Symbolism in "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson

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As you explicate one of the elements of literature as it applies to Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery," I highly suggest analyzing Jackson's use of symbolism in this riveting short story. What do you think about this topic?

First off, you will need to devise a creative introduction to your essay in order to lure readers. In this introduction, you also need to carefully articulate your thesis. One sample thesis statement for you might be this generic one: Shirley Jackson's haunting short story, "The Lottery," cleverly incorporates various symbols such as the ironic and evocative use of her title, names of characters, and the symbolic use of objects to facilitate the plot and themes of her diabolical piece.

After stating your thesis, please note that it is time to add a smooth transition into your first main paragraph. An example might be this model below:

First of all, Shirley Jackson's deliberate use of symbols masterfully advances the plot events. Even her title of "The Lottery" is quite symbolic. The title suggests that some sort of prize is attainable for the characters. The title further seems to suggest hope, imminent fortune, and a possibility of future advances in life. Even the setting correlates with this sense of hope or optimism as Jackson describes the town " the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green. The people of the village began to gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, around ten o'clock; in some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 2th." However, the symbolism with the lottery soon turns ironic as we learn about its deadly ramifications.

As a ...