45 pages • 1 hour read
The Lottery
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ACTIVITY 1: Two-Sentence Horror Stories
After reading “The Lottery,” consider what makes the short story a staple of the horror genre. What is revealed about human nature, including the thematic motifs of The Scapegoat, Small Towns and Small Minds, and The Cruelty of Friends and Family, through the actions of the characters? Follow these steps to write your own horror story, using only two sentences:
- Read this classic example of the two-sentence horror story from Frederic Brown: “The last man on Earth sat alone in a room. There was a knock on the door…” Notice what is clearly stated in this example, as well as what is left for the reader to infer. What makes this very short story so terrifying?
- Brainstorm a list of possible scenarios for your two-sentence horror story. These could be common, everyday situations that reveal a surprising twist in the second sentence. Here are a couple of examples:
- Last night, I called an old friend to congratulate her. It was the ten-year anniversary of her death.
- Tom arrived home after his four-day business trip to Chicago.
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By Shirley Jackson
