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3 examples of irony from the lottery
Example of irony used in the lottery
3 examples of irony from the lottery
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In the story The Most Dangerous Game by Richard Connell, irony plays a big part in establishing the characters and it emphasizes how different General Zaroff and Rainsford are. It also shows how the context may change throughout the story in the sense that the hunters become the hunted and the enemies thrive with each other. It changes Rainsford perception on the animals he has hunted for sport when he quickly becomes the hunted. Overall, the author, Richard Connell uses irony very well to show emphasize different points in the story. One clear example of how the author uses irony in his work is through the conversation between sailor, Whitney and game hunter, Rainford.
The most obvious example of irony in “The Lottery” is in the title of the story itself. When people think about the lottery, it is usually about winning a reward or a prize, and definitely not about being stoned to death. Shirley Jackson’s intention to name the title of this story as “The Lottery”, gives the readers an idea that someone will receive a reward. In fact, at the end of the story, the readers eventually realize that the reward is not what they think it’s going to be but rather a completely opposite thing. The second example of irony is in the setting of the story.
What I learnt from the source was how the lottery doesn’t just use the standardize irony that is generally recognized by the audience. But in particular, Shirley Jackson uses dramatic irony. We are proposed by dramatic irony from the start of story. Before I had even read the story, I assumed that this would be one of those happy/cheesy stories with that amazing “Disney Pixar” ending where everyone lives happy and a good life. And I was yet to be proven wrong when I began reading the story as Shirley Jackson presented the setting as a beautiful day and everything seemed to be going smoothly.
Shirley Jackson in the lottery uses situational irony to get her point across. For example, at the end the Tessie Hutchinson is the winner of the lottery, “‘It isn't fair,’ she said. A stone hit her on the side of the head. Old Man Warner was saying, ‘Come on, come on, everyone’”(Jackson 1).This is situational irony because the reader thinks that the winner of the lottery will get something good
Greed and envy - examples of evil; however, how does evil play a part in fiction? Irony plays an important role in both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson because it helps develop a theme of everyone is capable of committing evil acts. Situational Irony plays an important role as actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected, situational irony can create a plot twist in the story or show how a character handles an unexpected situation. Situational Irony plays a role in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson because the audience expect the lottery to benefit the community and not unravel evil. Shirley Jackson creates a pleasant setting
Saying one thing but meaning another or something happens is the opposite of what is expected. Those two things are both ironies. Throughout the lottery, Jackson uses all three types of irony: situational, verbal and dramatic. Each of these forms of irony plays a part in forming the other literary elements in the story.
In her story “The Lottery”, Shirley Jackson uses irony to develop the central idea is about the ugliness of human nature and people blindly follow the negative consequences of traditional behavior. In the beginning of the story, the author depicts a harmonious atmosphere that the villagers live in peace. But at the end of the story, the author points out a killing to show the human nature. For instant “Mrs. Delacroix said, "You're in time, though. They're still talking away up there."
The irony is made clear toward the end of the story when the reader discovers that winning the lottery results in being stoned to death. This is known as situational irony, when one anticipates something to occur, however, the outcome is completely different. Additionally, the author's word choice demonstrates symbolism. Stoning is a very simple procedure that would end a life in unimaginable pain. Because the stones used to kill the lottery winner symbolize death, death is the central theme of the story.
Irony is often used in literature to illustrate certain situations to the audience. In some pieces of literature that might be pointing out an unjust system, in others that might be to add a comedic effect, but whatever situation the author wants to illustrate, irony is very beneficial. Through small and witty, one-liners, or a bigger dramatic irony situation contrasting two very different situations, irony can be very beneficial for the reader to understand the story. Both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins have a corrupt dystopian society. Through the use of irony, the author can portray the corruptness to the audience.
Just because a tradition has been around for a long time doesn't mean you necessarily have to follow it, especially if you are against the outcome of being chosen. Living in a small village it might be hard to say “no” without getting judged by the other villagers, but at the end of the day you need to think about yourself and how the outcome will end up affecting your life. Shirley Jackson creates a suspenseful and captive story by using irony in “ The Lottery ”. Irony is a technique that involves surprising, interesting,or amusing contradictions or contrast (Teaching...1).
Irony is the most powerful literary device used in the short story, “Harrison Bergeron” by Kurt Vonnegut Jr. First, a good example of irony in the story is “They were burdened with sashweights sand bags of birdshot, and their faces were masked, so that no one, seeing a free and graceful gesture or a pretty face, would feel like something the cat drug in.” (P,2 Line, 11-13) This quote is Ironic as it tells how this system was designed to hide beauty, yet beauty was still shown by the amount of restraints on the person. Second, another good example of irony is, “The spectacles were intended to make him not only half-blind, but to give him whanging headaches besides.
Irony is a technique that involves surprising, interesting, or amusing contradictions or contrasts ( Glossary... Pg 1). The greatest example of irony happens when it turns out Armand is the one that comes from black heritage. He learns this when he “finds a letter from his mom to his father explaining how he is black” turning the main plot of this story around (Chopin... Pg 5)
Lesaux and Harris (2003) examined several researches that focused on English language learners (ELLs) with reading difficulties. At least 80% of teacher referrals for special education are for students that have trouble in reading, which is a huge issue regarding ELL students (Snow et al., 1998, p.40). This is because teacher’s indecisiveness to distinguish younger ELL students who are in danger of reading difficulties, despite proof of risk factors that were determined by using measures for early literacy detection. For instance, ELLs who exhibited shortcoming in sound recognition and structure are unlikely to be associated for being at risk for LD. It is only afterwards when student fail to meet academic expectations are they referred to additional services and special educational services.
Dramatic irony is usually an over the top, tragic form of irony. Both Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” and Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” are great examples of an ironic situation. Every expresses the common theme in their own way. Although both of these literally pieces provide us with the theme of irony, Edgar Allen Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" gives the reader a sense of suspense with the irony that proves to be more effective. Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" emphasizes on how a man’s thoughts and perception can affect oneself and other’s lives.
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson It creates a sense of suspense and shock to everyone who reads it and is considered an all time great. In her story she develops this suspense by the use of irony, imagery, and foreshadowing to develop her theme. One device that Shirley uses in her story is the use of irony.
