Creating Suspense
How does Shirley Jackson create suspense in “The Lottery”?
Setting
The narrator describes the young boys stacking a great pile of stones in one corner of the square. This makes
the reader wonder why they are doing this.
The men gather and stand away from the pile of stones. They seem nervous (“… their jokes were quiet and they
smiled rather than laughed.”). It makes the reader wonder why they were apprehensive about these stones or
this meeting.
When Mr. Summers sets the black box down on the three-legged stool, the crowd backs off (“keeping their
distance”). This makes the reader wonder what is in the box, what is the purpose for this gathering, and why
are these people nervous?
The opening of the story reveals a sunny, warm summer day. The grass is “richly green” and the flowers were
blooming. This kind of puts readers at ease and makes them feel like all is well. When the reader later sees
Tessie receive the slip with the black dot and she starts freaking out, it surprises the reader because the story
seemed to start so “normal” and happy. We thought the tradition was going to be a good one. It adds to the
suspense of the story and we wonder what will happen to Tessie.
Diction
“… no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box.” The reader doesn’t know
what this tradition entails but we want to learn more.
When Mr. Summers asks if anyone will help him with the drawing, the crowd hesitates before Mr. Martin and his
son come forward. This makes the reader wonder, again, why the people are afraid of this box.
In regards to Mr. Summers: his hand “rest[s] carelessly on the black box….” This word choice of “carelessly”
makes it seem like Mr. Summers is approaching this in a casual way and that he is not afraid of this box. It makes
the reader wonder why his behavior is different from the others.
As the drawing is about to begin Mr. Summers turns “sober” or serious. His switch from playful to serious makes
the reader wonder what is about to take place with this drawing.
The people are “quiet, wetting their lips, and not looking around” as the lottery drawing is about to start. As they
take their slips, some are described as “humorless and nervous.” It makes the reader wonder why.
When the Hutchinson family gets picked Tessie immediately starts freaking out (“it’s not fair,” etc.) and the
reader wonders why she is scared and what is going to happen to this family.
When Tessie’s daughter, Nancy, goes to select her slip, her friends “breathed heavily” and they
whisper they “hope it’s not her.” The reader wonders what will happen to Nancy.
The villagers “move in” on Tessie and then “they were upon her.” This stuns the reader that she is
being attacked. Even as it is happening, the reader wonders if they are going to kill her.
Creating Suspense
How does Shirley Jackson create suspense in “The Lottery”?
Imagery
“The black box grew shabbier each year; by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along
one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained.” The fact that the box is old it
makes it kind of creepy and the reader wonders what the purpose for it is.
Mr. Summers is wearing a clean white shirt (this contrasts with the shabby black box) and blue jeans.
Before the drawing begins, Mr. Summers is described as speaking cheerfully, Mrs. Hutchinson (Tessie) as
grinning. The crowd laughs softly in regards to her late arrival but the whole scene just feels a bit
uncomfortable.
The reader can visualize each head of the family clutching the closed slip of paper in their hand while the rest
of the crowd selects a slip. Some of the men stand apart from their family while they wait to open their slip.
After everyone gets theirs, the men wait a full minute before opening their papers; this all heightens the
suspense as the reader wants to see what is inside.
Bill has to force the slip of paper out of his wife’s hand to show everyone the black dot.
The narrator describes some of the crowd selecting large stones, meanwhile the scraps of paper are blowing in
the wind, and everyone is headed towards Tessie. The reader is stunned and is on the edge of their seat
wondering if they are all really about to stone her.
Foreshadowing
When the black box is placed on the stool and everyone backs away from it, it could foreshadow that this box
will probably not lead to positive events for the characters in the story since everyone seems afraid of it.
With all the details given about the black box and its history, this foreshadows that this item will be an integral
part of the plot and will in some way impact the lives of the characters.
With all the details that describe people being nervous, greeting Mr. Summers “gravely”, laughing
uncomfortably, men standing apart from their family after they draw their slip and wait to open it, it continues
to hint that this box and this lottery are not going to turn out well for some of the characters.
Mrs. Hutchinson (Tessie) arrives late and this seems like a big deal as everyone has to be present for the
lottery drawing. Because she is signaled out by the writer, does this hint that the lottery will in some way
impact her in a special way?
When Mr. Summers asks how many children the Hutchinson’s have this foreshadows that the black box will
now probably impact just their family (especially when the slips of paper for the rest of the crowd are allowed
to blow away in the wind).