Prize Money by W.W. Jacobs (1909)
A community of working men pool small sums weekly to buy a lavish hamper filled with food and liquor for a lottery drawn at their local pub. During the draw, one man unexpectedly wins the prize by drawing the predetermined number; his victory is met with both celebration and suspicion due to his known impish character and previous misdeeds. As doubts arise about the fairness of the selection, murmurs of cheating and impropriety spread among the men. Discontent grows, and differences of opinion lead to the planning of a scheme to reclaim the prize. A conspiratorial group arranges for one of them to distract the winner with drinks while others steal the hamper. The attempted retrieval quickly spirals into chaos when the plan goes awry. Accusations fly as one conspirator is accused of having tampered with the draw, and later, of having stolen money that had been left displayed by the winner. Confusion and recriminations multiply as witnesses contradict each other and tensions mount. Claims of betrayal and dishonesty exacerbate old resentments and challenge the very notion of fair play that the lottery was meant to embody. As the dispute intensifies, the situation escalates from a matter of chance to one of public scandal, with community members threatening legal action and reputational damage. Ultimately, the prize is purchased back with borrowed funds, leaving the participants to reckon with the bitter consequences of greed, mistrust, and the disruption of longstanding relationships.
By W.W. Jacobs · First published 1909 · Genre: Humor, Satire, Crime · 5,984 words
What this Textopian page supports
Prize Money is listed on Textopian as a short story by W.W. Jacobs, dated 1909 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: W.W. Jacobs
- Date: 1909 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Humor, Satire, Crime, Farce, Slice of Life
- Length: 5,984 words
- Structure: 1 section, 133 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for Prize Money by W.W. Jacobs
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering Prize Money?
- How does this short story by W.W. Jacobs fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Humor first become important in the reading?
Genres
- Humor — The narrative employs witty dialogue, comical situations, and ironic twists to entertain the reader.
- Satire — The story critiques small-town customs and human quirks through exaggerated, humorous portrayals.
- Crime — Central plot elements revolve around theft and deception, highlighting criminal behavior in a lighthearted context.
- Farce — Exaggerated characters and improbable scenarios create a chaotic, humorous environment typical of farcical narratives.
Tags
adventure · irony · humor · satirical · twist · short story · narrative · nautical · conflict · human nature · betrayal · struggle