GROUP 1: THEME

Dustin Malin ; Heather Buffett

Hannah White; Wendi Robinson

Theme Definition

A general idea or insight conveyed by the work in its entirety

Can be singular or plural

Theme is a general idea of the story, therefore should not be to detailed or to simple

Theme may take the form of a moral

“The Lottery”

The Plot: A town gathers early one early summer morning for the drawing from the black box. This a tradition in their town for many years. The townspeople gather with their families, and the head of each household draws from the box. The family who draws the black dot, is then selected to gather around the box and each individual member draws their own piece of paper. The climax of the story is when the family member who draws the black dot again is stoned by the townspeople.

The underlying theme seems to be the comparison of the lottery to the draft used in WWII

The Road from Omela’sThe Plot: The author begins this story with the description of a joyful community. He seeks to include all areas in which the people could find joy, and to exclude all areas in which there could arise a conflict of interest between parties, and thus endanger the joyful happy prosperity all have.

The Plot II: In a sudden turn of events the author begins to tell of the child who is kept in the basement. The laughing stock of the community, and the reason that the prosperity reigns. There is no mention as to whom the contract is made with, but only that if one should show kindness to this child the joyful existence known by the people would all disappear.

The Elements of theme

The elements of theme in the story of The Lottery.The name of the story The Lottery suggests that the

story is about “winning” something, which in a way is correct.

In the story the black box is mentioned over and over which gives the reader the object in which to focus on. The black box in a way then becomes the theme in a foreshadowing way.

Elements of Theme

As the story progresses the theme of “winning” the prize at the end is still right in font of the reader but it is seen as a “good” prize. An incredible accomplishment on the part of the writer. Some might say that in the end there is conflict on whether or not the theme as a moral aspect to it or not because of the stoning that happens at the end. Theme is something that is apart of every story whether or not it seems moral.

Elements of Theme

The theme of the Lottery is to

see that life will deliver the

unexpected and that not all

things end the way we want.

Theme: “Omelas”

The theme for “The Ones who Walk Away from Omela’s” is a little convoluted. There is no set in stone theme but it rather forces the reader to question the morality of whether the suffering of one is worth the happiness and well being of the many. The author states “Some of them understand why, and some do not, but they all understand that their happiness, the beauty of their city, the tenderness of their friendships, the health of their children, the wisdom of their scholars, the skill of their makers, even the abundance of their harvest and the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this child's abominable misery.”

Theme: “Omelas”

The people of Omelas are raised and taught that this one person must suffer for the good of the town. Its almost like the blind leading the blind. There is an understanding that if anything nice is done to the child and if the child were to be set free then it would negate the implied contract for the wealth and health and happiness of the town. Nobody seems to understand

why exactly it has to be this way

but they go along with it anyways.

Theme: “Omelas”

There are many ways in which people today, not only in our country but may foreign countries, are forced with a similar question of morality. There are many instances in which one (many times few) suffer for the greater good of the majority. This is seen when countries go to war. Their few are “sacrificed” to protect the freedom of the whole. Some people don’t understand why exactly it has to be that way but they blindly follow the rituals and customs that were once set before they were allowed a word in the matter. What choice do they really have but to follow suit?

The Conflict

“The Lottery”

The conflict in this story shows us how traditions are passed down with moral expectations and the fear of one man speaking out against the practice in fear of going against the rest of the society. It’s man vs. society; or society vs. society.

“The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas”

It is clear the ones who walked away were conflicted with personal morals and values and the decision of whether or not to intervene to help the child. This is clearly why they left the town and chose to walk away from having to make that decision.

How Are The Stories Similar?

The Scapegoat: Each story has one person that suffers for the sake of the happiness of the others. In “The Lottery” that person is Tessie, and in “The One’s Who Walked Away from Omelas”, that person is the boy locked in the room. These two characters are chosen to represent the sins of the respective communities, and by their ailing, bring good fortune to the rest of the communities members.

There is a “collective mentality” with both groups of people in the stories. This mentality is most defined by “the behavioral tendency of the group of which they are a part”. If everyone is doing it, is it then wrong?

How Are The Stories Different?

In “The Lottery” the townspeople all witnessed and participated in the demise of Tessie. There is never a mention of feelings, unlike in “The Ones Who Walked Away from Omelas”, where we get that sense from those who left at the end of the story the author writes "The place they go towards is a place even less imaginable to most of us than the city of happiness. I cannot describe it at all. It is possible it does not exist. But they seem to know where they are going, the ones who walk away from Omelas.”

WORKS CITED

Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” The Lottery and Other Stories. New York: Farrar, 1991. 291-302.

Le Guin, Ursula K. "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas." The Story And Its Writer. 4th ed. Ed. Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford Books of St.

Martin's Press, 1995. 827-831.