The Use of Setting in “the Lottery” and “the Rocking Horse Winner”
The Use of Setting in “The Lottery” and “The Rocking Horse Winner”
Jim Vanover
English 102 D30 Fall 2011 Thesis
“The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, and D.H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner” provide two disparate uses of Setting in a short story which emphasize the importance of the element in a story. One author distracts the reader, while the other establishes the framework of the story.
Outline
1. Introduction
a. Quick overview of “The Lottery”
b. Quick overview of “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
2. Summary of the use of setting
a. “The Lottery”
i. Diversion from the theme ii. Bright, sunny, happy
b. “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
i. Support structure of the story ii. Used to pull the reader into the story
3. Similarities and differences
a. Both are realistic and believable
b. Use in “The Lottery” to divert reader from situation
c. Use in “The Rocking-Horse” establishes the core of the story
4. Summary and close
a. Jackson uses setting primarily to divert reader
b. Lawrence uses setting to support the story’s framework
c. Restate thesis - Dichotomy emphasizes importance of the effective use of setting The Use of Setting in “The Lottery” and “The Rocking Horse Winner”
“The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, “The Rocking-Horse Winner”, by and D.H. Lawrence, provide two disparate uses of setting in a short story which emphasize the importance of the element in a story. One author distracts the reader, while the other establishes the framework of the story.
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a troubling short story about an annual event in a small town in New England; a lottery to select who would be stoned. The townspeople come to the village central square to perform an annual ritual that seems to have gone on for a considerable number of years. They have an almost festive attitude while they run through their selection process, and once one of their members is identified, they seem to blissfully carry out their gruesome task
Jim Vanover
English 102 D30 Fall 2011 Thesis
“The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, and D.H. Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner” provide two disparate uses of Setting in a short story which emphasize the importance of the element in a story. One author distracts the reader, while the other establishes the framework of the story.
Outline
1. Introduction
a. Quick overview of “The Lottery”
b. Quick overview of “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
2. Summary of the use of setting
a. “The Lottery”
i. Diversion from the theme ii. Bright, sunny, happy
b. “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
i. Support structure of the story ii. Used to pull the reader into the story
3. Similarities and differences
a. Both are realistic and believable
b. Use in “The Lottery” to divert reader from situation
c. Use in “The Rocking-Horse” establishes the core of the story
4. Summary and close
a. Jackson uses setting primarily to divert reader
b. Lawrence uses setting to support the story’s framework
c. Restate thesis - Dichotomy emphasizes importance of the effective use of setting The Use of Setting in “The Lottery” and “The Rocking Horse Winner”
“The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, “The Rocking-Horse Winner”, by and D.H. Lawrence, provide two disparate uses of setting in a short story which emphasize the importance of the element in a story. One author distracts the reader, while the other establishes the framework of the story.
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is a troubling short story about an annual event in a small town in New England; a lottery to select who would be stoned. The townspeople come to the village central square to perform an annual ritual that seems to have gone on for a considerable number of years. They have an almost festive attitude while they run through their selection process, and once one of their members is identified, they seem to blissfully carry out their gruesome task
References: Aintree Racecourse. Grand National. Retrieved November 11, 2011, from http://www.aintree.co.uk/pages/grand-national/ Jackson, S. (1948). The Lottery. In Kennedy, X.J. and Gioia D. (ed), Literature - An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. Sixth Edition. (pp. 213-218). Longman.