| Name: | Description: | Size: | Format: | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220.27 KB | Adobe PDF |
Authors
Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) é uma das mais célebres autoras norte-americanas nos géneros
do mistério e do terror. Dentre os duzentos contos que escreveu, “The Lottery” (1948)
constitui a sua narrativa mais antologiada e dileta. No presente artigo, abordo um aspeto
crucial para o êxito de “The Lottery”: o mistério. Começo por definir brevemente este
conceito, recorrendo à Narratologia e aos estudos de Escrita Criativa. Em seguida, analiso o
conto passo a passo, num espírito de “close reading”, com o objetivo de detetar as principais
técnicas utilizadas pela autora para urdir o mistério: a) pistas intrigantes; b) prolongamento
do suspense até ao clímax; c) reviravolta final chocante. Para tanto, recorro à referida
narrativa e ao texto “Biography of a Story”, onde Jackson reflete sobre a génese e receção de
“The Lottery”, a ensaios de especialistas nas áreas da Literatura e da Escrita Criativa,
nomeadamente Harold Bloom, David Lodge e Nigel Watts, e, naturalmente, à minha
opinião.
Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) is one of the most celebrated North American writers, in the genres of mystery and terror. Amongst the two hundred short stories she wrote, “The Lottery” (1948) constitutes her most anthologized and beloved narrative. In this article, I examine a crucial aspect to the success of “The Lottery”: mystery. I begin by briefly defining this concept, resorting to Narratology and to Creative Writing studies. Then, I analyze the story, step by step, in a close reading, to detect the main techniques used by the author to build mystery: a) intriguing clues; b) crescendo of suspense up to the climax; c) shocking final twist. To do so, I resort to the above-mentioned narrative and to the text “Biography of a Story”, where Jackson reflects upon the genesis and reception of “The Lottery”, to essays by several specialists in the fields of Literature and Creative Writing, namely Harold Bloom, David Lodge and Nigel Watts, and, naturally, to my opinion.
Shirley Jackson (1916-1965) is one of the most celebrated North American writers, in the genres of mystery and terror. Amongst the two hundred short stories she wrote, “The Lottery” (1948) constitutes her most anthologized and beloved narrative. In this article, I examine a crucial aspect to the success of “The Lottery”: mystery. I begin by briefly defining this concept, resorting to Narratology and to Creative Writing studies. Then, I analyze the story, step by step, in a close reading, to detect the main techniques used by the author to build mystery: a) intriguing clues; b) crescendo of suspense up to the climax; c) shocking final twist. To do so, I resort to the above-mentioned narrative and to the text “Biography of a Story”, where Jackson reflects upon the genesis and reception of “The Lottery”, to essays by several specialists in the fields of Literature and Creative Writing, namely Harold Bloom, David Lodge and Nigel Watts, and, naturally, to my opinion.
Description
Keywords
Escrita criativa Shirley Jackson Técnicas de mistério The Lottery Creative writing Mystery techniques
Citation
Publisher
Instituto Superior de Administração e Contabilidade do Porto