Seven Types of Ambiguity Shirley Jackson Focus Identify

Seven Types of Ambiguity Shirley Jackson

Focus: • Identify connotative and denotative word use • Determine what is expressly stated versus what is inferred to determine point of view – Point of view is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation.

Shirley Jackson 1919 - 1965

Her Life • Shirley was born in San Francisco, California • She preferred to write, rather than socialize • Shirley often felt that she was an outcast, something later reflected in her work

• Jackson attended college, majoring in journalism and English • Her work was published in college magazines, and she met her future husband, Stanley Hyman, as her editor • The Hymans lived in Vermont, and raised four children

Her Work • Jackson was a diligent writer, devoting long hours to her work • In addition to her serious, even frightening horror stories, Jackson wrote humorous stories about married life and raising children • Jackson died suddenly of a heart attack

Seven Types of Ambiguity, page 85 About the story…

Point of View • The four characters in the story can be viewed from different perspectives, as though they have two sides to their personalities – the one they want you to see, and the one that is real • The title of the book in the story is a real text that discusses the concept of reading works very carefully to see what a deeper meaning may be • Ambiguity: doubtfulness of uncertainty of meaning; the state of being open to various interpretations

Class Work • Read the story • Complete Literary Critique, page 90, #s 1 -12, with a partner • Go through the story again, looking for words or phrases that express the two sides of the main characters – This is a form of close reading, looking for denotative and connotative meaning • Complete the Point of View worksheet