S5 Prose: Short Story

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley JacksonBackground Information: The Author

Shirley Jackson (born Dec. 14, 1919, San

Francisco, Calif., U.S.—died Aug. 8, 1965, North

Bennington, Vt.), American novelist and short-story

writer best known for her story “The Lottery” (1948).

Jackson graduated from Syracuse University in 1940.

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley JacksonBackground information: The Story

"The Lottery" caused major controversy when it was first published in the

June 26, 1948 issue of The New Yorker. Shirley Jackson's implicit critique

of the brutality underlying the rituals and values of America‘s small towns

outraged magazine readers.

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley JacksonCont./

The anonymous, generic village in which "The

Lottery" is set, in addition to the vicious twist the story

gives to a common American ritual, enhance the

contemporary reader's uneasy sense that the group

violence in the story could be taking place anywhere

and everywhere, right now. Jackson's skilful warping

of a popular pastime has become an American

classic, establishing her position as one of the great

American horror writers

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley JacksonDiscuss at your tables:

What are your thoughts/opinions of the

story? Confusing – no explanation about why they stone the lottery

“winner” Sudden change/twist – the reader goes from thinking one

thing to thinking something completely different Written in 3rd person Set in America; spelling of “color” and “center” Horror genre; psychological

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley JacksonWhat are a reader’s initial expectations

Regarding the story’s plot? ‘Lottery’ has connotations of wealth, money, good fortune,

luck, life-changing, happiness, success against the odds, one in a million etc

When do these expectations change? Tessie ‘wins’ and starts to complain that “It wasn’t fair” Use of the word “Although” indicates a change in tone “A stone hit her on the side of the head.” Is the moment the

reader knows for certain what is going on