Question

In Shirley Jackson's "The lottery", how does the author use Tessie's late arrival to help create suspense?

A. The reader knows that Tessie is joining the crowd for an important event
B. The reader can infer that the children are excited to see Tessie
C. The reader understands that the townspeople expect her to win the lottery
D. The reader experiences polite chatter between her and the townspeople

Answer 1

A. the reader knows that tessie is joining a crowd for an important event.

Step-by-step explanation:

Answer 2

The correct answer is "A".

It is previously known by the reader that all the villagers in town are gathering together for the traditional lottery which is celebrated every June 27. However, due to the small population in the town (only 300 people), there is an expectation for Tessie's arrival at the event, due to the fact that every resident is expected to participate. This is known when the person responsible for leading the event asks if there is anyone missing and she gets the immediate response that an individual named Dunbar is not there.