion