Shocking Tradition I think that pretty much everyone wants to win the lottery these days, but it was not always that way especially in a small town in New England. “The Lottery”, a short story by Shirley Jackson takes place in a small town in New England, which traditionally holds an annual lottery every year to ensure a good crop harvest. The winner of this lottery faces a gruesome death by stoning which is believed to produce a bountiful crop which is vital to the small town. This tradition is never questioned and is held by a very authoritative figure who calls all the shots. The author Shirley Jackson uses foreshadowing and symbolism to give the reader an idea of what is going to happen further into the story and also tie in ideas that
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One example that Jackson uses is the kids in the beginning of the story gathering rocks in the pile. Helen E. Nebeker states in her analysis of “the Lottery” “Dickie Delacroix follow his example, eventually making a great pile of stones in the corner which they guard from the raids of the other boys”(Nebeker par. 5). This quote is an example of foreshadowing because it the kids are gathering the stones that will be used to stone Mrs. Hutcheson to death. ‘“Well, now.” Mr. Summers said soberly, “guess we better get started, get this over with so’s we can get back to work. Anybody ain’t here?”’(306). This quote reveals that Mr. Summers is unconcerned with who will be chosen and wants to get this over with. It is foreshadowing because Mrs. Hutcheson is the only one who is not there on time and later on will end up being chosen to be sacrificed. “The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner the oldest man in the town, was born”(305). This quote reveals that this lottery has been a tradition that has been carried out even way before anyone who is living in the town was even born and also that there is no plan to end it any time soon because of the fear the lottery and the towns people possess.
In Jacksons short “The Lottery” she uses foreshadowing to give the audience clues and ideas of what is going to happen later on in the story. The author also uses symbolism to help the reader understand the meaning and help the story make sense. By using these techniques Jackson develops the story and makes the meaning of the story concrete in the minds of the
One example that Jackson uses is the kids in the beginning of the story gathering rocks in the pile. Helen E. Nebeker states in her analysis of “the Lottery” “Dickie Delacroix follow his example, eventually making a great pile of stones in the corner which they guard from the raids of the other boys”(Nebeker par. 5). This quote is an example of foreshadowing because it the kids are gathering the stones that will be used to stone Mrs. Hutcheson to death. ‘“Well, now.” Mr. Summers said soberly, “guess we better get started, get this over with so’s we can get back to work. Anybody ain’t here?”’(306). This quote reveals that Mr. Summers is unconcerned with who will be chosen and wants to get this over with. It is foreshadowing because Mrs. Hutcheson is the only one who is not there on time and later on will end up being chosen to be sacrificed. “The original paraphernalia for the lottery had been lost long ago, and the black box now resting on the stool had been put into use even before Old Man Warner the oldest man in the town, was born”(305). This quote reveals that this lottery has been a tradition that has been carried out even way before anyone who is living in the town was even born and also that there is no plan to end it any time soon because of the fear the lottery and the towns people possess.
In Jacksons short “The Lottery” she uses foreshadowing to give the audience clues and ideas of what is going to happen later on in the story. The author also uses symbolism to help the reader understand the meaning and help the story make sense. By using these techniques Jackson develops the story and makes the meaning of the story concrete in the minds of the