Shirley tends to draw on significant events and turning points in her life. She might also express her inner thoughts and struggles through the characters and plots in her short stories.
Shirley Jackson's personal experiences and emotions often found their way into her stories. Her upbringing, relationships, and the societal context she lived in influenced the themes and characters she created.
Shirley Jackson creates suspense by withholding information. In 'The Haunting of Hill House', she doesn't immediately tell the readers what exactly is haunting the house. She gives small hints and strange occurrences, which keeps the readers guessing. Also, her use of unreliable narrators, like in some of her other stories, adds to the suspense. We are never quite sure if what the narrator is telling us is the whole truth or if there are hidden secrets they are unaware of or deliberately hiding.
Shirley Jackson creates horror by playing with the psychological state of her characters. In 'The Haunting of Hill House', she makes the characters' fears and insecurities palpable, and then adds the unknown elements of the haunted house. The readers can feel the horror through the characters' experiences. Also, she uses the setting effectively. The small - town setting in 'The Lottery' which seems so normal at first, but then reveals its dark side.
Some of Shirley Jackson's short stories like 'The Lottery' are believed to draw elements from her personal experiences and observations of society.
Alice Sebold is deeply connected to her novel as she pours her creativity and experiences into it. Her thoughts, emotions, and worldview often shape the story and characters.
She often uses psychological elements. For example, in 'The Haunting of Hill House', she plays with the characters' fears and insecurities. The uncertainty about what is really happening in the house is a big part of the horror.
Alice Sebold is deeply connected to her novel as the creator. Her life experiences and imagination shape the story and characters.
Some of Shirley Jackson's works, like 'The Lottery,' might have elements that reflect her own experiences or inner thoughts. But it's not always straightforward to determine exactly which ones closely mirror her life.
It provides a deeper understanding. A Jane Austen education helps you grasp the social and cultural contexts in her novels, enhancing your appreciation of the stories.
She describes her life as a difficult journey, like climbing a staircase. It's not an easy staircase, with tacks and splinters and boards torn up. This shows that her life has been full of hardships and obstacles.