Question

Why might Shirley Jackson’s short story "The Lottery" have beenunpopular with so many readers when it was first published in the New Yorker in 1948? Select all answers that apply.The use of an idyllic rural setting in a small village juxtaposed with ruthless violence was unsettling to many people.
1)The use of an idyllic rural setting in a small village juxtaposed with ruthless violence was unsettling to many people.
2)Many people believed that Shirley Jackson was not a good writer.
3)The notion that violence and brutality are permissible if they are part of a long-standing tradition was unsettling and even offensive to many people.
4)Most people in New York were not fans of short stories as they preferred to read novels.
5)The idea that a woman could actually be killed was unbelievable and outrageous in 1948.

Answer 1

The answer to why might Shirley Jackson’s short story "The Lottery" have been unpopular with so many readers when it was first published in the New Yorker in 1948 is 3)The notion that violence and brutality are permissible if they are part of a long-standing tradition was unsettling and even offensive to many people.

Answer 2

The best answer is 3) The notion that violence and brutality are permissible if they are part of a long-standing tradition was unsettling and even offensive to many people.

Many could not understand how regularly stoning someone to death could become an acceptable part of society. Many found this to be a horror story and argued that it was illogical or sickening to read.