“The Lottery”
by Shirley Jackson
Pre-reading
1.
Pre-reading strategies include “Making Connections”
and “Predicting”.
Have you ever imagined winning the lottery? Describe what that
would be like.
2. What do you association with the phrase “small town America”? What do you picture?
During reading
Active readers get involved with what they are reading by continuing to “Make
Connections” and to “Predict or Infer.” They also “Monitor” their own reading,
making sure that they understand what is going on. They “Question”, thinking
about what is going to happen, or evaluating what has happened so far. As you read,
pause sometimes to make connections to your personal experiences, predict what
will happen next, ask questions about what you are reading, monitor what you
understand, and form opinions about what you’ve read.
3. Monitoring: What words are unfamiliar? Make sure you write down and look up any words you
don’t understand.
Words defined for you…



Words you don’t know…
Reprimand: to rebuke someone for a wrongdoing
Paraphernalia: assorted objects or equipment
Chickweed: common weed producing white flowers
Name: ________________________________________________
Date: _________________________________________________
Class: _________________________________________________
Grade:
4. Setting is the time and place of a story. The setting of this story draws on our common
understanding of “small-town America”. Give at least three examples of this.
5. Stereotypes are used by authors to convey a lot of information in a short time. What stereotypes
do you see in this story? List at least three.
a.
b.
c.
6. Characterization is the author’s way of describing a character, bringing a literary being to life
with words. Which character(s) in this story are the most important? How can you tell that by the
author’s story?
7. Foreshadowing gives hints about the end of the story. Explain how this quotation foreshadows the
ending of the story.
Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.
After reading
Good readers don’t just close the book (or story) when they’re done reading. They
reflect on it. They are able to “Summarize” the main ideas, and to “Synthesize” new
ideas from the story. They ask important “Questions”, and “Evaluate” the merits of the
text.
8. This story is difficult to like. Why?
9. Even though this story has a horrifying end, do things like this happen in real life? Where? Why?
10. What would you say is the theme of this story? Find a quotation in the book that supports your
idea. The write a THESIS statement that includes the quotation.
Theme of “The Lottery”:
Quotation and Source:
THESIS Statement:
Above and Beyond
Hits the Target
Getting Close
Answers not only reflect
understanding and effective use of
reading strategies, but they enhance
the literary debate with creative and
insightful ideas. Comprehension and
application of literary devices is
subordinate to the “bigger picture” of
intellectual debate.
Answers reflect both an
understanding and
effective use of reading
strategies, as well as
comprehension and
application of literary
devices using details
from the story.
Answers reflect a basic
understanding and use
of reading strategies, as
well as a basic
understanding of
literary devices.
Supporting details are
limited.
Starting
Out
Answers
are
incomplete.