Biographical
Historical
Feminist
Archetypal
Philosophical
100

What kind of mental health struggles did Shirley Jackson face?

What is anxiety?

100

What major war ended just before "The Lottery" was published?

What is World War II?

100

Who runs the lottery in "The Lottery"?

Who is Mr. Summers?

100

What object in "The Lottery" symbolizes fear and fate?

What is the black box?

100

What do the villagers in "The Lottery" blindly follow?

What is tradition?

200

What emotion is reflected in the setting of "Paranoia"?

What is isolation?

200

What historical practice does the lottery in the story represent?

What is scapegoating?

200

Why can't most women draw slips in the lottery?

What is because only men are allowed to represent the family unless no man is available?

200

What type of ancient ritual does the lottery resemble?

What is a sacrificial ritual?

200

What theme does Jackson explore through mob mentality?

What is peer pressure?

300

How is Mr. Beresford's fear in "Paranoia" like Jackson's real-life anxiety?

What is he feels followed and unsafe, even when things seem normal?

300

Why do the villagers continue the lottery?

What is "It's tradition"?

300

What happens to Tessie Hutchinson when she speaks out against the lottery?

What is she's ignored and stoned to death?

300

What archetype does Miss Strangeworth represent in "The Possibility of Evil"?

What is the deceptive old woman or hidden evil figure?

300

How does Miss Strangeworth believe she's helping her town?

What is by exposing people's flaws with anonymous letters?

400

How does Jackson's experience with societal pressure show up in the story's ending?

What is when Mr. Beresford's wife closes the door on him without concern?

400

How does Jackson show the impact of post-war society on individual thinking?

What is through the townspeople blindly following tradition?

400

How do women help support the patriarchal system in "The Lottery"?

What is by participating in and not questioning the tradition, even harming other women?

400

What fairy tale character is Miss Strangeworth similar to?

What is the wolf in "Little Red Riding Hood"?

400

How does Jackson show the moral danger of blindly following the crowd?

What is by having the townspeople kill someone without questioning it?

500

How does the repetition of the man in the light hat show Jackson's personal struggles?

What is it mirrors obsessive thoughts and recurring anxiety from her own life?

500

How does Jackson use "The Lottery" to criticize societies that follow tradition after trauma like WWIl?

What is by showing how violence becomes normalized and people stop questioning authority?

500

How does Jackson use Tessie's character to critique gender roles in her society?

What is by showing that women who challenge male authority are dismissed and punished?

500

How do the symbolic objects like the black box and the letters help show deeper fears?

What is by representing the fear of the unknown and how small things can hold great power?

500

What does Jackson say about how environment shapes people's morals?

What is that people often accept harmful actions as normal if everyone else does?