What kind of literary criticism best fits Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"?

Answer 1

Well I'm not sure what your ultimate goal is... but being one of the most chilling stories I've ever read, I would go with some form of reader-response criticism. Jackson's goal with the story might have some social commentary, but that seems to take a distant backseat to eliciting a reaction from her readers. Hope that helps.

Answer 2

"The Lottery" disturbed me greatly when i first read it as a pre-teen, and over thee years the short has fallen into critical decline. Your question invites various interpretations,/agendas as such is the state of literary studies, In my opinion the "Lottery" secedes as a short story, and that is what it should be judged. Your best fit, to even posit that question your probably have a more advanced understanding than I, I'm 19th cent. British Lit. ( Old School, no feminist critiques, exposed to comparative lit etc.., and benefit ted ,. i'm textual analysis. ) This question is too cool . too demanding, (for me) What it is not is : Southern Gothic where it sometimes pops up, Emphatically not, does not have the "roots" the structure not there,nor can the feminist s' claim, nor the deconstructionists' . how I think it should be be approached: in the puritanical the Hawthorne school, "The Scarlet Letter" without the provocation. As a short , it holds it's own, arresting well in my day, yes, flawed, yes. If it engages the next generation more power to it. Incidental, Shirley Jackson is/will always be overshadowed by her ex-husband. I guess it's the lottery9.