The Possibility of Evil
By: Shirley Jackson
About The Author
• Born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916
• She was enrolled in Syracuse University in 1937, where she published her first story, “Janice."
• Shirley Jackson married a young aspiring literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman after her first story
• Her first novel, The Road Through The Wall, was published in 1948
• In the same year of 1948, The New Yorker published Jackson’s iconic story, “The Lottery,” which generated the largest volume of mail ever received by the magazine
- published in dozens of language
- required reading in U.S. high schools
Source:
http://shirleyjackson.org
• She was enrolled in Syracuse University in 1937, where she published her first story, “Janice."
• Shirley Jackson married a young aspiring literary critic Stanley Edgar Hyman after her first story
• Her first novel, The Road Through The Wall, was published in 1948
• In the same year of 1948, The New Yorker published Jackson’s iconic story, “The Lottery,” which generated the largest volume of mail ever received by the magazine
- published in dozens of language
- required reading in U.S. high schools
Source:
http://shirleyjackson.org
Pre-reading Reflection
How do you define "evil"?
How I would define evil is the wickedness or depravity in a person, place, or thing.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
Ask an adult for assistance for reassurance to stop the evil-doing.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People gossip mainly to builds social bonds because shared dislikes create stronger bonds than shared positives.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
"Stop gossiping please or i'll tell on you."
How I would define evil is the wickedness or depravity in a person, place, or thing.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
Ask an adult for assistance for reassurance to stop the evil-doing.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People gossip mainly to builds social bonds because shared dislikes create stronger bonds than shared positives.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
"Stop gossiping please or i'll tell on you."
Vocabulary
Infatuated: The term infatuated can be defined as to be inspired or admiration for as used in the sentence,"Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and lace-edged carriage cover." (p. 28)
Indulgently: The term indulgent can be define as indicating tendency of generosity or lenience as used in the sentence, "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and lace-edged carriage cover." (p. 28)
Negotiable: The term negotiable, can be defined as to comprise or agree as used in the sentence, "Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts;her letter all dealt with negotiable stuff or suspicion." (p. 32)
Degraded: The term degraded can be defined as treated with disrespect as used in the sentence "The town where she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded, and needed to be watched; the world was so large, and there was only one Strangeworth left in it. (p.33)
Proverbial: the term proverbial can be defined as well-known or stereotypical as used in the sentence, "After her dishes were done and her kitchen set in order, she took up her hat—Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town; people believed that she had inherited them from her mother and her grandmother-and, locking the front door of her house behind her, set off on her evening walk, pocketbook under her arm." (p. 34)
Unduly: the term unduly can be defined as immoderately or excessively as used in the sentence, ". She did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly or longing to laugh at her, it would have been most reprehensible for their parents to permit their children to mock Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street."(p. 35)
Potential: the term potentail can be defined as showing the capacity to become or develop into something as used in the sentence, "She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service in wiping out this potential badness." (p. 36)
Indulgently: The term indulgent can be define as indicating tendency of generosity or lenience as used in the sentence, "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and lace-edged carriage cover." (p. 28)
Negotiable: The term negotiable, can be defined as to comprise or agree as used in the sentence, "Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts;her letter all dealt with negotiable stuff or suspicion." (p. 32)
Degraded: The term degraded can be defined as treated with disrespect as used in the sentence "The town where she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded, and needed to be watched; the world was so large, and there was only one Strangeworth left in it. (p.33)
Proverbial: the term proverbial can be defined as well-known or stereotypical as used in the sentence, "After her dishes were done and her kitchen set in order, she took up her hat—Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town; people believed that she had inherited them from her mother and her grandmother-and, locking the front door of her house behind her, set off on her evening walk, pocketbook under her arm." (p. 34)
Unduly: the term unduly can be defined as immoderately or excessively as used in the sentence, ". She did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly or longing to laugh at her, it would have been most reprehensible for their parents to permit their children to mock Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street."(p. 35)
Potential: the term potentail can be defined as showing the capacity to become or develop into something as used in the sentence, "She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service in wiping out this potential badness." (p. 36)
Contrasting Ideas
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