Lottery by Shirley JacksonThe Building of Suspense
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson The Building of Suspense Shirley Jackson was very well known for using the literary device known as suspense. In the short story, “The Lottery,” Jackson uses a great deal of suspense to blind side the readers with the horrific outcome. ... Jackson then begins describing the ceremony of “The Lottery. ... Summers (the lottery official) arrives to begin the drawing; the postmaster, Mr. ... The black box has been used since anyone in town could remember for the lottery. ... She is then cheerfully welcomed by the other participants of the lottery “Here comes your Missus, Hutchinson” ”Bill, she made it after all”(238). ... Once every family has drawn, they are allowed to look at their slips to see who will advance into the next round of the lottery. ... At this point the suspense builds even more. ... At this point the reader should establish that, ironically, winning the lottery is bad. ... But the rules of the lottery state that daughters, if married, draw with their husbands. Jackson builds even more suspense, because the reader may become more and more frightened or anxious to see the outcome. ... Jackson’s wonderfully written short story “The Lottery” has a great deal of suspense.