Read and Summarize:
Begin by reading the story carefully, perhaps more than once.
Summarize the plot in your own words. This ensures you understand the basic events.
Identify Literary Elements:
This is where you delve into the “how” and “why” of the story. Consider these elements:
Characters: Who are the main characters? How are they described (physically, emotionally, etc.)? How do they change (or not change)? What are their relationships?
Setting: Where and when does the story take place? How does the setting influence the mood, plot, or characters?
Plot: What is the sequence of events? What is the central conflict? How does the plot rise to a climax and resolve?
Point of View: Who is telling the story? (First-person, third-person limited, third-person omniscient, etc.) How does the point of view affect the narrative?
Theme: What is the central message or idea the author is exploring? What is the story saying about life, society, or human nature?
Style: What is the author’s writing style like? (Word choice, sentence structure, tone, use of figurative language, etc.)
Figurative Language: Does the author use metaphors, similes, symbols, irony, etc.? What do these devices contribute?
Tone: What is the author’s attitude toward the subject matter? What is the overall feeling of the story?
Gather Evidence:
Find specific examples from the text (quotes, descriptions, events) to support your interpretations of the literary elements.
Analyze and Interpret:
This is the most crucial step. Explain why the evidence you’ve chosen is significant.
Don’t just state what happens;
analyze how it happens:
Analysis is about breaking down the story;
Interpret (why) the author might have chosen to portray it that way.
Interpretation is about understanding its significance and making meaning from the analyzed elements.
Connect your analysis back to the overall themes and meaning of the story.
Develop a Thesis Statement (if you’re writing an essay):
A thesis statement is a clear and concise sentence that states your main argument or interpretation of the story.
Organize Your Analysis:
Structure your analysis logically, with clear paragraphs and topic sentences.
How To…sample short story “The Lottery”
Okay, let’s analyze Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” focusing on the figurative language of irony.
Title: The Ironic Tradition: An Analysis of Irony in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”
I. Introduction
Hook: Start with a statement that draws the reader in and hints at the story’s unsettling nature. For example: “Shirley Jackson’s ‘The Lottery’ lures readers into a seemingly ordinary village tradition, only to shatter expectations with a shocking and brutal climax, making its masterful use of irony a central force in its disturbing power.”
Background: Briefly introduce the story: author (Shirley Jackson), publication year (1948), and a very brief plot summary (avoiding spoilers).
Thesis Statement: This is your main argument about the role of irony in the story.
Example Thesis: “Jackson’s ‘The Lottery’ employs various forms of irony, including situational, verbal, and dramatic irony, to expose the dangers of blindly adhering to tradition and to critique the potential for cruelty within seemingly civilized communities.”
II. Body Paragraphs
A. Situational Irony
Topic Sentence: The most pervasive form of irony in “The Lottery” is situational irony, where the outcome of events contradicts the reader’s expectations.
Evidence:
The story initially presents a peaceful, idyllic village setting with descriptions of a beautiful summer day and ordinary villagers gathering for a seemingly benign event.
The title itself, “The Lottery,” evokes positive associations of winning a prize, not the horrific outcome.
The villagers’ casual, almost nonchalant attitude toward the lottery, as if it’s a normal, everyday occurrence.
Analysis:
Explain how these elements mislead the reader into anticipating a positive or at least neutral event.
Discuss how the shocking revelation of the true nature of the lottery creates a powerful sense of unease and forces the reader to question their assumptions about tradition and human behavior.
B. Verbal Irony
Topic Sentence: Jackson also uses verbal irony, where a character’s words convey a meaning opposite to their literal intent, to underscore the villagers’ disturbing acceptance of violence.
Evidence:
Old Man Warner’s repeated warnings about giving up the lottery, calling it a sign of “young fools.”
Mrs. Delacroix’s friendly chatter with Tessie Hutchinson before the stoning.
The matter-of-fact tone used to describe the increasingly violent events.
Analysis:
Analyze how these instances of verbal irony highlight the villagers’ distorted moral compass and their inability to recognize the barbarity of their actions.
Discuss how the contrast between the surface-level politeness and the underlying cruelty creates a chilling effect.
C. Dramatic Irony
Topic Sentence: The use of dramatic irony, where the audience is aware of information that the characters are not, heightens the tension and suspense of the narrative.
Evidence:
The reader’s growing unease as the lottery process unfolds, sensing the impending doom while the villagers remain seemingly oblivious.
The children gathering stones at the beginning of the story, which seems innocent at first but foreshadows the violent climax.
