I am writing an essay on The Lottery and need to focus on style in relationship to theme. I am going to do a gender analysis. I know two styles are symbolism and imagery, because I have those accepted by my teacher. I am confused what other styles are involved. Can someone tell me if Gothicism, Narration, Parable, or Irony are styles?

Narration is common to all stories, so, no. But all the others can be.

Yes, you're on the right track with symbolism and imagery as styles related to analyzing "The Lottery" in the context of gender. Let's explore the other styles you mentioned and determine how they apply to the story:

1. Gothicism: Gothicism refers to a style of literature that often incorporates elements of horror, darkness, and the supernatural. While "The Lottery" does have a dark and suspenseful atmosphere, it may not fit exclusively within the gothic genre. However, you can still consider the gothic elements, such as the eerie small-town setting, to enhance your analysis of the story's themes related to gender roles.

2. Narration: Narration refers to the way a story is told, which can significantly impact its overall style. "The Lottery" is narrated in the third-person objective point of view, maintaining a detached perspective and presenting events as they occur without diving into characters' thoughts and feelings. This style of narration can contribute to the story's impact on readers and its thematic exploration of gender roles.

3. Parable: A parable is a short story that uses symbolism or allegory to convey a moral or lesson. "The Lottery" does share some characteristics with a parable, as it presents a cautionary tale about blindly following tradition without questioning its consequences. The story's style, especially its use of symbolism and imagery, helps underline its parabolic nature.

4. Irony: Irony refers to a contrast between what is expected and what actually happens. "The Lottery" showcases situational irony as the seemingly harmless annual tradition takes a horrifying turn. Irony plays a significant role in developing the story's theme and can be analyzed alongside other styles like symbolism and imagery to understand its impact on gender themes.

Remember, analyzing style is about examining the author's choices in language, structure, narration, and literary devices to deepen the understanding of a text's themes. By considering these additional styles — gothicism, narration, parable, and irony — you can expand your analysis and explore different aspects of gender in "The Lottery."