The possibility of evil

a) TITLE AND AUTHOR of the story

-The possibility of evil, written by Shirley Jackson

b) BIOGRAPHY of the author


-She was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1919 and died on August 8, 1965. Shirley Jackson graduated from Syracuse University in 1940 and during her life, wrote short stories, novels and children's stories. Her most famous book is "The Lottery".


c) SYMBOL: Find a picture or artwork to post with the story that symbolizes something in the story. Explain what the picture symbolizes at the top of the post.

e) CRITICAL THINKING: For each of the stories, meet with a group of classmates and together share your answers to the following questions. After meeting with your group, post your responses (one word answers are not appropriate – explain all your responses).

i) Why do you think the author wrote the text?

-To show how spreading rumours most of the time can come back and haunt you

ii) What does the author want you to think?

-I believe she wants me to think about the consequences of spreading rumours and how it can affect the general public.

iii) Do you belong to any of the groups in the text?

-Not that I can think of.

iv) Does the story remind you of a real-life event (your own or others)?

-In grade three when the anonymous letters in my desk started :D

v) Does the story remind you of another book or movie on a similar topic?

-A childrens book (Can't remember the name), on not spreading rumours.

vi) How does the story help you think about social issues and social justice?

-Rumors can tear apart a town unless they're prevented.

vii) What action might you take from what you have learned?

-Think twice about talking behind someone's back because it can come back and haunt you.

viii) What big question has this text left you with?

-How would the other person feel, if they knew what you were saying?

1. What is Miss Strangeworth trying to accomplish by sending out her letters? Does she succeed? Discuss.

I think she created more panic in the neighbor hood, sure she meant good but it didn't work out very well.

2. How would you describe the story's atmosphere at the beginning? How does this atmosphere help to emphasize the ending?

She is very proud of her roses, and someone decides to ruin them after they found out about the letters

3. Why don't the people ignore the letters they recieve? If you recieved one of Miss Strangeworth's letters, what would you do? Write your response and share it.

-I would find who sent it, and if that wasn't possible I'd try and ignore it. Unless it bothered me alot, In that case I would probably tell the police.

4. What are two interpretations you could give to the story's title? Share your ideas.

-A story about somethign evil waiting to happen
-A town with a criminal in it

5. What do you think this story is saying about crime and criminals? Do you agree? Discuss, giving examples to support your opinion.

- think it is saying that criminals need ot be arrested and taken care of. I agree that Ms Strangeworth needed to be punished because what she was doing wasn't right and was none of her business

6. Consider both Miss Strangeworth's anxiety about evil and the final crime story. Do you think human beings will ever create a society that is crime-free? Comment

-Human beings have flaws and that's part of why we grow as a race. Without flaws, we wouldnt learn anything new or have anything to improve.