Plot and Characters
Who runs the lottery each year?
Mr Summers
What does the black box symbolize?
Death and outdated tradition
What is the central theme of The Lottery?
The danger of blindly following tradition without question
On the OSSLT, what does “explicit” information mean?
Directly stated information
When was the Lottery published?
1948
Which family wins the lottery?
The Hutchinsons
What does the black spot on the slip of paper represent?
Impending death
Why is conformity important in the story?
The villagers follow the lottery because everyone else does.
On the OSSLT, what does “implicit” information mean?
Not directly stated
How did readers originally react to the story?
Shocked, angry; many canceled subscriptions
Who picks up the slip with the black dot?
Tessie Hutchinson
Graves = death
How does Jackson show ordinary people can commit violence?
Villagers, even friends, participate willingly in stoning Tessie
How long is the OSSLT?
2 and a half hours
What historical event influenced Jackson’s writing about conformity and violence?
The Holocaust / WWII
What is Old Man Warner's main argument for keeping the lottery?
Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon
How does the condition of the black box reflect the town’s values?
Old, falling apart = tradition is worn out but still followed
How does mob mentality influence the villagers’ actions?
As a group, they commit murder they would never commit alone.
On short response, what strategy can you use?
APE
What does Old Man Warner mean when he calls young people “crazy fools”?
He believes they are wrong to want to give up the lottery.
How do the villagers treat Tessie at the end, and what does it show about mob mentality?
They stone her; it shows conformity and cruelty
How does the lottery itself act as a metaphor for real-world social practices?
Represents harmful traditions or injustices people accept without questioning
What warning is Shirley Jackson giving her readers?
That violence and cruelty can occur anywhere when people follow tradition blindly.
Please come to the board and explain how to make a strong essay
Clear thesis, main points in order
First Paragraph 2nd important
Second Paragraph most important
Third Paragraph least important
How does the story reflect post-WWII fears of conformity and tradition?
Americans feared repeating mistakes like the silent acceptance of atrocities