Edgar Allen Poe and Shirley Jackson’s Use of Foreshadowing and Irony
Good literary works should capture the audience’s attention and keep them engaged in the story. In order to achieve that, author’s can use a variety of methods such as tone and setting of the story and the use of metaphors and/or similes. “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Lottery” are pieces of literary work that make good use of two methods: foreshadowing and irony.
Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Cask of Amontillado” begins with the foreshadowing of the death of Fortunato. “The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could, but when he ventured upon insult, I vowed revenge.” While this doesn’t say word for word that by the end of the story Fortunato will die, one can assume that something terrible will happen. The narrator lured Fortunato into his cavern with the promise of a look of the Amontillado, but he also knew that the cavern would worsen his enemy’s cough. Fortunato’s cough progressed and the narrator said with decision, “We will go back; your health is precious. You are rich, respected…You are a man to be missed.” Although this is also sarcasm, this is foreshadowing again the death by revealing tha

The ending of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” is the stoning to death of one of the village’s women. The story did not give many clues as to what would happen, but still there were some foreshadowing. School was out for the summer, but instead of playing rowdily with excitement which usually accompanies the ending of classes, “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones and the other boys soon followed.” This signifies that the stones are being gathered for the stoning. Equipment for the town’s lottery is a black box and a three-legged stool that has been used since the town’s people can remember, but “the villagers kept their distance leaving space between themselves and the stool.” This gives away the sense of apprehension and probably the fear the town’s people have of their lottery. Since the equipment elicits this type of reaction then one can assume that the lottery isn’t what the reader expects.

“The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.” This is the setting of “The Lottery” and it sets a tone that this story is about something good or wo