Engl151C-17 September 16‚ 2011 “The Lottery” Traditions The main theme of “The Lottery‚” by Shirley Jackson‚ is tradition. Traditions are beliefs‚ legends‚ customs‚ information and other things that are passed down from generation to generation. This theme is shown in many different ways throughout the story. The first way tradition is shown in the story is with the ritual that the town people call the lottery. The second way tradition is shown is by the character Mrs. Hutchinson. Another character
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Artistic Text Written and published in 1948‚ “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is today ranked as “one of the most famous short stories in the history of American Literature” according to author Laurie Harris. This short story focuses on a village that every year has a lottery to determine which of the towns’ people will be sacrificed in order to guarantee a good harvest for the coming year. The readers are deceptively led to believe that the lottery is a normal‚ casual event when in actuality it is
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The Lottery On a clear morning‚ June 27th‚ the townspeople‚ men‚ women‚ and children begin to assemble for the lottery which is to begin at ten in the morning. The opening paragraphs completely mask the underlying darkness of this short story. As the reader progresses throughout the story‚ these deeper elements of the story become evident. "The Lottery" successfully combines elements of horror‚ irony‚ hypocrisy‚ and tradition in a way that fulfills Carver’s criteria of a story that exemplifies
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Destini Lloyd Joy Surles Eng 113 March 26‚ 2013 The Lottery What is the definition of inhumanity? Inhumanity is great cruelty and a lack of humanity. Once you understand that a normal human being would then question how people could be so cruel to one another. The inhumanity of taking chance is evident in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. The author paints a vivid picture of how taking a gamble is not worth the loss. The mindset of traditionalism‚ selfishness‚ and inhumanness speaks volume
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Theme in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson is a story of an anticipated yearly event where the all the citizens of a small town gather together to participate in. The author gives the impression through the light-hearted dialogue among the characters the lottery leads to an event bringing its winner good fortune. As the fortune of the one chosen by the lottery drawing is revealed‚ it also shows a potential problem of the human character. “The Lottery” reveals when
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The Lottery Conformity or Pure Selfishness “The opposite for courage is not cowardice‚ it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow”-Jim Hightower. Have you ever been in a situation to where you know a person or a group is doing something wrong‚ but you choose not to do anything about it? Have you ever done something wrong for so long that it suddenly became a lifestyle for you? Jackson’s story‚ “The Lottery”‚ when it comes to being in the wrong or not speaking up‚ reminds me
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passed down overtime because certain individuals are afraid of the consequences. In a small village‚ there is a yearly tradition that randomly selects one individual to be stoned by the entire village. This tradition is known as “The Lottery.” In “The Lottery‚” Shirley Jackson combines foreshadowing with a comforting tone thus both concealing and revealing the shocking ending. Shirley Jackson’s use of a benevolent tone leaves readers unsuspecting of the ironic ending. As the story begins‚ the setting
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Monique Lewis Ashcraft English 102 Feb. 25‚ 2013 The Lottery Following it’s publication in the New Yorker in 1948‚ Shirley Jackson’s "the lottery" aroused much controversy‚ leading to that issue of the new Yorker quickly being sold out. Through the use of comedy and irony‚ Jackson demonstrates the "pointless violence and general inhumanity in [readers] own lives" The lottery takes place in a small close knit town where tradition is taken quite seriously. Each year an event is held in which
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“The Lottery” – by Shirley Jackson Name:_____________________________ ELA 10 Questions From the context of the story‚ who controls the town? Explain. Mr. Summers‚ Mr. Graves and Mr. Martin are the leaders of the town. Because‚ in the story‚ Mr. Summers owns the village’s largest business and also the major of the town. Mr. Summers has more “time and energy to devote to civic activities.” It indicates that he has money and leisure. Mr. Graves is the government official; the
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The Lottery by Shirley Jackson is a short story about a small town and their unique summer tradition. This stories thematic element is conformity and rebellion‚ showing “a clash between two well-articulated positions in which a rebel‚ on principle‚ confronts and struggles with established authority” (Abacarian and Klotz‚ 289). Jackson’s short story caught my attention through her suspenseful structural technique‚ and incorporation of a serious‚ seemingly absurd‚ event in a nonchalant manner.
Free The Lottery Short story Shirley Jackson