‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson National 5 Prose: Short Story ‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Background 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 Jackson Background 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 Jackson Cont./ 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 Jackson Discuss at your tables: What are your thoughts/opinions of the story? Confusing – no explanation about why they stone the lottery “winner”; no explanation that the lottery didn’t have anything to do with money- unexpected; why does it have to happen in front of the entire village? Sudden change/twist – the reader goes from thinking one thing to thinking something completely different. Think it’s about money or a big prize, but changes right at the end. Foreshadowing – mention of stones earlier in the story is a clue to the ending. Could be because the village is getting too big. Written in 3rd person Set in America; Americanised spelling of “color” and “center” Horror genre; psychological

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson What 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

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Carousel Tessie: How is Tessie ‘set apart’ from the other villagers? Focus on: how she is introduced her actions throughout the story Find quotations to support your points Your opinion of/reactions to this character Yellow Group

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Carousel Mr Summers: What seems to be Mr Summers’ priority throughout the story? Focus on: His reputation His actions and dialogue Find quotations to support your points Your opinion of/reactions to this character Green Group

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Carousel Old Man Warner: How does Old Man Warner feel towards the lottery? Focus on: His actions and dialogue What he thinks of other villages Find quotations to support your points Your opinion of/reactions to this character Blue Group

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Carousel Mr Summers: What seems to be Mr Summers’ priority throughout the story? Focus on: His reputation His actions and dialogue Find quotations to support your points Your opinion of/reactions to this character Pink Group

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Carousel Bill Hutchinson: How does Bill treat Tessie? Focus on: His actions and dialogue and why he may react like this Find quotations to support your points Your opinion of/reactions to this character Purple Group

‘The Lottery’ by Shirley Jackson Carousel Mrs Delarcroix /Mrs Graves: How does they treat Tessie during the story? Focus on: Actions and dialogue and what this reveals about their relationship Find quotations to support your points Your opinion of/reactions to this character Orange Group