The POSSIBILITY of Evil
Shirley jackson
"The Possibility of Evil"
About the Author:
5 facts about the author and how their life personally relates to the story, include image
Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916
Shirley Jackson's view of the world was always a little off center
She had a way of presenting characters and situations that often had a hidden message about the peculiar side of human nature
In "The Possibility of Evil," Shirley Jackson adds on to her view that society is too quick to judge people based upon outward appearances.
Jackson married Stanley Hyman who is a literary critic
Jackson was also well known for her short stories which dealt with family issues, many of which had to do with her own life
Sadly Jackson’s death was due to heart failure
About the Author:
5 facts about the author and how their life personally relates to the story, include image
Shirley Jackson was born in San Francisco on December 14, 1916
Shirley Jackson's view of the world was always a little off center
She had a way of presenting characters and situations that often had a hidden message about the peculiar side of human nature
In "The Possibility of Evil," Shirley Jackson adds on to her view that society is too quick to judge people based upon outward appearances.
Jackson married Stanley Hyman who is a literary critic
Jackson was also well known for her short stories which dealt with family issues, many of which had to do with her own life
Sadly Jackson’s death was due to heart failure
Prereading Reflection:
How do you define "evil"?
I define evil as something that does harm to you physically or mentally.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
The responsibility would be to stop them or tell someone about it to stop them.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People enjoy saying bad things behind peoples backs so they could feel better about themselves.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
To confront them and tell them to knock it off because they could be hurting you and others
Vocabulary in Contex:
Define each term as it is used in the context of the story and include quotes
Infatuated: The definition of infatuated is to be obsessed with "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young, parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." Page 29
Indulgently: The definition of indulgently is to treat yourself "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young, parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." Page 29
Negotiable: The definition of negotiable is to come upon a agreement "Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff sf suspicion." Page 32
Degraded: The definition of degraded is to treat someone with disrespect "The town where she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded, and needed to be watched;the world was so large, and there was only one Strangeworth left in it." Page 33
Proverbial: The definition of proverbial is a idiom "After her dishes were done and her kitchen set in order, she took up her hat--Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town; people believed that she had inherited them from her mother and her grandmother-and, locking the front door of her house behind her, set off on her evening walk, pocketbook under her arm." Page 34
Unduly: The definition of unduly is unwarranted, not justified "She did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly or longing to laugh at her; it would have been most reprehensible for their parents to permit their children to mock Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street." Page 35
Potential: The definition of potential is a talent that isn't unlocked yet "She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service in wiping out his potential." Page 36
Provide at least 5 examples from the story to support each idea Miss Strangeworth seems EVIL
Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she sends the letters. The text states that she wrights the letters anonymously so the people wont now and then she wrights evil things about them
She seems evil when she lies to peoples faces. The story tells us that she is nice when she talks to people but she doesnt care about them and wrights mean letters about them
She seems evil when she wont let the tourist take her roses. They are just flowers but to her they are more and she cant share them she is greedy
She seems evil when she feels that the town should have a statue of her grandfather. From the text we learn that she feels he deserves it more because he built the first house instead of the person who is getting the statue
Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she only pretends to think the baby is fine. The story tells us she then sends a letter saying the baby is stupid
Miss Strangeworth DOES NOT SEEM EVIL
Miss Strangeworth does not seem evil when she shows sympathy to Mr. Lewis when he seems off. The story states that she wonders why he isn't doing well and shows sympathy towards him
She does not seem evil when she talks face to face with people. The story tells us that when she sees Mrs. Harper she worries about her health showing that she truly isnt evil because she shows sympathy
She does not seem evil when she welcomes tourist to see her roses and house. The story states that she is proud of her roses and just wants to show others there is nothing wrong with that
She does not seem evil because she is older and tends roses. When people encounter older people there first guess isn't that they are evil they think all old people are kind. Also the story starts of saying that she would act like a kind person and talk about her family history and roses
Miss Strangeworth does not seem evil when she cries when she hears that someone ruined her roses. As stated in the story she loved those roses and tended them like her mother and grandmother did. She does not seem evil because it makes you feel sympathetic for her because a old lady who is evil lost the one thing she loved, her roses
How do you define "evil"?
