"The Lottery" Assignment Sheet

After reading Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" thoroughly, pick one of the following topics or one of your own (which MUST be authorized by me). This is a critical analysis, not a plot summary although you will include a brief synopsis of the plot in your introduction. You must include 6+ quotes to support your assertions, the thesis and topic sentences must be clear, and development must be comprehensive. Be sure to have a Work Cited page. Literary criticism is very close to art criticism. Both are communication systems; they just take different forms. Length: 850-1250.

Topics: pick one.

1. Discuss the roles of men and/or women in the story. Use quotes from the story to support your assertions.

2. Discuss the symbolism of the names of the characters as they relate to theme. Use quotes from the story to support your assertions.

3. How does the lottery project the theme(s) of the story? How did it get started? How, when, why does the lottery occur? General concepts behind traditions? Traditions rely on conformity-good, bad? Use quotes from the story to support your assertions.

4. Contrast your cultural traditions to the tradition in "The Lottery." Use quotes from the story to support your assertions.

5. Do not use any outside sources other than "The Lottery."

6. You may use the author's title only if it is part of two part title. Example: "The Lottery": An Investigation into Conformity.