Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” mentioned in The Simpsons

UPDATE: While I still keep an eye out for all literary mentions in cartoons, my main focus now is YouTube videos about video games. Check out my channel here: https://www.youtube.com/user/calebjross

(part of my ongoing Unexpected Literary References series)

Ever since I made my first “Great Unexpected Literary References” post, I seem to have grown keen to book mentions in cartoons. And to be honestly, none has surprised me more than Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery,” a short story that I assumed was only known among the academic literary cliques. But no. Unless of course Matt Groening, Trey Parker, and Matt Stone were all at one time part of a literary clique. I wouldn’t doubt this; those guys are smart.

Trey Parker and Matt Stone I mentioned regarding “The Lottery,” in my first “Great Unexpected Literary References” post. Today, I bring you a brief mention in Matt Groening’s “The Simpsons,” this one from an older episode called “Dog of Death.”