I define evil as something that does harm to you physically or mentally.
If you suspect that someone is going to do something evil, what responsibility do you have to prevent it?
The responsibility would be to stop them or tell someone about it to stop them.
Why do people sometimes enjoy saying bad things behind other people's backs?
People enjoy saying bad things behind peoples backs so they could feel better about themselves.
What's the best way to respond to a person who does this?
To confront them and tell them to knock it off because they could be hurting you and others
Vocabulary in Contex:
Define each term as it is used in the context of the story and include quotes
Infatuated: The definition of infatuated is to be obsessed with "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young, parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." Page 29
Indulgently: The definition of indulgently is to treat yourself "Don and Helen Crane were really the two most infatuated young, parents she had ever known, she thought indulgently, looking at the delicately embroidered baby cap and the lace-edged carriage cover." Page 29
Negotiable: The definition of negotiable is to come upon a agreement "Miss Strangeworth never concerned herself with facts; her letters all dealt with the more negotiable stuff sf suspicion." Page 32
Degraded: The definition of degraded is to treat someone with disrespect "The town where she lived had to be kept clean and sweet, but people everywhere were lustful and evil and degraded, and needed to be watched;the world was so large, and there was only one Strangeworth left in it." Page 33
Proverbial: The definition of proverbial is a idiom "After her dishes were done and her kitchen set in order, she took up her hat--Miss Strangeworth's hats were proverbial in the town; people believed that she had inherited them from her mother and her grandmother-and, locking the front door of her house behind her, set off on her evening walk, pocketbook under her arm." Page 34
Unduly: The definition of unduly is unwarranted, not justified "She did not feel that any of them were staring at her unduly or longing to laugh at her; it would have been most reprehensible for their parents to permit their children to mock Miss Strangeworth of Pleasant Street." Page 35
Potential: The definition of potential is a talent that isn't unlocked yet "She did not notice it because she was wondering whether a letter to the Harris boy's father might not be of some service in wiping out his potential." Page 36
Provide at least 5 examples from the story to support each idea Miss Strangeworth seems EVIL
Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she sends the letters. The text states that she wrights the letters anonymously so the people wont now and then she wrights evil things about them
She seems evil when she lies to peoples faces. The story tells us that she is nice when she talks to people but she doesnt care about them and wrights mean letters about them
She seems evil when she wont let the tourist take her roses. They are just flowers but to her they are more and she cant share them she is greedy
She seems evil when she feels that the town should have a statue of her grandfather. From the text we learn that she feels he deserves it more because he built the first house instead of the person who is getting the statue
Miss Strangeworth seems evil when she only pretends to think the baby is fine. The story tells us she then sends a letter saying the baby is stupid
Miss Strangeworth DOES NOT SEEM EVIL
Miss Strangeworth does not seem evil when she shows sympathy to Mr. Lewis when he seems off. The story states that she wonders why he isn't doing well and shows sympathy towards him
She does not seem evil when she talks face to face with people. The story tells us that when she sees Mrs. Harper she worries about her health showing that she truly isnt evil because she shows sympathy
She does not seem evil when she welcomes tourist to see her roses and house. The story states that she is proud of her roses and just wants to show others there is nothing wrong with that
She does not seem evil because she is older and tends roses. When people encounter older people there first guess isn't that they are evil they think all old people are kind. Also the story starts of saying that she would act like a kind person and talk about her family history and roses
Miss Strangeworth does not seem evil when she cries when she hears that someone ruined her roses. As stated in the story she loved those roses and tended them like her mother and grandmother did. She does not seem evil because it makes you feel sympathetic for her because a old lady who is evil lost the one thing she loved, her roses