'The Lottery' by Robert Service
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Lyrics of a Low Brow"Young fellow, listen to a friend:
Beware of wedlock - 'tis a gamble,
It's MAN who holds the losing end
In every matrimonial scramble.""Young lady, marriage mostly is
A cruel cross of hope's concealing.
A rarity is wedded bliss
And WOMAN gets the dirty dealing.". . . Such my advice to man and maid,
But though they harken few will take it.
The parson plies his merry trade
The marriage seems much what you make it.If Pa or Ma had counsel sought
Of me whose locks today are hoary,
And feared to tie the nuptial knot -
Would I be here to tell the story?Nay, lad and lass, don't flout romance,
Nor heed this cynical old sinner;
Like bold Columbus take a chance,
And may your number be a winner.Far be it from me to advise,
But in the marital relation
The safest bet is Compromise
And Mutual Consideration.
Editor 1 Interpretation
The Lottery by Robert Service: An Analysis
When one thinks of poetry, one often imagines flowery language and romantic themes. However, not all poems fit this mold. Robert Service's "The Lottery" is a prime example of a poem that breaks the traditional poetic conventions. The poem is a dark and chilling tale of a small town's annual lottery, where the winner is met with a gruesome fate. In this analysis, we will explore the themes and literary devices used in "The Lottery" and examine how they contribute to the poem's overall impact.
Overview of the Poem
"The Lottery" is a narrative poem that tells the story of a small town's annual lottery. The poem begins with the townspeople gathering for the lottery, with the children playing and the adults talking nervously. The names of the townspeople are called out, with the winning family being revealed as the Hutchinsons. Tessie Hutchinson, the wife of the winning family, protests and claims that the lottery was not fair. However, the townspeople ignore her objections and proceed to stone her to death.
Theme: The Dangers of Blindly Following Tradition
The main theme of "The Lottery" is the dangers of blindly following tradition. The lottery is presented as an annual event that the townspeople have been participating in for years without questioning its purpose. The fact that the townspeople continue to blindly follow the lottery, even though it involves the stoning of one of their own, highlights the dangers of blindly following tradition without questioning its purpose.
Service uses the character of Tessie Hutchinson to represent the danger of blindly following tradition. Tessie protests the lottery, claiming that it was not fair. However, the townspeople ignore her objections and proceed with the stoning. This highlights the danger of blindly following tradition, as Tessie's objections were dismissed simply because they went against the norm.
Literary Devices: Foreshadowing and Irony
Service uses foreshadowing to build tension throughout the poem. The children playing and the adults talking nervously at the beginning of the poem foreshadow the dark events that are about to occur. The fact that the townspeople begin to gather stones before the winner of the lottery is even announced is another example of foreshadowing.
Service also uses irony in "The Lottery". The fact that the lottery is presented as a celebration, with the townspeople gathering together to participate in a festive event, is ironic considering the brutal nature of the event. The fact that the event is called a lottery is also ironic, as a lottery is typically associated with a prize, while in this case, the "winner" is met with a gruesome fate.
Poetic Techniques: Rhythm, Rhyme and Repetition
Service uses a variety of poetic techniques to create a sense of rhythm and rhyme throughout the poem. The poem is written in iambic tetrameter, with four beats per line. This creates a sense of rhythm throughout the poem, with each line flowing smoothly into the next.
Service also uses a lot of repetition in "The Lottery". The phrase "All the people" is repeated throughout the poem, emphasizing the sense of community and tradition that is present in the town. The repeated use of the phrase "stone them" also creates a sense of foreboding, as it foreshadows the violent nature of the lottery.
Mood: Dark and Chilling
The mood of "The Lottery" is dark and chilling. Service creates a sense of tension throughout the poem, building up to the climactic stoning of Tessie Hutchinson. The fact that the townspeople are willing to stone one of their own to death, and that they do so with such cold efficiency, creates a sense of horror and disgust.
Conclusion
"The Lottery" is a powerful poem that highlights the dangers of blindly following tradition. Service uses literary devices such as foreshadowing and irony, as well as poetic techniques such as rhythm and repetition, to create a sense of tension and foreboding throughout the poem. The dark and chilling mood of the poem, combined with the brutal nature of the lottery, makes "The Lottery" a thought-provoking and haunting piece of literature.
Editor 2 Analysis and Explanation
The Lottery: A Poem of Fate and Chance
Robert Service's "The Lottery" is a classic poem that explores the themes of fate and chance. The poem is set in a small town where the residents gather every year for a lottery. The winner of the lottery is chosen by chance, and the prize is not what one would expect. The poem is a commentary on the nature of fate and the role of chance in our lives.
The poem begins with a description of the town and its residents. The town is small and isolated, and the people are simple and superstitious. They gather every year for the lottery, which is a tradition that has been passed down for generations. The lottery is a source of excitement and anticipation for the residents, but it is also a source of fear and dread.
The poem then introduces the character of Old Man Warner, who is the oldest resident of the town. Old Man Warner is a staunch supporter of the lottery and believes that it is necessary for the survival of the town. He is dismissive of those who question the lottery and warns them of the consequences of not participating.
The poem then describes the process of the lottery. The names of all the residents are placed in a box, and one name is chosen at random. The winner of the lottery is then stoned to death by the other residents. The poem does not explain why the winner is stoned to death, but it is implied that it is a sacrifice to ensure the prosperity of the town.
The poem then focuses on the character of Tessie Hutchinson, who is chosen as the winner of the lottery. Tessie is initially excited to have won, but her excitement quickly turns to fear when she realizes the true nature of the prize. She pleads with the other residents to spare her life, but they are unmoved by her pleas.
The poem ends with the stoning of Tessie and the return of the residents to their daily lives. The poem does not offer any explanation or justification for the lottery, leaving the reader to draw their own conclusions.
The poem is a powerful commentary on the nature of fate and the role of chance in our lives. The residents of the town believe that the lottery is necessary for their survival, but they do not question why it is necessary. They accept their fate without question, even when it means sacrificing one of their own.
The character of Old Man Warner represents the traditionalist view of fate. He believes that the lottery is necessary because it has always been done that way. He is dismissive of those who question the lottery and warns them of the consequences of not participating. He represents the idea that fate is predetermined and cannot be changed.
The character of Tessie Hutchinson represents the opposing view of fate. She believes that she can control her own destiny and pleads with the other residents to spare her life. She represents the idea that fate is not predetermined and that we have the power to shape our own lives.
The poem also explores the role of chance in our lives. The winner of the lottery is chosen by chance, and the residents have no control over who is chosen. The poem suggests that chance plays a significant role in our lives and that we must accept the consequences of our actions, even if they are determined by chance.
In conclusion, Robert Service's "The Lottery" is a powerful poem that explores the themes of fate and chance. The poem is a commentary on the nature of fate and the role of chance in our lives. The poem suggests that we must accept our fate, even if it means sacrificing one of our own. The poem also suggests that chance plays a significant role in our lives and that we must accept the consequences of our actions, even if they are determined by chance. The poem is a timeless classic that continues to resonate with readers today.
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