The Lottery: Comprehension Questions

1. Were you surprised by the ending of the story? If not, at what point did you know what was going to happen? How
does Jackson start to foreshadow the ending in paragraphs 2 and 3? On the other hand, how does Jackson lull us into
thinking that this is just an ordinary story with an ordinary town?

2. Where does the story take place? In what way does the setting affect the story? Does it make you more or less likely
to anticipate (guess) the ending?

3. In what ways are the characters differentiated from one another? Looking back at the story, can you see why the
writer singled out Tessie Hutchinson as the "winner"?

4. What are some examples of irony in this story? For example, why might the title, "The Lottery," or the opening
description in paragraph one, be considered ironic?

5. Jackson gives interesting names to a number of her characters. Explain the possible allusions, irony or symbolism of
some of these: Delacroix Graves Summers Bentham Hutchinson Warner Martin

6. Take a close look at Jackson's description of the black wooden box (paragraph 5) and of the black spot on the fatal
slip of paper (paragraph 72). What do these objects suggest to you? Why is the black box described as "battered"? Are
there any other symbols in the story?

7. What do you understand to be the writer's own attitude toward the lottery and the stoning? Exactly what in the story
makes her attitude clear to us?

8. This story was published in 1948, just after World War II. What other cultural or historical events, attitudes,
institutions, or rituals might Jackson be satirizing in this story?
What are the THEMES of The Lottery?
Ex: a THEME in Harry Pooter might be the
desire to fit in and be accepted
(Harry was hated by the muggles and almost worshipped in the magic world)
The Lottery: Comprehension
Questionsviolence in other
With the exception of the final five paragraphs, are there any indications of violence in the life of
the village? What might the absence or presence of violence in other aspects of village life
indicate, in light of the story's conclusion?

Do you agree with Mrs. Hutchinson is the lottery unfair? How or how not? Her friends and
neighbors point out that they all take the same risks in participating.

Are there any clues in the story that might explain how the lottery first started? What might its
purpose be? What passages give the reader clues about the origins of this ritual?

Themes:
Society vs. Family (whats good for one isnt for the other?)
Gender Roles: is there a difference in the way the males and females are treated?
Hypocrisy: are the characters in the town behaving two-faced or with double standards
Ignorant (unconscious) Violence: Does the violence occur because of passion or feelings, or is it
something else, something creepier?
Tradition: What role should tradition play in a society?

Short Story
Elements
What is a short story?
A brief, imaginative narrative containing few
characters, simple plot, conflict, and
suspense which leads to a climax and a
swift conclusion.
Can be read in one sitting
THE 4 ELEMENTS OF THE SHORT STORY
PLOT
SETTING
CHARACTER
THEME
#1. PLOT
The chain of events in a story.
Consists of 6 main ingredients:
1. Introduction/Exposition
2. Inciting incident
3. Rising action
4. Climax
5. Falling Action
6. Resolution
PLOT GRAPH
An excellent way to map out a storys plot
Introduction
Introduces the reader to:
Setting
Basic situation
Characters involved
Narrative Hook: question or statement that
grabs the readers attention
(some foreshadowing/symbolism may be
found in the introduction)
Inciting Incident
The first major action in the story that sets
the story in motion (gets the ball rolling).
Rising Action
Incidents which carry the plot along. It often
includes the following:
Foreshadowing
Flashback
Conflict
Suspense
SYMBOLISM
WHAT IS SYMBOLISM?
symbol= something that stands
for something else.

Natural symbols= the sun standing for knowledge
shadows for distrust








SYMBOLISM
Symbols are much used in short stories.
They may be people, objects, or the action itself to symbolize meaning
such as death, love, grief.






SYMBOLISM
Note: Dont confuse symbol with metaphor or simile
Joe is a peacock is a metaphor in which Joe is the subject and
peacock is the vehicle.

