We were all bored with nothing to do, and were simply joking with each other while enjoying the warm sunny day. ... My friends started to joke about him, and even though he was still far away they began to make jokes about his appearance. As I was caught up in the moment, and probably due to the fact that I was seeking acceptance from my friends, I too started to make jokes about John's appearance. ... I drew a deep breath into my lungs and was about to yell out a cruel joke about the size of John's nose before I caught myself. ...

• Word Count: 1058
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

As a non-native English speaker I could laugh about an overweight, oversexed representative of Britain in Africa (yes, in the few moments I understood the subtle jokes and satirical situations). ... This book is funny, but it's not always easy to get the joke. ...

• Word Count: 420
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: Undergraduate

One can argue that in the short story, A&P, John Updike uses foreshadowing to hint towards the fact that it's expected for Sammy, the main character or protagonist, to quit his job by the end of the story. After re-reading the story for a second time one can pick up subtle hints and clues that indic...

• Word Count: 590
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

"They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed" (1). ... "Bad enough to see young Joe Summers up there joking with everybody." ...

• Word Count: 822
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Fortunato seems like someone who is, at times, cheeky and likes to joke around but Montresor has had enough with him. ... Here, Montresor is telling of how he used to smile bravely when Fortunato told his jokes but now he is the one smiling as he plans to kill the jester. ...

• Word Count: 750
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The short story "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson, raises many questions towards the destructive rituals of mankind. Symbolism plays an important role throughout the whole story. The story takes a deeper look at human nature by displaying at least three typical attitudes of man while living and inte...

• Word Count: 1301
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Irony is "the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect" (Google, Definitions). The Lottery takes place on a warm summer's day in June. There are only 300 people in the village, so the lottery takes only two hours. T...

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

Short stories can often capture a reader through a pre-establish design of elements meant to create an emotional impact. In "The Lottery," Shirley Jackson describes a shocking event where a person from town is chosen randomly to be stoned to death. The reactions and attitudes of the characters, the ...

• Word Count: 654
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a story about people who simply follow along without questioning, like sheep to a slaughter. The story is very ironic, and instances of foreshadowing are present throughout the story. Irony is an unexpected twist in the story. Irony is often achieved ...

• Word Count: 648
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Unable to Cope in Erdrich's "The Red Convertible" In the short story "The Red Convertible" Louise Erdrich writes about two brothers who were Chippewa Indians, living on a reservation in the 1970's. Lyman, the youngest brother, reveals how an event in his older brothers life, Henry's, turned him...

• Word Count: 663
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Writer's Craft: The Use of Symbolism Writers often use different literary techniques in order to bring greater understanding and reveal some truth about a character to the reader. One of these techniques is the usage of symbolism. A symbol is something that means more than what it is; it has a ...

• Word Count: 855
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Also the other hint in the story is this part concerning the women: "They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed". ...

• Word Count: 797
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

"Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" (293). "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson is a short story, written in 1948 and takes place in a small town, on June 27th. Every year, a lottery occurs in the which each family of the town participates. The family who is chosen has to repeat the lottery again and ...

• Word Count: 705
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

"The Outcasts of Poker Flat" is a masterpiece short story by Francis Bret Harte. The story is drawn with ordinary images, but it contains a lot of hidden feelings and inner thoughts through the characters' actions. John Oakhurst is a gambler who often wins money in playing cards with people in Poker...

• Word Count: 1328
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

"Don't ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you"ll start missing everybody" (Salinger 214). That quote from the main character in The Catcher in the Rye is very much like something the author, J.D. Salinger would say. J.D. Salinger, drawing from his own personal experiences, wrote the controver...

• Word Count: 1119
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

In The Lottery Shirley Jackson uses subtle foreshadowing to hint at the shocking ending without giving the reader a clear idea of what is going to occur. Throughout the story the reader is made to feel increasingly uncomfortable by bring the events to a head. At the beginning of the story a prett...

• Word Count: 1119
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

Kurt Vonnegut, JR's Unshackled Mind Throughout the given Kurt Vonnegut stories, there has been a common, underlying theme. This theme can be found in such short stories as "Report on the Barnhouse Effect," "The Euphio Question," and "Harrison Bergeron." In extremes of bo...

• Word Count: 1252
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Raymond Carver: An Amazing Writing Style, An Amazing Author For most authors, it is traditional to develop some sort of writing style, which they use to write their works. Raymond Carver is an author of xmany short stories. In "A Small, Good Thing," two parents order a birthday cake for their son...

• Word Count: 1227
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

Louise Erdrich's short story "The Red Convertible- tells of how the toils of war transform Henry Junior into a quiet man, and how a red convertible and a loving brother named Lyman can make him want to live life again. Erdrich starts with two brothers who have a carefree summer ahead of them and a ...

• Word Count: 1194
• Approx Pages: 5
• Grade Level: High School

"The Lottery," was published in the New York Yorker on June 29, 1948, by Shirley Jackson. It was the first short story that she wrote that received widespread attention by readers. "The Lottery," is a very twisted story. It's about a town where there is a tradition of a lottery, that decides which ...

• Word Count: 975
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

One could assume that the character is being sincere in her speaking, but just the same the reader can be lead to assume that Tessie was merely joking around and is very eager about the events that are about to take place. ...

• Word Count: 1409
• Approx Pages: 6

In The Lottery Shirley Jackson uses subtle foreshadowing to hint at the shocking ending without giving the reader a clear idea of what is going to occur. Throughout the story the reader is made to feel increasingly uncomfortable by bring the events to a head. At the beginning of the story a prett...

• Word Count: 1053
• Approx Pages: 4
• Grade Level: High School

"Gogol's world is sharply dualistic; there exists two realities-one is the reality of dreams, ideals and the imagination; the other is terrible reality' or terrible life', the Kingdom of the Prince of this world- (K Mochulskiy) Discuss this comment in the context of at least two of the stories st...

• Word Count: 1124
• Approx Pages: 4

One night, Cross dug himself a foxhole in darkness while his soldiers laid waste to rations, an endless amount of jokes, and fresh made memories of Ted Lavender dying just not so long ago and how he fell straight down to the ground without any drama just a fall and he was gone, forever (O' Brien 238). ...

• Word Count: 1571
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

He may be watching what he describes as "cheery and reassuring little streaming flames," but he is getting nervous and he jokes about how he should warn any ghost about tripping over a candle on the floor. ...

• Word Count: 1687
• Approx Pages: 7
• Grade Level: High School