Overall Shirley Jackson discusses the movement of the setting, the unusual foreshadowing, and the ou
termost symbolism in "The Lottery" to give an overall point of view of the story.
Even
though a small village made seem peaceful, and a good place to raise a family, it is not always wha
t it seems to be. The reader is about to enter a world with ritualistic ceremony and religious orth
odoxy in "The Lottery."
The Lottery takes place on a clear and sunny summer morning ar
ound June 27 in a small village with about three hundred villagers gathering together in the central
square for the annual lottery. As a child Shirley Jackson was interested in writing; she won a poe
try prize at age twelve, and in high school she keeps a diary to record her writing progress. In 19
37 she entered Syracuse University, where she published stories in the student literary magazine. D
espite her busy life as a wife and a mother of four children, she wrote every day on a disciplined s
chedule. "The Lottery" is one of Jackson's best-known works. In "The Lottery" Shirley Jackson will
discusses the movement of the setting, unusual foreshadowing and outermost symbolism to give us an
overall point of view from the story.
When one thinks of a lottery, one imagines winni
ng a large sum of money. Shirley Jackson uses the setting in "The Lottery" to foreshadow an ironic
ending. The peaceful and tranquil town described in this story has an annual lottery every June 27
early part of 1800's in a small village with 300 people (456). Setting is to describe time and plac
e of the story. The story occurs "around ten o'clock" (456). This is an unusual time because in mo
st towns all the adults would be working during mid-morning. In the lottery an ironic ending is als
o foretold by the town's setting being described as one of normalcy. The town square is described a
s being "between the post office and the bank" (456). Every normal town has these buildings, which
are essential for day-to-day functioning. Throughout the story little parts of setting are being to
ld, to give a clearer picture for a better understanding of the story.
Jackson foresha
dows a surprise ending. Foreshadowing is to hint of something that would follow with the story. As
the story continues the reader is told that school has let out for the summer, and yet the "feeling
of liberty sits uneasily with the children" (456), which is strange, for no normal kid would be any
thing less than ecstatic over summer break. Finally, the children are said to be building "a pile o
f stones in one corner of the square" (456), which is a very strange game for children to play. All
of these hints indicate that something strange and unexpected is going to happen, and they all will
make sense once we discuss the story's final outcome.
Symbolism is also a strong elem
ent of the story. The introduction of the black box carried by Mr. Summer (456) is a key turning po
int showing symbolism, which is anything in a story that represents something else, giving the awful
ominous answers to all those foreshadowing hints. When the black box is brought in, it's said to b
e a tradition that no one liked to upset. The villagers kept their distance from the box, as though
they feared it (461). More and more the town's peculiarity begins to become apparent. For an examp
le, the names of certain residents hit at the irony and unfavorable events to come. From the author
's extravagant detailing of the town, one would expect this "lottery" to be a chance for one lucky f
amily to win some money. Instead, the winner's "prize" is death-by stoning In the story Tessie won t
he prize when Bill, her husband, forced the paper out of her hand (461). The portrayal of the resid
ents at the end of the story is disturbing--they go about killing the "winner" ritualistically, tryi
ng to "finish quickly." (461). They show no empathy at all--they're simply following an ancient ritu
al.
Overall Shirley Jackson discusses the movement of the setting, the unusual foresha
dowing, and the outermost symbolism in "The Lottery." The lesson in this story hits pretty hard.
The Lottery's relationship to real life is that sometimes we are presented with traditions that have
been adhered to for as long as anyone can remember, and we forget the reason these customs were cre
ated in the first place. The problem is that circumstances can change and make these traditions out
dated, useless, and even harmful. Overall the main point of the story is that ignorant and indulgen
t believers can bring death to an innocent person, so therefore we must re-evaluate our traditions;
otherwise we're just letting ourselves be stoned.
overall shirley jackson discusses movement settin
g unusual foreshadowing outermost symbolism lottery give overall point view story even though small
village made seem peaceful good place raise family always what seems reader about enter world with r
itualistic ceremony religious orthodoxy lottery lottery takes place clear sunny summer morning aroun
d june small village with about three hundred villagers gathering together central square annual chi
ld shirley jackson interested writing poetry prize twelve high school keeps diary record writing pro
gress entered syracuse university where published stories student literary magazine despite busy lif
e wife mother four children wrote every disciplined schedule jackson best known works shirley will d
iscusses movement setting unusual foreshadowing outermost symbolism give overall point view from sto
ry when thinks imagines winning large money uses setting foreshadow ironic ending peaceful tranquil
town described this story annual every june early part small village with people describe time place
occurs around clock this unusual time because most towns adults would working during morning ironic
ending also foretold town being described normalcy town square described being between post office
bank every normal these buildings which essential functioning throughout little parts being told giv
e clearer picture better understanding foreshadows surprise ending foreshadowing hint something that
would follow continues reader told that school summer feeling liberty sits uneasily children which
strange normal would anything less than ecstatic over summer break finally children said building pi
le stones corner square which very strange game play these hints indicate that something strange une
xpected going happen they will make sense once discuss final outcome symbolism also strong element i
ntroduction black carried turning point showing anything represents something else giving awful omin
ous answers those hints when black brought said tradition liked upset villagers kept their distance
from though they feared more more peculiarity begins become apparent example names certain residents
irony unfavorable events come from author extravagant detailing expect this chance lucky family som
e money instead winner prize death stoning tessie prize when bill husband forced paper hand portraya
l residents disturbing they about killing winner ritualistically trying finish quickly show empathy
simply following ancient ritual discusses movement outermost lesson hits pretty hard relationship re
al life sometimes presented traditions have been adhered long anyone remember forget reason these cu
stoms were created first problem circumstances change make traditions outdated useless even harmful
main ignorant indulgent believers bring death innocent person therefore must evaluate traditions oth
erwise just letting ourselves stonedEssay, essays, termpaper, term paper, termpapers, term papers, b
ook reports, study, college, thesis, dessertation, test answers, free research, book research, study
help, download essay, download term papers