““The Lottery”The Lottery”Shirley Jackson

What is Symbolism?

• Symbolism is the practice of representing something through the use of symbols.

It is the use of symbols to signify meaning and present ideas.

• In a story, a character, an object, or an action can be symbolic of something.

Examples:The American eagle represents the United States and freedom.A character named Precious might represent something very valuable or someone who is very special.

• When an author wants to suggest a certain mood or emotion, he can also use symbolism to hint at it, rather than just blatantly saying it.

Symbolism

SymbolismSymbolism

• StonesStones are a universal symbol for punishment, burialpunishment, burial, and martyrdommartyrdom: they indicate a morbid ceremony.

• Chips of woodChips of wood (now discarded for slips of paper) suggest an ancient originncient origin, like the ancient sacrificial rituals for crops.

• Square: (village square) Square: (village square) may may represent the four corners of the earth—represent the four corners of the earth—earthly opposed to heavenly; human-earthly opposed to heavenly; human-created as opposed to natural; created as opposed to natural; something boxed in; concealed. something boxed in; concealed.

Symbolism – Joe Summers• Mr. Summers: Mr. Summers: the season of summer is associated with the season of summer is associated with

youth, strength, growth, prime of life, warmth, leisure, youth, strength, growth, prime of life, warmth, leisure, prosperity, happiness, blooming, blossomingprosperity, happiness, blooming, blossoming

• Mr. Summers is the head of a coal business, which could Mr. Summers is the head of a coal business, which could symbolize close contacts with the underworld and evil.symbolize close contacts with the underworld and evil.

• CoalCoal is earthly (as opposed to heavenly); black; formed in the process of many years (long-term process); formed from compressed, decaying matter; early chemistry used a black spot to symbolize coal.

• MarxistMarxist critics point out how Mr. Summers, who would have been one of the wealthier citizens, leads the lottery. Those hose with money control the activities of the people.with money control the activities of the people.

What Stone Would Symbolize Bobby Martin?

“Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix --the villagers pronounced his name “Dellacroy”--eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.”“Bobby Martin ducked under his mother’s grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones. His father spoke up sharply, and Bobby came quickly and took his place between his father and his oldest brother.”

Do the rocks selected by the characters in the story symbolize something about them? • Davy is given pebbles to throw at his mom.• The boys in the beginning select smooth,

round stones for their pockets.• Mrs. Delacroix selects one stone so large

she has to use two hands to lift it.

What do these symbolize or what do they say about the characters?