The Lottery

A detailed Summary of The Lottery


The short story The Lottery, written by Shirley Jackson in 1948, tells the story of a small town and a certain lottery that is performed once a year. The story takes place on the morning of June 27th; Jackson describes in detail the gathering of the town's people to conduct the lottery. The drawing is said to only take about two hours and involves every person in the town. Jackson focuses on the people's attitudes toward this drawing in the beginning of the story. The people are jovial and accepting towards the rules of the lottery. Jackson mentions repeatedly in the story of how this lottery is tradition and has taken place every year since the town was created. The story ends with the drawing of pieces of paper and the unveiling of the unlucky winner, Mrs. Hutchinson. The reader is left to wonder throughout the short story, of what the lottery is for. At the end the reader


I do feel that Jackson did mean to shock the reader. If the story would have ended any other way I do not believe people would still be reading it. I do believe for the simple fact of its shocking element that this has received recognition. I feel it's literary worth is not much and that better short stories have been written. It's underlying meaning and symbolism must be so awesome that people over look its simplicity. I feel it would help if I were living in the same time period as Shirley Jackson. I think what she might have felt during her time was universal for that time and those who live during the post war years. I think the absence of similar thoughts and fears of those times is what prohibits me from understanding exactly what she is trying to say. I do know that if I lived in that town I would have ran away as soon as I was allowed the chance.

finds out that the unlucky winner is stoned

Some common words found in the essay are:
Shirley Jackson, War II, , shirley jackson, short story, story lottery, short story lottery, unlucky winner, town's people, jackson trying,

Approximate Word count = 611
Approximate Pages = 2 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: Miscellaneous

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