"The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson
1. * Setting can best be defined as:
A. The emotional effect or feeling that a text creates in a reader.
B. The physical location, time, and social environment in which a story takes place.
C. The background information that is important to a text.
D. The hints or clues within a story that help readers determine what will happen next or at the end.
2. In the first paragraph of this story, the setting is described. What kind of day is it?
3. What kind of tone - or atmosphere - does this set for the story?
Mood can best be defined as:
A. The emotional effect or feeling that a text creates in a reader.
B. The physical location, time, and social environment in which a story takes place.
C. The background information that is important to a text.
D. The hints or clues within a story that help readers determine what will happen next or at the end.
4. What kind of mood do the villagers seem to be in, and how can you tell?
5. What type of event does the lottery seem to be?
6. In the fourth paragraph, it says there was a hesitation before two men helped Mr. Summers with the box. What possible reason could there be for people to hesitate to help?
7. How long has this village been holding a lottery, and how do you know?
8. How does Janey Dunbar feel about drawing for her husband and how can you tell?
9. What is the mood of the crowd as Mr. Summers begins to draw the names, and why do you think this is?
10. How does Old Man Warner respond to the comments about getting rid of the lottery, and why does he respond this way?
11. What family won the lottery and how did they react?
12 . Why do you think they're so concerned with everyone being there and finding replacements for those who are missing?
13. Why did everyone sigh when little Dave's paper was blank?
14. What was the pile of rocks for?
Irony can best be defined as:
A. An object, place, name, character, or event that represents something else.
B. An outcome that is very different from what is expected.
C. The message the author wants to convey to readers.
D. A long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.
15. What was ironic about the ending of the story?
16. How did the villagers feel about what they were doing at the end of the story, and how can you tell?
17. Why do you think the villagers respond this way (including little Davie)?
"Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?" Virtual Assignment
Analysis Questions
Write 2-4 sentences in response to each question.
1. Comment on the first sentence of the story: "Her name was Connie." What could it tell us about the possible themes in the story?
2. How do the repeated references to popular rock musiccontribute to your understanding of the youthand worldly dangers depicted in the story?
3. What does Arnold Friend represent? Reference his behavior, dialogue, and appearance in your answer.
4. What does Connie represent in the story? Reference her appearance and behavior, and dialogue in your answer.
5. Why does the story have such a dreamlike atmosphere, and what effect does the dreamy, ephemeral, and eventually nightmarish, quality have on the reader's experience of the story?
From Topics to Themes
For each thematic topic, write a one-sentence elaboration of the theme. For example, for the topic, "Pursuit of Beauty," you might write, "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."
1. "Youthful Rebellion"
2. "Sexual Maturity"
3. "Quest for Independence"
4. "Innocence vs. Experience"
5. The Vulnerability of Youth"
6. "The Treachery of Evil"