Vocabulary
personal belongings
Paraphernalia
Who gathers in the town square, and how do they arrange themselves?
The villagers (about 300 townspeople) gather around 10:00 AM; children assemble first, followed by the men, and then the women. They stand together in family groups.
What do the heads of families do?
They go up to the black box in alphabetical order by last name and draw a folded slip of paper for their household without looking at it.
Who conducts the lottery, and what other community activities does he direct?
Mr. Summers; he also directs square dances, the teen club, and the civic programs.
What physical mark on a slip of paper indicates that a person or family has been selected in the lottery?
A black spot, drawn by Mr. Summers with a heavy pencil.
done in a hurry and as a matter of routine
Perfunctory
What is inside the black box?
Slips of paper (one of which has a black spot marked on it by Mr. Summers).
What do the Hutchinsons have to do, and why?
Because Bill Hutchinson drew the paper with the black spot, all five members of the Hutchinson household must each draw an individual slip of paper from the box to determine who gets selected.
How does Tessie's attitude toward the lottery change from the beginning of the story to the end?
At first, she is cheerful, joke-cracking, and supportive of the gathering; once her family is selected, she protests that the process was unfair.
Which character picks up a stone so large she needs two hands to lift it, even though she was talking casually with Tessie moments earlier?
Mrs. Delacroix.
the state of being gathered together
assembled
Who is late for the lottery?
Tessie Hutchinson (she forgot what day it was until she noticed her sink was full of dishes).
What happens to Mrs. Hutchinson as a result of the lottery?
She draws the slip of paper with the black spot and is stoned to death by the rest of the villagers.
What does the stone Mrs. Delacroix chooses reveal about human nature in the story?
She chooses a stone so large she has to pick it up with both hands, showing how quickly neighborly kindness disappears when mob mentality takes over.
What small object does Davy Hutchinson, Tessie's youngest son, receive to participate in the final draw?
A sheet of paper (and later, pebble-sized stones are handed to him by the townspeople for the stoning).
expired and become completely invalid
lapse
What are the children doing before the lottery officially begins, and who leads them?
They are making a pile of stones in a corner of the square; Bobby Martin leads them (along with Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix).
Why does Mrs. Dunbar draw for her husband during the first round of the lottery?
Mr. Dunbar broke his leg and cannot attend, and their oldest son is not yet sixteen years old.
What is the primary theme or central message of Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery"?
The danger of blindly following traditions and rules without questioning their morality or purpose.
Which character recites "Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon" and what does it mean?
Old Man Warner and it shows the lottery began as an ancient sacrifice to ensure a good crop harvest.
an event in which the result is determined by chance
lottery
What is the black box made of, and why haven't the villagers replaced it?
It was made from pieces of the original box used when the town was first founded; they are hesitant to replace it because they dislike disturbing tradition.
What replacement was made in the lottery ritual before the story took place?
Slips of paper replaced the original wooden chips because the population grew too large for chips to fit in the box.
What specific item does Mr. Summers bring to the lottery besides the black box, and who holds it during the draw?
A wooden stool (or three-legged stool), held by Mr. Graves (the postmaster).
How long does the entire lottery ritual take from start to finish in this town, and why?
Less than two hours (it starts at 10:00 AM and finishes in time for noon dinner because the town has only about 300 people).