Analysis

The short story “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson follows a traditional plot structure, while including narrative elements like backstory and foreshadowing.

The characters in the story are the villagers who gather in the village square to participate in the lottery, creating a collective character. A few specific characters stand out in the story, such as Tessie Hutchinson, Mr Summers, and Old Man Warner. 

The events take place in a fictional village in which a special kind of lottery is held every year. The social setting explores life in a rural society which blindly follows tradition.

The events are described from the point of view of a third-person narrator who has some background knowledge of the setting, but generally does not have access to the inner thoughts of the characters.

In terms of language, the story is told through a mix of narration and dialogue and makes heavy use of symbolism - especially through its descriptions of the lottery and the various items and rituals associated with it.

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Further help

Short story analysis

For more advice about analysing short stories, you can read our general guide to short story analysis.