Joe is like a peacock is a simile

A symbol is based on the vehicle; that is, peacock could symbolize
____???____

FORESHADOWING
A technique for hinting at events that may
occur later in the plot.
FORESHADOWING
Pet Cemetery: FORESHADOWING
Pet Cemetery: The Plot
why foreshadowing is the key to the story
Uh-Oh!!!
Pet Cemetery: The Plot
why foreshadowing is the key to the story
Cat dies
Kid is sad
Cat buried in
cursed
cemetery
Guess what?
Cat comes
back all evil
Sad, yes,
but the kid
dies
Kid buried in
cemetery
Now the kid
comes back
SUPER
EVIL
Happy family,
new house
right beside an
ancient Indian
burial ground

FORESHADOWING
FORESHADOWING
FLASHBACK
The insertion of an earlier event into the time
order of a narrative.
Conflict
It is what prevents the main character from getting what he or she
wants
The plot is driven by conflict and it is THE MOST IMPORTANT
FEATURE OF THE STORY
There are two types of conflicts: Internal and External
Internal Conflict
PERSON VS. SELF
External Conflict
PERSON VS. PERSON
External Conflict
PERSON VS. SOCIETY
External Conflict
PERSON VS.THE ENVIRONMENT
External Conflict
PERSON VS. FATE
External Conflict
PERSON VS. TECHNOLOGY
External Conflict
PERSON VS. THE SUPERNATURAL
SUSPENSE
The feeling of
excitement and
curiosity that keeps
the reader turning the
pages; created by
making the readers
wonder how the
conflict will be
resolved
Attention Grabbing Sentences
Exciting, interesting sentences that
keep the reader turning the pages
May leave the reader with
questions/wonderment
Built to create a mood by using:
A theme: what does the sentence
symbolize? Love? Death? Fate?
A genre: does the sentence hint at
Horror? Romance? Fantasy?
A feeling: does the sentence leave the
reader laughing? Creeped-out?
Frightened? Excitied?
CLIMAX
The highest point of
interest in the story when
the character(s) solves
his/her struggles
Usually the point of
highest emotion
The climax can be
SUBJECTIVE (there may
be different answers, so
you must prove your
choice)


FALLING ACTION
The character completes the action of
his/her decision
IRONY
WHAT IS IRONY?
Irony is a literary technique
the writer shows or points out something opposite to what is stated


1. Verbal irony -- saying the opposite of what is meant. Writer
may use this method to reveal a characters weaknesses, prejudices, etc. sarcasm

2. Dramatic/Tragic-- reader knows more about the situation than the character -- giving a second
meaning for the reader.

3. Situational irony the outcome of the events or story is OPPOSITE of whats expected.

4. Cosmic irony: FATE! -- destiny controls ones fate -- where one has little influence or significance
-- a soldier returns from war and is killed in a car accident, etc.
THE RESOLUTION
The final workings of a storys conflict
All of the loose ends are tied up (usually)



Narrative Twist: a surprise ending:
IRONY!!!!!


#2. SETTING
The time (time of day, season, present, past, future) and
the location (country, planet, town, buildings, PLUS a
description of the surroundings) where the action occurs
Helps to create the mood and atmosphere of the text
ATMOSPHERE
The feeling that the setting evokes (i.e.
mysterious, happy, eerie)
MOOD
The authors emotional attitude toward the
subject matter (i.e. excitement, nostalgia)
NOT the mood of the characters
#3. CHARACTERs
Any personalities who
are involved in the plot
of the story (people,
animals, fantasy
characters)
Usually less than 6 in
a short story
PROTAGONIST
Usually the good guy
or hero in the story
The main character
that we follow
The character that
strives to solve the
conflict
ANTAGONIST
The bad guy or
villain in the story
Usually creates
conflict for the main
character

SECONDARY CHARACTERS
Other characters who are necessary to
moving the plot along, but may not be
involved with the central conflict
CHARACTER TRAITS
Physical and personality characteristics that
are revealed through:
1. What the character does
2. What the character says
3. What the character thinks and feels
4. What other characters say or do about the
character
5. What the author states directly
6. What the author infers
#4. THEME
The central idea about life that the story
highlights; THE MAIN IDEA (universal truths).
The message the author is conveying.
1. Determine the specific conflict
2. Decide what side of the conflict the story
represents
3. How is the conflict resolved? Who wins?
Who loses?
THEME
Theme is NOT the moral of the story
Theme is NOT plot
Theme IS the general subject matter of a
work of art
Theme may contain a message
THEME
Not all short stories have a theme; some
are just for entertainment or fun
THEME OR NOT A THEME?
1) Red Riding Hood is about how you shouldnt trust strangers
2) Stars Wars is a movie about Luke Skywalker
3) Apocalypse Now is about the insanity of war.
4) This painting is about loneliness
5) That story is about two guys who steal a car
6) Romeo and Juliet is about love
7) Romeo and Juliet is about two families fighting
8) I saw a movie last night about survival
9) Hansel and Gretel is about two children
10) Cinderella is about poetic justice