The Lottery
by Shirley Jackson
The American Literature website has some wonderful classic short stories. As part of my new program to educate myself on short stories, they have been a superb resource. I want to tell you about a story I found there but first let me tell you about one of the key things I’ve learned about short stories: you usually have to read to the very end to catch on to the point.
In The Lottery I had no idea what the whole thing was about until the last few paragraphs. Let me tell you the gist of the story without giving away the ending.
The Lottery does not refer to the multi-million dollar lotteries of today. It appears the story takes place several hundred years ago in a small rural village. All 300 of the villagers have gathered in the center of town – men, women, and children. It seems to be an annual event.
There is quite a ritual to it and it appears to have going on for a very long time. The male head of each household draws for each family. Every man is called forward and he draws out a paper from the ancient black box. No one opens their folded paper until the signal is given.
After the winning family is determined, there is a second lottery for the members of the chosen family until only one person is named. It is only then that the reader learns what the lottery is all about. I kept thinking of all the nicest things that could result from this lottery. I was wrong. The outcome is gruesome and stayed with me for a long time.
The story first appeared in the New Yorker Magazine in 1948. It was not received well. I imagine people had the same reaction I did. The New Yorker received lots of hate mail and cancelled subscriptions.
In spite of the controversy the story can be appreciated on several levels. For one thing, it’s very well written. It’s gone on to become a short story classic and appears on classroom reading lists around the country.
The entire story can be read here. But don’t forget I warned you.
If you’d like to read other bloggers who have posted short stories or if you’d like to join in, visit John at Book Mind Set.
I saw the movie of this short story in 7th grade and it continues to haunt me!
I use this short story at the beginning of the year to illustrate how to read closely with my 12th grade class. We read it together, paragraph by paragraph, and discuss character development and scene development. We discuss how the author uses “just the right word” to create the suspenseful mood. The story never fails to take students by surprise and always elicits class discussion.
I remember this story! Funny how many dystopic novels now use sort of a variation of this.
I remeber reading this one in middle school. It was very good and it was very momoriable. Scary even.
I read The Lottery in college. It’s a classic of course but I always hated it because it shows a side of humanity I don’t like to acknowledge.
I loved this story!!!!!
I vaguely remember this from high school I think.
Oh yes, another short story I have read and remember. Frighteningly after many many years — I think I was probably in highschool. I think you’d have to say it is an excellent story though if it can be remembered that long — and it makes you think. I wonder what else Shirley Jackson wrote?
A favourite of mine, for sure. But, because of the ending, never feels as effective beyond the first reading.
I loved this story, and will never forget just how horrified I was the first time I read it! Jackson’s novel, We Have Always Lived in the Castle, was very good too.
I read it when I was a kid. I’m suprised that I forgot about it. As soon as I read the title, just now, I remembered it and the ending.
I read 2 more T.C. Boyle shorts.
“The Lottery” was always a fun one to assign. You may instruct readers to be careful and watch for clues or be surprised at the ending. They were always surprised at the ending. Well-written short story and a great story to use to point out how a story may be tightly crafted. Students always loved it.
This really is an amazing story. She wrote a couple delightful books, though I’m not wild for the titles- Life Among the Savages, and Raising Demons. There is a tremendous biography which I have actually read twice because it was so good by Judy Oppenheimer -Private Demons: The Life of Shirley Jackson. Not a happy life.
Finally one I’ve read! I liked this one a lot.
I went back and read it aloud to Tom. What a great story! Neither of us guessed the ending. He may read it to his seventh graders in the fall. Thanks so much, Margot!
oops, I meant to leave this at ‘Charles.’
Greetings, superb blog.