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Shirley Jackson

            Shirley Hardie Jackson was one of the greatest authors of the twentieth century who wrote over one hundred short stories, novels, plays, and articles. Through the years Shirley's writing habit's progressed. In college she began writing articles for the campus magazines. After college Shirley got married and began her writing career, writing short stories for popular magazines. Eventually Shirley became a mother of four. She played the role of a housewife, a mom, and an author. As the years went by Shirley spent time between both her children's activities and in her writing. As time went on Shirley's life began to slow down. She wasn't able to produce as much writings as she use to. She eventually died in her sleep.
             Shirley Hardie Jackson was born into an upper middle-class family on December 14, 1919 in San Francisco, California. Her father, Leslie Hardie Jackson was a British born Lithograph company executive. Shirley's mother, Geraldine Bugbee Jackson was a descendant from a family of very well known architects. (Alessio 114). Just two years after she was born her parents had another child named Barry. When Shirley was six and her brother was four, the Jackson family moved from San Francisco to a suburban town 30 miles away called Burlingame (Hall 18). .
             Shirley's first exposure to literature was with her grandmother who would read her Edgar Allan Poe stories. Shirley became interested in literature and started to go to the library quite often (Alessio 115). At the age of twelve, Shirley won a prize for her poem " The Pine Tree" which was entered into a contest for the "Junior Home Magazine". (Hall 18) When Shirley was in junior high, she began to keep a diary where she kept all of her writing's (Burn 378). "She wrote about her daily activities, including time spent playing the piano and with her best friend, Dorothy, as well as her desire to be thinner and kinder to others. Shirley also recorded her earliest thoughts on superstition and the supernatural.


Essays Related to Shirley Jackson

1. Shirely Jackson The Lottey

... , State University of New York College at Oneonta and Richard E. Lee, State University of New York College at Oneonta. The Gale Group, 2001, pp. 161-171. Bibliography Works by Shirley Jackson: • The Road through the Wall (novel)1948, 2nd edition, 1973, published as The Other Side of the Street, 1956, reprinted under original title, 1976. • The ... Delivery, 1960, published as And Baby Makes Three, Grosset, 1966. • We Have Always Lived in the Castle (novel), 1962. • 9 Magic Wishes (juvenile), 1963. • The Magic of Shirley Jackson (eleven stories and three novels), 1966. • Famou...

  • Word Count: 1406
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

2. Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

... With the ones that have a purpose, it is usually a very profound, easily understood meaning that is developed within them. The quote is taken from Shirley Jackson's, The Lottery, which is one short story the has a very difficult meaning to be understood . From this one quote alone, a person should be able ... identified as Marxist because of the way the social order and ideology are essentially capitalist (Kosenko 2). Critics have also identified The Lottery as an allegory(Shirley Jackson 3). An allegory is the representation of a subject in a story, play, or picture, using the people o...

  • Word Count: 1660
  • Approx Pages: 7
  • Grade Level: High School

3. Irony in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

... shows irony in the names of the characters, and where and when it takes place. Lastly, the words spoken by the characters throughout the story, proves, that Shirley Jackson was using irony. Jackson emphasizes the use of irony and this affects the way the message is sent. Throughout the story, most acts of the characters are packed with irony. Although the title " ... ironic because given the size of the town it is very surprisingly no one has a problem with stoning another human being in such a close community. The last type of irony Shirley Jackson uses throughout this story is ver...

  • Word Count: 1411
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

4. Outrage and Confusion - Shirley Jackon's The Lottery

... is a horrifying but exciting short story written a few years after World War II. When the story was first published in 1948, the initial responses from the readers were shocking to Shirley Jackson. The readers were outraged and confused, and wanted answers fast. Miriam Friend was a frequent reader of the New Yorker wrote a letter to the editor, "I frankly confess to being completely baffled ... by Shirley Jackson's "˜The Lottery," will you please send us a brief explanation before my husband and I scratch right through our scalps trying to fathom it?" This was one of the many irritated...

  • Word Count: 827
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

5. Resisting Change in The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

... lack the ability to step forward and speak their mind because of traditions that are carried out. In the short story "The Lottery," Shirley Jackson uses characterization and symbolism to emphasize that tradition is resistant to change. Followers continue to follow and changes are not made, which illustrates a theme ... . Mr. Summers was committed to keeping a tradition, for he was head of the lottery and other organizations throughout his small community. Shirley Jackson writes, "It had a black spot on it, the black spot Mr. Summers had made the night before with the heavy pencil in the ....

  • Word Count: 1068
  • Approx Pages: 4
  • Grade Level: High School

6. The Lottery by Shirley Jackson

... toward Tessie, who stands in the middle of a cleared crowd. Tessie says it's not fair and is hit in the head with a stone. In Shirley Jackson's short story "The Lottery" she has many different ways of showing irony. Shown in which the setting of the story takes place in, ... Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones" (Jackson, Pg. 1). The boys are collecting rocks which is seen typically as innocent play for kids, however they are collecting these rocks for later that day ... the...

  • Word Count: 1400
  • Approx Pages: 6
  • Grade Level: High School

7. Edgar Allen Poe and Shirley Jackson's Use of Foreshadowing a

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 ... be missed." Although this is also sarcasm, this is foreshadowing again the death by revealing that he will be missed because he will not be coming back. 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 ... her husband along to get up a...

  • Word Count: 833
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Grade Level: High School

8. Symbolism in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

... families gather for the yearly event to draw and see who will be randomly chosen to be violently stoned to death by friends and family. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism in names, objects and even the setting to obscure the meaning and the purpose of the lottery. Furthermore, I will interpret and ... explain what I believe those names and symbols signify. The names of each character hold a significant meaning to the plot of the story. Jackson uses symbolic meaning in the names of her characters to indicate and foreshadow what is to come, after the lottery has been conducted and a winner .....

  • Word Count: 686
  • Approx Pages: 3
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

9. Symbolism in Shirley Jackson's The Lottery

... a resolution through majority voting is democratic, but does it mean the result must be correct? The short story The Lottery by Shirley Jackson was published in 1948, three years after ending the World War II. It's like a strong wind triggered a flurry in the ... solstice. The date, June 27th indicates the lottery activity is derived from some primitive sacrificial ceremonies. Ah I see, you did explain. Good! Then, Jackson directly introduces the duration of the lottery. "there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery [takes] less than two hours, so it ... 139), he said "...

  • Word Count: 2165
  • Approx Pages: 9
  • Has Bibliography
  • Grade Level: High School

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