Tone is The Foundation for “The Lottery” - 800 Words

Tone is The Foundation for â€Å"The Lottery† In literature, tone is often described as the attitude of the story. It is the method used by the author to add personality or emotion. Without tone, even the best-rounded characters can easily come across as flat. Tone is not simply style, diction, or setting, but instead is the tool that holds all of these pieces together. In, â€Å"The Lottery†, author Shirley Jackson’s use of tone not only leads the reader down a familiar easy path to follow, but also sets the stage for the climactic change in events that leaves the reader’s emotions spiraling out of control. The ability to take a reader by the hand and walk them through a comfortably recognizable setting only to leave them asking in the end, â€Å"What†¦show more content†¦Jackson continues to cradle the reader into the comfort of a nonthreatening situation as she describes the scene unfolding in the village square, The children assembled first, of course. School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty set easily on most of them; they tended to gather together quietly for a while before they broke into boisterous play†¦Dickey†¦made a great pile of stones†¦ and the very small children rolled in the dust or clung to the hands of their older brothers and sisters (251). This image of children carelessly playing unsupervised provides the reader with a false sense of safe secure well-being. Even when the men do begin to gather, the reader finds them engaged in small talk such as â€Å"planting and rain, tractors, and taxes†(251); all, everyday topics one would expect being discussed at such a peaceful community event. To further support this apparent family-friendly activity, Jackson has the lottery conducted by Mr. Summers because he â€Å"had the time and energy to devote to civic activities†(251). She goes on to explain that Mr. Summers conducts all civic activities such as square dances, the Halloween program, and the teenage club. By comparing the lottery to activities one would normally associate with fun and pleasurable experiences, further shields the reader from the ominous series of events about to unfold. Inevitably, the reader experiences an emotional roller coaster ride of confusion followed byShow MoreRelated Dead Mans Path, And The Lottery By Shirley Jackson1290 Words   |  6 PagesMan’s Path† by Chinua Achebe and â€Å"The Lottery† by Shirley Jackson, as well as the poem, â€Å"Theme for English B† by Langston Hughes all demonstrate how culture, tradition, and education work together to affect one’s worldview and the common threads that l ink them together. â€Å"Dead Man’s Path† is a story about cultural conflict and how the need for respect and communication are integral to a balance between honoring traditions and embracing modern ideas. â€Å"The Lottery† is a short story about human natureRead MoreWilliam Shakespeare s Macbeth 1242 Words   |  5 Pagesdisturbances in nature, just like the witches will be disturbances in Macbeth’s life. The audience can also predict that the rest of the play will be uproarious, dismal and gloomy. 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