The Lottery Lesson

Coleman’s Classroom www.clmn.net

The Lottery

Shirley Jackson


Comprehension Questions

1. When is the lottery? June 27 SummerWhy might that be important?June 21st Summer SolsticeLottery in June, Corn be heavy soon. Why?



2. Who is in charge of the lottery?Mr. Summers

Is anyone exempt?NO



3. Why isn’t Mr. Dunbar present? Broken Leg

Who draws for him?His son



4. Why have some villages stopped having lotteries?

They aren’t superstitious anymore; they are modern



5. How does Old Man Warner feel about the lottery?

Thinks it is necessary for succesful harvest

Getting rid of it will cause regression back to “living in caves”



6. Who picks the paper with the black dot?

First Bill-Then Mrs. Hutchinson (Tessie)



7. What is the prize?

Death by stoning



8. Why stoning?

Bible: John 8:7Let the man who has no sin cast the first stone.

Idiom“People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.”



9. Why does Mrs. Delacroix pick up a large stone?

Perhaps because Tessie arguedPerhaps bigger is betterOther reasons?



10. What is the worst image for you from the story?

“someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few stones” (99).


The Lottery

Analysis


The Lottery: Idioms• sat uneasily

• give me a hand with

• get this over with

• good sport

• uncomfortable• experience

• help me

• finish quickly

• good reaction


Vocabulary• Murmur

• Reprimand

• Scold

• Crane

• Snort

quietly complain

Severely reprove

Severely rebuke

Stretch one’s neck

To express surprise or annoyance through sound


Vocabulary• profusely

• petulantly

• hastily

• soberly

In an excessive manner

In an poor manner

rapidly

In a serious manner


Vocabulary

• Interminable

• boisterous

• jovial

Never finishing

Loud Rowdy Manner

Good humor


Literary Terms

IronyResults when there is a significant difference in perception (appearance) and reality.The bigger the discrepancy, the deeper the Irony.


Literary Terms

IronyWhat usually happens when someone wins the lottery?

What happened in the story?

Why is that ironic?


Literary Terms Surprise Ending

What was the prize for the lottery winner?

Is that a prize you would like to win?


Character

Mr. SummersThe Hutchenson Family

Bill, Tessie, Bill Jr., Nancy, little DavieMrs. Dunbar & Mrs. Delacroix

Old Man Warner


Sensory Impressions

“The morning was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green” (93).


Symbolism (1)

WWII Nazi’s treatment of the Jews was unchallenged and unconsidered in Germany until it became a destructive force. Just as the lottery

was unquestioned and destructive.


Symbolism (2)

“a recital of some sort, performed by the official of the lottery... There had been also a ritual salute” (94-95)


Symbolism (3)

“no one liked to upset even as much tradition ... represented by the box” (94)“some people believed...others believed... This part of the ritual had been allowed to elapse” (94-95)“people had done it so many times that they only half listened to directions” (96)“they still remembered the stones” (99)


Symbolism (3)

Blind Obedience Mob MentalityPeer Pressure Bureaucracy


Story Themes

• Life and Death (but life is unremembered)

• Ignorance• Blind Obedience• Mob Mentality• Peer Pressure• Bureaucracy• Injustice


Point of View

Third PersonWe don’t really know the thoughts of any character except what they state through actions and words.

Difficult to analyze at this level.


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Education

The Lottery Lesson