 Jackson never considered her career as a writer to interfere with her responsibilities as a wife and mother.  Her works range from fairly conventional short stories, often geared for women's magazines, to the more unexpectedly sinister works, which have earned her a reputation as a Gothic horror writer.  In an interview, Jackson once jokingly described herself as a practicing witch. SHIRLEY JACKSON

 Ever since the small town was built, the beautiful Strangeworth house, with its blossoming roses and perfect presentation, resided on Pleasant Street.  Now, it was home to old Miss Adela Strangeworth, a sweet old lady who took much pride in her town and especially in her eye-catching gorgeous roses in her front lawn.  She felt she must protect her town from evil.  And so almost every night, she would write anonymous letters to the people within her community whom she believed needed guidance. THE POSSIBILITY OF EVIL

 Dramatic Irony- contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows  Situational Irony- event occurs that contradicts the expectations of the characters, of the reader, or of the audience  Verbal Irony- word or phrase is used to suggest the opposite of its usual meaning  What is irony? What is irony IRONY

 Helps in creating an atmosphere in a literary work by means of setting, theme, diction and tone  Evokes various emotional responses in readers  Ensures emotional attachment to the literary piece  Mood vs Tone Mood vs Tone MOOD