...Student: Tutor: Course: Date: The Lottery: Annotated Bibliography Nebeker, Helen. The Lottery: Symbolic Tour de Force", in American Literature, Vol. 46, No. 1, March, 1974, pp. 100-07. Print. Nebeker uses this piece of literary work to argue that each and every name used in “The Lottery” has a special or distinct significance (3). The author hints at some of the larger meanings, especially through name symbolism. At the end of the second paragraph, for instance, Nebeker asserts that Jackson had indicated and presented the season. It was time of ancient sacrifice and excess, with stones representing the most ancient sacrificial weapons (2). Apart from that, the name Martin signifies monkey or ape. The above is juxtaposed intentionally with Dickie Delacroix and Harry Jones with an aim of urging the people to be aware of the Ape residing within them. Indeed, “Delacroix has been vulgarized in the story to “Dellacroy,” who becomes the first person to pick a large stone something that encourages others to stone Mrs. Hutchinson. The above is a clear indication of forces against change in the society. The presence of Old Man Martin further symbolizes conservatives whose role is to undermine any attempt to discard old traditions (3). In a nutshell, this is a reliable source for my research since Nebeker has made every possible attempt to identify various facts about the historical context of the short story. Jackson, Shirley. The Lottery. Mankato, Minnesota: The Creative Company...
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...Society’s conformation to honor traditions Shirley Jackson’s observation on individuals not questioning the society in 1948, is reflected in the shocking short story. The scope of this literary essay is to examine the use of symbolism, foreshadowing and irony which represent the negative consequence of the lottery. In “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, Jackson uses symbolism, foreshadowing and irony to illustrate how society conforms to honor traditions which are outdated and barbarian. Jackson’s use of objects and names in the story symbolize the religious and symbolic meaning which leads to the brutal death of an innocent. In the story stones are very symbolic as it represents the death of an innocent individual. Stoning is a few methods...
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...interpretation of the world. Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” expresses her thoughts about humans and their atmosphere. For a fact, Shirley Jackson didn’t care about the level of psychology she wrote in her short story. Her main opinion is based on the thought of humans being barbaric when they are uncontrolled. She starts off describing the rural setting of a village right from start. Then she describes what everyone was doing in the village, which was gathering together for the lottery. Everyone starts off being in a festive mood. Its as if the lottery is just another typical errand. It’s not! The lottery only happens once a year. Adults and ladies go around making joking gestures while boys start stuffing their pockets with stones. Who knows what the boys are going to do with these stones. As the ceremony starts, the anxiety in all of the villager’s minds takes over them. This anxiety deepens when Jackson mentions that the original rituals were lost. The villagers change the ceremony for a darker reason. The words and description in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” weren’t the only...
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...death is inevitable. Authors Shirley Jackson of “The Lottery,” and Flannery O’Connor of “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” strike chords in the reader’s humanity. These short stories portray grotesque, sadistic violence, committed with no “apparent reason or preparation.”(Page 146). As readers begin their journey through these two short stories, they realize the frustration will take a toll on them soon. In the beginning of “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson gives the readers a detailed picture of a beautiful, warm, sunny summer day. The readers interpret this as the short story contains happy and inspiring events. Soon this will be seen as a misleading factor by Shirley Jackson. As the readers continue to read “The Lottery,” they come to find that the short story develops questions for the reader midway through, catching most readers off guard. Having to review what they just read to make sure the short story makes sense. In some parts of this short story, the way Shirley Jackson portrayed certain things, makes it difficult for readers to understand if they do not have an open mind to begin reading the story with. In “The Lottery,” the conclusion bewilders the readers, in the sense that lotteries correspond with winning. In retrospect the conclusion does not quite come as a surprise, due to the foreshadowing throughout the short story. Whereas, it seems in “A Good Man Is Hard to Find,” readers find the change refreshing from the unfortunate ending in “The Lottery.” The turning point in that...
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...protagonist of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” reveals when she is chosen to be stoned to death. The lottery, a long tradition in the town...
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...Kiahini T. Bates Monday 7-9:55pm Paper 2 Dr. Anyanetu March 22, 2010 Analytical essay on “The Lottery” The idea of winning a lottery is associated with luck, happiness and anticipation of good things. In Shirley Jackson’s story, “The Lottery, this is not the case. The irony of the story is that the winner of the lottery gets stoned to death by everyone else In the town. The world today prides itself in being a fair and just society, but are we really that much different from the primitive and barbaric customs from the townspeople in “The Lottery”? “The Lottery” examines society’s changing traditions, or lack thereof. By using the literary techniques of symbolization, setting and characterization Shirley Jackson examines certain aspects of human nature. One aspect of human nature that is examined, and that adds to the effectiveness of the story, is man's tendency to resist change. This is shown in more than one way. The first way is the way some villagers tolerate the lottery even though they know it is wrong, and it serves no purpose. They talk about how other towns have already stopped having lotteries, but they allow it to continue year after year. Old man Warner even says "there's nothing but trouble" in quitting lotteries. Townsfolk listen to him because he has been in the lottery seventy-seven years. The townsfolk feel helpless to change things because they have been going on for so long. The fact that the box is old and needs to be replaced but no one...
