Throughout the short story The Lottery, Shirley Jackson foreshadows a gruesome ending to the ambiguous "lottery" that takes place ironically, in a small and quiet town. Verbal irony, and symbolism are also used throughout the story as Jackson exploits the over-importance of titles in today's society.
             The first use of foreshadowing occurs in the second paragraph. After Jackson describes the summer morning she alludes to the children gathering in the Village Square. However, they are not acting in a way that stereotypical children would. "Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example...eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys" (Jackson 715). No reasoning is seen in the boys gathering rocks, especially at a time of a town event as important as this one seems to be. This detail foreshadows that the stones may have an effect on the plot in some way as the story continues.
             Following paragraphs in the story contain subtle clues as to what is going to unfold. After all of the children have gathered, the men begin to fill the square followed by all of the women. "They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner" (Jackson 715). The men avoiding the stones are another detail that suggests the stones may play an important part in the story. Nervousness amongst the rest of the townspeople is also evident due to the children's reluctance to join their parents standing in the square. This reaction reveals that it may not be the joyous occasion that today's society would associate with a lottery.
             Jackson also uses many hints that suggest the payoff for the town's lottery. The detail of Mrs. Hutchinson's entrance is an example that foreshadows this. "She tapped Mrs. Delacroix on the arm as a farewell and began to
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