The Lottery, Unveiling the SecretsAmong the many intriguing varieties of literary methods used to write most short stories, the author of The Lottery, Shirley Jackson, uses symbolism, allegory and plot to bring out this story. Among the many methods of literary writing, Jackson used symbolism and allegory to his advantage. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary classifies symbolism as "the particular idea or quality expressed by a symbol" and allegory as "a story in which the characters and events are symbols that represent ideas about human life or a political or historical situation. . Jackson also organizes his story with a broad and striking message, which surprises the reader. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary also lists Plot as "a series of events that form the story of a novel, film, etc." » The combination of these methods helps the reader understand the story, its meaning and significance. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism, allegory, and intrigue to illustrate a theme of true human nature in The Lottery. Symbolism plays an important role, represented in The Lottery by people and objects. For example, the meaning of the black box in the story is profound but simple. It is important to note here that the box is noted in history as aged, neglected and the black paint has faded. Because of these features and the allusion that the box was built with the remains of ships from the past, it represents a lot. It is noted in literary criticism that, as a complete unit, the box represents tradition, which has become cumbersome, meaningless, and indefensible. In addition to this, other sources of symbolism exist in children's names. While the area of ​​symbolism is explored, it... middle of paper ... nearly seven decades ago, many questions are still relevant today. Many people still hate literature and other media that paint a clear picture of society. Taken together, The Lottery is a very simple, yet multi-faceted selection of literature that has much to offer society. Works Cited Du Bose, Thomas. “The Lottery”. Masterplots, fourth edition (2010): 1-3. Literary Reference Center Plus. Internet. February 25, 2014. Evans, Robert C. “The Lottery.” Short Fiction: A Critical Companion (1997): 112-119. Literary Reference Center Plus. Internet. February 25, 2014. Kirszner, Laurie G. and Stephen R. Mandell. “Symbol, allegory and myth.” Compact literature. Eighth edition ed. Boston: Wadsworth, 2013. 403-408, 415-420. Print. Nebeker, Helen E. "The Lottery: Symbolic Tour De Force." American Literature 46.1 (1974): 100. Literary Reference Center Plus. Web. February 25. 2014.