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...B64 3 February 2, 2014 Comparative Fiction Essay In many ways the most influential element of a work of literature can prove to be the characters that the author creates. In the instance of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and D. H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking Horse Winner” the characters are built and the story is wrapped around the individual characterizations. In both Jackson’s and Lawrence’s short stories the reader is allowed to assume any of the possible details to fill in the missing parts of the story. It is not until the end that the reader understands that the characters were giving away the ending the throughout the story. Along with the relationships established, the dialogue and simply executed actions of the main characters the story begins to unfold. The family and friends that are closest to the main character tends to make the story. In both cases of “The Lottery” and “ The Rocking Horse Winner” the extras of the short stories help to reveal the main characters real attitude, honest behavior, and their transparent emotions. In “The Lottery” it is evident that the characters closest to the main character can easily fall in line with the rest of society; in “The Rocking Horse Winner” family and friends can do all they can to help and still not be enough. In “The Lottery”, Jackson begins by setting the up the events that will inevitable come to pass. A few characters are introduced towards the beginning but who they are is not as important as their actions. Following...
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...Excitement lingers through the air when the lottery rolls around in the U.S. Millions of dollars are won and almost no one wants to miss out on the lottery. In most people's minds, the lottery is associated with pride, wealth, and fame, but what if the lottery was associated with execution? In Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” the lottery takes place in the middle of town in every year. One by one, families step up when their names are called and pull a single slip of paper from the infamous black box- in which the slips of paper lay. As each slip of paper is pulled, people cross their fingers, hoping that they will not be the winner. The lottery may seem like a positive game in which the winner receives riches, but dark secrets await in the black box. In “The Lottery,” Shirley Jackson uses the black box, stones, and the character's names to symbolize a dark somber mood....
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...Control and Oppression After reading Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" and Emily Dickinson's "My Life Had Stood, a Loaded Gun," one major theme stands out. In my opinion, both show structures of control and oppression. Control is the influence of others' behavior and oppression is unjust treatment. Both literary works are an accurate display of both control and oppression. "The Lottery" shows control through its leadership and tradition. "My Life Had Stood, A Loaded Gun" shows control and oppression through the fusing of identities and death. Both passages also share many similarities. Some of the similarities include the relationship between the ruler, the titles of the controllers, and the use of violence to portray their messages. Jackson's "The Lottery" shows control through the village's leaders and headship. "Mr. Graves, Mr. Summers, and Mr. Martin are characters Jackson has chosen to represent the power and authority within the community. Peter Kosenko (1985) suggests that the village exhibits the same socio-economic stratification that most people take for granted in a modern capitalist society" (Shields 415). The lottery is an annual event in the village. It is usually a two day process, but since this village is so small it can be completed within two hours. A representative from each family, typically the head of the household, draws a slip of paper from the old black box. It is mandatory for each family to participate in the lottery even though they are all terrified...
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...narcissistic culture where ultimately, no one values human life or anything except themselves. Not only is it wrong but the question looms, will it ever changes? The two fictional short stories, “The Lottery” and “The Most Dangerous Game” both exhibit characteristics of selfishness, cruelty and violence toward ones fellowman. These writings hold great truths because they present what could be real life situations today. In comparing and contrasting the two we find how each of these fictional works displays the aforementioned themes and so much more. It is quite interesting to read about such behaviors and actually witness them now. The news stories we see, the people we encounter, the lives we live. What is their value? What about one of God’s Ten Commandments, “Thou shalt not kill?” Life is by far the most precious gift that we have been given. The ability to feel emotions and empathize with our brothers and sisters has diminished, and it is my opinion that it will get worse. These are the times we should all stand together as God’s children, rather than turning on one another for selfish and evil reasons. “The Lottery” and “The Most Dangerous Game” show how quickly, how easily, we as humans devalue the live of another; how one person can turn on another in the blink of an eye. Outline Thesis Statement I. “The Lottery & “The Most Dangerous Game” II. What Does the Bible Say and Killing? III. Conclusion In comparing and...
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...The Blind Followers In the short story "The Lottery", the author, Shirley Jackson takes the reader to a town where the lottery is not something anyone would want to win. Every 27th of June a small town gathers in their town square and pick pieces of paper, hoping not to get the one piece of paper with a black dot on it. The town has done this ceremony since the town was established. Most of the people have forgotten why they even do this ceremony. The twist with this lottery is that the winner gets stoned to death by the towns people in a sort of ceremonial way. Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" raises the issue of following traditions and ceremonies blindly without question. The characters in Jackson's short story are all following this tradition blindly and without question. All the characters form up that morning at the town square, just like Marines being called to formation at the beginning and at the end of the day. Without any hesitation or uncertainty they all come, husbands, wives, children, and the elderly, all show up as if they were all just going to see a show or ride rides at a carnival. Being a town of just over 300, most of the characters know each other and as they begin to arrive women start catching up on the local gossip and the men start to talk about harvest and things that men talk about. When the director of the ceremony arrives and starts to call out names, most of the people are eager in a way and as the names of the head of households are...
