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Successful Surprises in Literature

            In the short stories "Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge," by Ambrose Bierce and "The Lottery," by Shirley Jackson, the authors left their audience in shock and awe. These authors were successful in their surprise endings because of the unique arrangement of the story; they carefully set up subtle clues, and told the reader everything they needed to know at the end of the story. .
             The authors of "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" and "The Lottery" did an astounding job at keeping the audience from guessing what the ending will be by writing the story in such a way that almost distracts the reader from the true outcome. For example "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" was written in anachronic order starting off by telling a story during the civil war era about how a man is about to be hanged. Then the story then changes direction by introducing that man as Peyton Farquhar and finally telling the audience about his untimely death. All the while in the mix throwing in a daydream by the main character that leads the reader to believe that Farquhar has made an escape.
             If Ambrose Bierce were to tell the story in chronological order the audience would have caught on to what was happening a lot quicker. The element that helps the plot of the story "The Lottery" become so effective is the author withheld what the lottery really was until later in the story. The beginning of the story starts out as a normal day the villagers at time square waiting to get the lottery over so they can get back to their daily activities. "In some towns there were so many people that the lottery took two days and had to be started on June 2nd. but in this village, where there were only about three hundred people, the whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner.


Essays Related to Successful Surprises in Literature

1. The Reflection of Virginia Woo

Weeks before, Woolf her brother Adrian and friend Duncan Grant began to spread a rumor that a diplomatic party from Ethiopia would be giving England a surprise visit in the near future. ... Woolf, her brother Adrian and friend Duncan Grant created a successful hoax that embarrassed the Admiralty and the officers in charge of the British Home Fleet by demonstrating their vulnerability and ignorance. ... Both would go on to fulfill their dream, Woolf, becoming one of the pioneers of the modernist movement in literature. ... In literature the deepest influence of psychology on the modern no...

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2. John Steinbeck

He continued his successful work with In Dubious Battle (1936) and Of Mice And Men (1937). ... Steinbeck also wrote successful films like Forgotten Village in 1941 and Viva Zapata in 1952. ... Being such a prestigious writer Steinbeck won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1962 and the U.S. ... John Steinbeck's life was a box full of surprises. ... To the day of his death John Steinbeck was known as an exceptional literature writer. ...

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3. Is "The Modest Proposal" a successful piece of writing?

The term satire, which is more easily recognised than defined, commonly refers to a specific genre or simply a style or tone in literature that employs wit to point out, in a mocking or humorous manner, the maliciousness of individuals, groups, or even the whole of mankind, usually in order to prompt a response. ... I believe that Swift's "The Modest Proposal" is an extremely successful piece of writing. ... The essay progresses through a series of surprises that first shocks the reader and then causes him/her to think critically not only about policies, but also about motivations and ...

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writing is like a Christmas present from your grandmother: it's a guaranteed surprise. ... Now, just because it's a surprise doesn't mean that it isn't good. And, just because it's a surprise doesn't mean it isn't an accident either. ... No person becomes successful by being "normal" or ordinary. ... Not only in writing or literature, but in every facet of life. ...

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5. The Great Gatsby

When asked to review yet another summer literature selection, I prepared myself for a long, dull read. ... Scott Fitzgerald, I was pleasantly surprised and I could not put the novel down. ... Although it was not completely successful immediately, it is now accepted universally as a superb piece of literature with a lesson for everyone who reads it. ... Almost every successful piece of literature has themes and lessons that the author hopes the readers will obtain. ... The excerpt I've selected for the literature anthology is page 180 through page 183. ...

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6. Babylon Revisited

(p. 1658, The Norton Anthology of American Literature; Volume D) This title alone informs the reader of the lifestyle lead by Charles J. ... The Review of the Literature Charles J. ... His friend's Lorraine and Dunc are surprised to see him and to see him sober at that. ... She is successful in school and is in a household where she is loved. ... He has manage to become successful again and now knows how quickly something becomes nothing. ...

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7. Androgynous Writing

A mind capable of reaching mutually to an audience diversified in gender will serve for a much more successful career in writing. ... It then comes to no surprise that female authors have continually had to endure the biased judgment of their male critics. Throughout the entire life of English literature, sexism has suppressed the works of women as it still somewhat apparent today. ... Proof of literature's continual acclimation towards women writers? ... The notion of gender equity in literature is being achieved through sacrifices on the authors? ...

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8. Anxiety and Graduate Programs

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9. AMERICAN CULTURE 1945-Present

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