The Lottery by Shirley Jackson
English 12
Mrs. Woodliffe
Pre Reading
Discuss the word “lottery”. What connotations do we have with the word?
After Reading – Discussion Only
1. What social rituals similar to the lottery do we participate in today?21. What are the
first signs that something odd or sinister is taking place?
2. Who helps Mr. Summers set up the lottery? Why are the villagers reluctant to help?
3. What paraphernalia is needed for the lottery? How big do you suppose the black box is?
4. Normally someone "wins" a lottery, but that word is never used in the story.
What expression is used instead?
5. Sacrificial rituals operate on the principle of scapegoating. What does this mean? Are
there any examples in our current society of using scapegoats?
After Reading – Written Assignment
1. What do Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves do the night before the lottery? What
significance can you see in the choice of names? Do any other names in the story
have interesting connotations?
2. Make a point-form list of the signs of the people’s nervousness during the drawing.
3. What arguments does Old Man Warner present for keeping the lottery?
4. Normally someone "wins" a lottery, but that word is never used in the story.
What expression is used instead?
5. A lottery winner is generally very pleased with his luck. How does Bill Hutchinson
react when he "gets it"? What is Tessie’s reaction? Is her accusation fair?
6. In what order are the papers opened? How does the crowd react as each is revealed?
7. What is the final step of the lottery? Who participates?
8. Irony is used when the author contrasts what is said or described with what is really
meant. In The Lottery we have an example of an ironic situation.
How does the author increase the horror of the story by using irony? How does she fool
the reader?
9. What is the purpose of the objective point of view in narrating this story? How does
this point of view affect mood and the ending?
Final Story Assignment
Create a detailed outline comparing the similarities and/or contrasting the differences
between the story The Lottery, and either another short story by Shirley Jackson, the short
story The Rocking Horse Winner, by D.H. Lawrence, or the film, The Village, by M.
Night Shyamaian.
Themes
Theme 1:.The reluctance of people to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices.
The villagers continue the lottery year after year because, as one of the villagers would say, “We
have always had a lottery as far back as I can remember. I see no reason to end it.” Put another
way, this theme says: “We’ve always done it this way. Why change now?” In real life, defenders
of the status quo have used this philosophy down through the ages and into the present day. For
example, it was used in 1776 to retain slavery even though the Declaration of Independence
asserted that “all men are created equal.” Until 1919, it was used to prevent women from voting.
Until the 1960's, it was used as an official public policy to allow racial segregation. This
philosophy continues to be used today to retain outmoded practices, discriminatory practices, and
sometimes dangerous practices. These practices include the use of paper ballots in elections, the
use of nuclear weapons, capital punishment, abortion, anti-Semitism, racial profiling, and denial
of health benefits to the poor.
Theme 2:.Society wrongfully designates scapegoats to bear the sins of the community.
According to some interpretations of “The Lottery,” Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death to
appease forces desiring a sacrificial lamb offered in atonement for the sins of others. The practice
of using scapegoats dates back to ancient times, when Jews ritually burdened a goat with the
sins of the people, then threw it over a cliff to rid the community of those sins. Ancient Greeks
performed a similar ritual with a human scapegoat, although the scapegoat apparently did not die.
In ancient Rome, an innocent person could take on the sin of a guilty person, thus purifying the
latter. Early societies in Central and South America offered human sacrifices to appease higher
powers.
Theme 3:.The wickedness of ordinary people can be just as horrifying as the heinous crime of a
serial killer or a sadistic head of state. From time to time, we are surprised to learn that the man,
woman, or even child next door–a quiet, unassuming postal worker, bank clerk, or student–has
committed offenses so outrageous that they make national news.
Theme 4:.The unexamined life is not worth living. The truth of this dictum of the ancient Greek
philosopher, Socrates, becomes clear when the townspeople refuse to examine their traditions
and continue to take part in a barbaric ritual.
Theme 5:.Following the crowd can have disastrous consequences. Although some townspeople
raise questions about the lottery, they all go along with it in the end. Thus, they become
unthinking members of a herd,forfeiting their individuality and sending Tessie Hutchinson to her
death.
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