Review of Plot Elements in Shirley Jackson s The Lottery
Shirley Jackson is a widely renowned American author who graduated from Syracuse University in 1940. ... She is best known for her disturbing stories of horror and suspense, including the novel The Haunting of Hill House and the short story “The Lottery.” Jackson uses a small village much like Bennington, Vermont, the town she called home at the time of its publication, as the location for “The Lottery.” (255) The idea of a lottery is meant to induce a feeling of excitement. However, Jackson uses many plot elements to twist the premise of luck and excitement into a shocking conclusion. First Jackson writes of a peaceful village with an annual traditional lottery. ... “ (255) Excitement brews in the air as the villagers assemble “in the square” to take their chance at the lottery.