The Lottery

             Shirley Jackson's The Lottery is a classic example of clever foreshadowing. Jackson's use of foreshadowing starts with very simple seemly unimportant details and evolves into undeniable facts that lead the reader against their own understanding of what is taking place in the story.
             Foreshadowing is a technique a writer uses to give an important detail in a manner in which the detail seems unimportant at the time the hint or clue is given. Effective use of foreshadowing permits the writer to give hints or clues of how the story will end. The reader often chooses to ignore the detail because of his or her own personal experiences with a given topic. Frequently, after the story has been completed the reader can go back and see where they mislead themselves by ignoring the now obvious important hints or clues.
             In Shirley Jackson's The Lottery, Jackson's clever use of foreshadowing leads the reader to maintain his or her opinion of what they believe a lottery is, most likely something that is positive or good. Jackson gives several foreshadowing details that the reader will see as unimportant until he or she concludes the story.
             The foreshadowing is seen very early in Jackson's The Lottery. It began with the young boys collecting the smoothest and roundest rocks, filling their pockets and making a great pile in the corner of the square. Shortly there after, the men began to gather. Noting, the men gathered away from the pile of stones. They stood quietly talking and smiled instead of laughing. Then as the woman began to appear in the Town Square, they were all dressed wearing faded dresses and seemly older clothes.
             Moreover, as the black box was brought into the square, the villagers kept distance between themselves and the stool where the Black Box would soon come to rest. Next, when Mr. Summers asked for a couple of men to help hold the box steady, the writer
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The Lottery. (1969, December 31). In MegaEssays.com. Retrieved 04:05, March 29, 2024, from https://www.megaessays.com/viewpaper/79343.html