The reader’s knowledge of the true purpose of the slips of paper, while the villagers are focused on the tradition itself.
Analysis:
Explain how dramatic irony builds suspense and creates a sense of dread.
Discuss how it forces the reader to confront the possibility of violence and cruelty within seemingly ordinary settings.
III. Conclusion
Restate Thesis: Reiterate your main argument about the significance of irony in the story.
Summarize Key Points: Briefly recap the different types of irony you analyzed and their effects.
Offer Final Thoughts: Provide a concluding statement about the overall impact of Jackson’s use of irony. You might discuss:
The story’s enduring power to shock and disturb.
The broader implications of the story’s message about tradition, conformity, and human nature.
The effectiveness of irony as a literary device for social commentary.
Example: “Through its masterful deployment of situational, verbal, and dramatic irony, ‘The Lottery’ transcends a simple narrative to become a powerful and enduring parable. Jackson’s use of these literary tools forces readers to confront the unsettling potential for cruelty within human society and the dangers of blindly accepting tradition, leaving a lasting impact long after the story’s shocking conclusion.”
Sample Essay
Okay, here’s a full essay on Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” focusing on its use of irony:
Unsettling Tradition: An Analysis of Irony in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”
Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” initially presents a picture of quaint village life, yet this seemingly ordinary scene quickly unravels into a chilling exploration of tradition’s potential for darkness, a darkness revealed through the story’s pervasive irony. The narrative, published in 1948, depicts the annual lottery in a small village, a seemingly normal ritual that culminates in a shocking and disturbing act of violence. Through the strategic use of situational, verbal, and dramatic irony, Jackson effectively exposes the dangers of blindly following tradition and reveals the unsettling capacity for cruelty that can lurk beneath a veneer of normalcy.
The most striking form of irony in “The Lottery” is situational irony, as the story’s conclusion directly contradicts the reader’s expectations. Jackson meticulously crafts an opening that fosters a sense of normalcy and even anticipation. The story unfolds on a beautiful summer day, with descriptions of blossoming flowers and children playing. The villagers gather in the square, engaging in seemingly ordinary conversations. The title itself, “The Lottery,” conjures images of winning a prize, a positive outcome associated with luck and fortune. All of these details work to lull the reader into a false sense of security, leading them to anticipate a benign, perhaps even celebratory, event. However, this carefully constructed expectation is brutally shattered when the true nature of the lottery is revealed. The “winner” is not rewarded but is instead stoned to death by their fellow villagers. This stark contrast between the reader’s assumptions and the horrific reality creates a powerful sense of unease and forces a re-evaluation of the seemingly idyllic village.
Jackson also employs verbal irony to underscore the villagers’ disturbing acceptance of violence and their distorted moral values. Verbal irony occurs when a character’s words convey a meaning opposite to their literal intent. A prime example is Old Man Warner’s repeated warnings against abandoning the lottery. He frames it as essential to their survival, claiming, “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” His words suggest that the lottery is a beneficial tradition, ensuring prosperity. Yet, the story reveals it as a ritual of senseless violence. Similarly, the villagers’ polite and friendly interactions as they prepare for and conduct the lottery are laced with a chilling verbal irony. Mrs. Delacroix’s casual conversation with Tessie Hutchinson just before the stoning, for instance, highlights the disturbing normalcy with which they accept the impending brutality. The author’s own detached and matter-of-fact tone in describing the stoning further exemplifies this irony, as the language used stands in stark contrast to the heinous act being committed. This verbal irony exposes the villagers’ moral blindness and their inability to recognize the true horror of their tradition.
Furthermore, the story’s suspense is heightened by dramatic irony, where the reader gradually becomes aware of the lottery’s true nature before the characters do. The children’s gathering of stones at the beginning, an action that initially appears innocent, takes on a sinister meaning as the story progresses. The black box, treated with a mix of reverence and fear, hints at a darker purpose than the villagers openly acknowledge. As the lottery process unfolds, the reader’s unease grows, sensing the impending violence while the villagers remain seemingly oblivious to its true horror. This dramatic irony involves the reader emotionally, forcing them to witness the buildup to the act and implicating them in the collective complacency that allows it to occur.
Through its masterful deployment of situational, verbal, and dramatic irony, “The Lottery” transcends a simple narrative to become a chilling parable about the dangers of blind obedience to tradition and the potential for cruelty within any community. Jackson’s unsettling story serves as a stark reminder to question societal norms and uphold individual conscience, leaving a lasting and disturbing impression on the reader long after the final stone is thrown.