Plot Points
In Through the Tunnel, what challenge does Jerry set for himself?
To swim through the underwater tunnel like the older boys.
What theme is central to The Lottery?
The danger of blindly following tradition.
What motivates Jerry to risk his life in Through the Tunnel?
His desire to prove maturity and independence.
“Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” — What does this quote reveal?
The villagers’ belief that the lottery ensures good harvests.
(The Lottery by Shirley Jackson)
What does the black box in The Lottery symbolize?
Blind tradition and resistance to change.
In The Lottery, what happens to the “winner” of the lottery?
They are stoned to death by the townspeople.
What theme does Through the Tunnel explore?
Independence, maturity, and personal growth through self-challenge.
Why does Tessie Hutchinson protest at the end of The Lottery?
Because she’s chosen as the victim — she says, “It isn’t fair!”
“He must go through the tunnel.” — What does this quote symbolize in Jerry’s story?
His determination to transition from childhood to adulthood.
(Through the Tunnel by Doris Lessing)
What does the tunnel in Through the Tunnel symbolize?
Jerry’s rite of passage into maturity and self reliance.
Why does the narrator in Shooting an Elephant shoot the elephant?
Because of pressure from the crowd — he feels he must act to avoid humiliation.
What theme is revealed in Shooting an Elephant about imperialism?
That imperialism harms both the oppressor and the oppressed.
What internal conflict drives the narrator in Shooting an Elephant?
The conflict between his moral beliefs and his fear of public humiliation.
“When the white man turns tyrant it is his own freedom that he destroys.” — What does Orwell mean?
That power and imperialism trap both ruler and ruled.
(Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell)
What is ironic about Lamb to the Slaughter’s title?
The “lamb” (Mary) becomes the killer instead of the victim.
What shocking act does Mary Maloney commit in Lamb to the Slaughter?
She kills her husband with a frozen leg of lamb.
Lamb to the Slaughter satirizes what social expectation?
The idea of the “perfect,” submissive housewife and male authority.
How does Mary Maloney manipulate the police after the murder?
She pretends to be a shocked, grieving wife and offers them food.
“It’d be a relief… but what about the child?” — What does this reveal about Mary?
She feels desperation and fear, not remorse, after killing her husband.
(Lamb to the Slaughter by Roald Dahl)
What does the elephant represent in Orwell’s essay?
The burden and moral decay of imperial power.
What final action in Lamb to the Slaughter creates the story’s dark irony?
The police eat the murder weapon (the leg of lamb).
Across all four stories, what shared theme can be found?
Inner conflict and societal pressure influencing personal decisions.
What role do authority figures play in The Lottery and Shooting an Elephant?
They represent unquestioned power that enforces violence through social conformity.
“The people expected it of me and I had got to do it.” — What human truth does this show?
The pressure to conform and perform for society, even against conscience.
(Shooting an Elephant by George Orwell)
What do all four stories use irony to reveal about humanity?
That beneath order and civility, people often act out of fear, pride, or conformity.