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... Thesis Statement The themes of the short stories “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Rocking- Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence are similar in the way that they both use a game of chance or gambling in the presentation. Both of these stories are based on luck but instead of happiness being the ultimate prize for winning, death is the tragic outcome. Outline Introduction/Thesis paragraph I. Underlying message from the stories about the problems not directly addressed a. Lottery i. Conforming to traditions even when they are wrong or outdated b. Rocking Horse Winner i. Love or worship of materialistic things instead of each other II. Objects used by the author for symbolism a. Lottery i. Black box even though all other items have been forgotten b. Rocking Horse Winner i. Wooden rocking horse to symbolize the horses in the race III. Authors use of the gamble a. Lottery i. Being drawn means the prize is getting stoned to death b. Rocking Horse Winner i. Although the prediction of the race winner is correct Paul ends up dead and still without his mother’s love IV. Conclusion a. Restate and reword thesis and close. Playing the lottery or betting on horse races is a game of chance where the ultimate prize is money and fortune. The themes of the short stories, “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Rocking- Horse Winner” by D. H. Lawrence are similar...
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...contrary to today’s meaning of the “Lottery”, Shirley Jackson creates her own meaning of “The Lottery,” putting a spin on the preconceived definition. In the beginning of the short story, the author sets a false scene of a nice sunny day with children “playing” and collecting stones and pebbles. Unknown to the reader, the kids and villagers are “blindly” setting up a terrible Shirley Jackson speaks directly to the reader through the use of symbolism to develop the theme of conformity. The quote “The women, wearing faded houses dresses and sweater…” exemplifies the topic of compliance by the plain, flat dresses with no distinction between each other (Jackson 255). Shirley Jackson is trying to show the reader through the type of clothing that the women wore that the people of the village were not interesting characters meaning they were unlikely to do for themselves but follow the crowd and the way of life that already existed within the village. In a sense, Shirley Jackson was using the color of the dresses to take away their personal voice and opinion in the matter. As the lottery was about to begin the women had found the sides of their husband to gather at the center obediently....
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...PAPER INTERDICIPLINARY LITERATURE “THE LOTTERY” [pic] Compiled by : Nida Agniya Septiara (F1F010038) Laeli Fadilah (F1F010052) Lisa Ayu Christiana Putri (F1F010022) Yunita Marangin Lumbantoruan (F1F010084) JENDERAL SOEDIRMAN UNIVERSITY SOCIAL AND POLITICAL SCIENCE FACULTY HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT ENGLISH LITERATURE 2013 INTRODUCTION In this paper, we would like to highlight in the point of view of woman. We think it is interesting enough to be discussed. Shirley Jackson seems want to deliver a message related with woman position in the society in the period of the making of the novel. We see that the male character on this story mostly has good position and description while the female character only became a minor character which didn’t have any significant position in the novel. Eventhough the major character, Tessie Hutchinson, is a woman but she got ironic destiny in the end of the story. Many sentences and phrases are quoted through the article to illustrate the women's weakness and the men's power, the notion usually called “men’s control of the dominant discourse” in Beauvoir's words. There are some keys in the story showing that women are not satisfied with their ways of lives and try to change their current situation. 1. Woman’s order is less considered than man’s order ...
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...short stories “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson and “The Rocking Horse – Winner,” by D.H. Lawrence have a dark side; by attempting to control the outcome in their lives the character’s ungodly behavior demonstrates winning is losing. “The Lottery,” by Jackson, transports the reader in time to a bright sunny early summer day; a sense of warmth and a tightly knit community. This warm summer day with rich green grass with blossoming trees is a setting of joy, playful children and happy townspeople who gather to participate in the town’s lottery. Had Jackson included a dark cloudy and rainy day, the change in setting may foreshadow losing the lottery and even pointing to death. A change of setting such as a downpour, may create a less sociable crowd. The changing mood creates anticipation and foreshadows “winning” the prize. The warm day, the social interactions, the playful children stuffing stones in their pockets and the anticipation of the event begins to reveal the unexpected result. The late arrival of Mrs. Hutchinson certainly she will not be unlucky enough to win but lucky enough to lose. The reader feels the ominous shift in tone. The lottery box arrives with an eerie and suspenseful mood with dark undertones. The box takes center stage and the townspeople give wide berth to the black box. Jackson’s rich use of symbolism points one direction – winning- all the while taking the story to a climax in an opposite direction – losing. The lottery itself represents...
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