Final answer:
The mood in “The Lottery” shifts from normalcy to horror, with tension built through foreshadowing leading to a shocking conclusion. The correct description of this shift is Option A.
Step-by-step explanation:
The mood shift in Shirley Jackson's “The Lottery” begins with a facade of normalcy and subtly moves towards an undercurrent of tension before culminating in a sense of horror. Initially, the story presents what appears to be a traditional, quaint village gathering, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and community that seems benign.
However, Jackson expertly weaves foreshadowing into the narrative, gradually heightening the sense of unease. As the villagers draw their slips of paper, the reader's dread escalates, especially as the villagers' behavior grows increasingly abnormal, given the context of the event.
The final reveal of the lottery's true purpose—a ritualistic stoning—completely shatters the initial mood of normalcy, leaving the reader with feelings of shock and horror.
The correct option that describes the mood shift in “The Lottery” is Option A: the mood shift is from an initial sense of normalcy and routine to a growing sense of unease and horror as the story unfolds.