(855) 4-ESSAYS

Type a new keyword(s) and press Enter to search

Humbling Lessons in Literature

            Authors use many different tactics when composing works. The intent of the work helps determine the tools used. There are two themes that remain consistent in all writings: the purpose for writing and the attitude of the writing. In 1948, American Shirley Jackson wrote a short story for the New Yorker entitled "The Lottery." Jackson uses tradition and horror and tragedy to help lead her readers towards insight in their own lives and morals. English author David Herbert Lawrence published "The Rocking-Horse Winner" in Harper's Bazaar in 1926. Lawrence uses greed and discontent as the setting for this heartbreaking tale. Both works use pain and death to try to teach lessons about love and morals and to try to cause the audience to evaluate different aspects in their lives. .
             It can be difficult to determine an author's purpose for writing something. Shirley Jackson said that her main purpose for writing "The Lottery" was "to shock the story's readers with a graphic demonstration of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives." She may have wanted her audience to examine and evaluate their own lives. It is possible that Jackson wanted her readers to think about their morals and values and decide their worth. The characters in the lottery followed a tradition that outsiders would think of as inhumane. But what about some of our traditions? Are there any traditions that would be inconceivable to people outside our community? Jackson accomplished her goal of using "graphic demonstration" to "shock the story's readers." It can be argued that she wanted her readers determine if some of their traditions needed to be modified or forgotten. David Herbert Lawrence's "The Rocking-Horse Winner" also causes readers to evaluate their own lives. Lawrence may have wanted his viewers to realize the blessings placed in their lives.


Essays Related to Humbling Lessons in Literature

1. Moral Direction and Racism - Huck Finn

... assessing a novel to see whether it qualifies for high school curriculum, one of the criterion follows that the piece of literature must offer a new perspective and truthful sense of the time period and its cultural elements that cannot be found in less controversial material, such as textbooks. Huck Finn renders this requirement complete because it highlights the racist society that was ... ubiquitous throughout pre-Civil War South, while bringing out the raw emotional aspect to the novel, and adding another dimension to the objective history lessons taught in a classroom. Another crite...

  • Word Count: 2046
  • Approx Pages: 8
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: Undergraduate

Got a writing question? Ask our professional writer!
Submit My Question