The Lottery

In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," the climax occurs when Tessie Hutchinson is selected as the "winner" of the lottery, revealing the true nature of this ritual as a human sacrifice. The falling...

In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," character names and symbols underscore themes of tradition, superstition, and mob mentality. Bentham alludes to the philosopher Jeremy Bentham, highlighting the...

There are many examples of irony in "The Lottery"--Shirley Jackson's story about the dangers of blindly following tradition. The title of the story itself is ironic because the idea of a lottery...

Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" employs various literary devices, including allusion, allegory, irony, and analogy. The story alludes to historical figures like Anne Hutchinson and practices such as...

The dialogue in Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is deceptively ordinary, reflecting small-town chatter, which masks the sinister nature of the event. The irony lies in the casual tone, as villagers...

In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," the title is deeply ironic and misleading. Typically, a lottery implies a chance to win a desirable prize, but in this story, the "winner" is stoned to death,...

The statement "pack of young fools" is ironic because Old Man Warner, who says it, is himself the fool for believing in the lottery's superstitious benefits. He criticizes other villages for...

The children gathering stones in "The Lottery" exemplifies foreshadowing. This action hints at the violent conclusion of the story, subtly preparing the reader for the grim outcome while maintaining...

The line "Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie" is ironic because Tessie ultimately becomes the "winner" of the lottery, leading to her death. This statement, initially meant...

The author uses "of course" when describing the children's assembly to emphasize their natural inclination towards excitement and participation in the lottery, highlighting their naivety and lack of...

"The Lottery" does not contain any oxymorons. While the story is rich with irony and figurative language, no examples of oxymorons, which are contradictory terms like "open secret," are present....

The irony in Tessie and her husband's discussions lies in their seemingly mundane and trivial nature, suggesting a good marital relationship. However, the story's conclusion reveals a stark...