Who Said/Did It? 👥
Who organizes and conducts the lottery?
Mr. Summers
During which month does the lottery take place?
June
Is The Lottery told from a first-person or third-person point of view?
Third-person
What detail from the beginning shows that the weather is pleasant?
The morning is clear and sunny, with blooming flowers and green grass.
What does assembled mean?
Gathered together
Who arrives late because she forgot what day it was?
Tessie Hutchinson
Where do the villagers gather for the lottery?
The town square
How do most villagers seem to feel about the lottery taking up their day?
They are eager to finish it and return to their routines.
What detail shows that the lottery is a long-established tradition?
The villagers continue using the old black box and resist replacing it.
What is a tradition?
A custom or practice passed down over time
Who is the oldest villager and strongly supports continuing the lottery?
Old Man Warner
What object does Mr. Summers use to conduct the drawing?
A black wooden box
Why does Old Man Warner criticize towns that have stopped their lotteries?
He believes the tradition should continue and fears abandoning it.
What evidence shows that some communities are questioning the lottery?
Villagers mention that other towns have stopped holding lotteries.
What does paraphernalia mean?
Equipment or objects used for a particular activity
Which villager cannot attend because he has a broken leg?
Clyde Dunbar
Why must the Hutchinson family draw again?
Bill Hutchinson draws the marked slip in the first round.
What does Tessie's change in behavior suggest about her attitude toward the lottery?
She accepts it until her own family is selected.
What saying suggests that the lottery is connected to growing crops?
“Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.”
What does perfunctory mean?
Done routinely, with little care or interest
Why does Tessie complain after Bill draws his paper?
She believes Bill was not given enough time to choose fairly.
What happens to Tessie at the end of the story?
The villagers stone her to death.
Why is the cheerful opening setting surprising when compared with the ending?
The peaceful summer setting contrasts sharply with the violence of the lottery.
What detail shows that Bill Hutchinson follows the lottery's rules even after Tessie is selected?
He holds up Tessie's marked paper so the villagers can see it.
In the story, what does lapse mean when describing a part of the ritual?
To stop or fall out of use