Monday, July 31, 2006
"The Lottery" Notes and Homework Questions
THE LOTTERY—NOTES
BY SHIRLEY JACKSON
THE STORY IS A TYPE OF SCIENCE-FICTION.
SHIRLEY JACKSON WAS BORN DECEMBER 14, 1916 AND DIED IN 1965.
SHE WAS BORN IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
IN 1933 HER FAMILY MOVED TO ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
SHE WROTE NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, AND HER BEST WORK IS “THE LOTTERY.”
IN 1940 SHE RECEIVED HER BA IN ENGLISH FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND SETTLED IN NORTH BENNINGTON, VT. IN 1945.
SHE HAD FOUR CHILDREN.
HER WORKS APPEAL TO ONE OF TWO VERY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS—FEAR OR HUMOR.
SHE WRITES WITH A LIGHT, COMIC TONE WHICH CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH THE DARK PESSIMISM—SPINE TINGLING TALES OF SUPERNATURAL EVENTS—OF OTHER WORLDS.
THE GENERAL THEME OF THESE WORKS IS THE PRESENCE OF EVIL AND CHAOS JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE OF ORDINARY, EVERYDAY LIFE.
“THE LOTTERY” IS A CHILLING TALE WHOSE MEANING HAS BEEN DEBATED AND PROVOKED WIDESPEARD PUBLIC OUTRAGE WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED IN 1946.
SHIRLEY JACKSON HAS A FASCINATION WITH EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR THAT GETS OUT OF HAND.
THEMES AND MEANINGS
THE EVENTS BORDER ON THE ABSURD.
JACKSON SKILLFULLY USES ELEMENTS OF SEVERAL ANCIENT RITUALS TO CREATE A TALE THAT TOUCHES ON THE CHARACTER OF RITUAL ITSELF.
IT SHOWS THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF MOB PSYCHOLOGY
AT THE HEART OF THE STORY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CONCEPTS OF MANKIND—THE SCAPEGOAT.
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS CONDUCT CEREMONIES IN WHICH THE EVILS OF AN ENTIRE SOCIETY WERE SYMBOLICALLY TRANSFERRED TO ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP, EITHER HUMAN OR ANIMAL, THEN THAT MEMBER WAS KILLED OR BANISHED.
THE DEATH OR BANISHMENT SUGGESTED THE EVILS OF THAT GROUP HAD BEEN REMOVED.
THIS ALLOWED A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE GROUP.
JEWISH PEOPLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONDUCTED THE RITUAL USING A GOAT AS A RECIPIENT OF ALL SINS AND EVIL.
THEN THEY TURNED THE GOAT OUT INTO THE DESSERT.
HENCE, THE TERM SCAPEGOAT.
TESSIE HUTCHINSON IS THE SCAPEGOAT IN HER TOWN.
THE LOTTERY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT
THE SCAPEGOAT IS USED TO BANISH THE EVILS OF SOCIETY SO THAT THE CROPS WILL FLOURISH.
TWO ANCIENT RITUALS ARE COMBINED.
BANISHING EVILS VIA A SACRIFICIAL VICTIM
THE IDEA OF APPEASING HIGHER POWERS IN SOME WAY TO ENSURE FERTILITY FOR THE LAND.
MOB PSYCHOLOGY RULES THE MASSES.
STYLE AND TECHNIQUE
THE ENDING IS A SURPRISE.
THE FUTURE NATURE OF THE GATHERING ENHANCES CAMARADERIE OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE AND DIMINISHES THE HORROR THAT OCCURS AT THE CONCLUSION.
JACKSON KEEPS THE READER OFF GUARD BY USING 3RD PERSON NARRATION.
THERE ARE CHILLING FORESHADOWING SUCH AS
THE CHILDREN BUILDING ROCK PILES
THE ABSENCE OF CERTAIN PEOPLE
SYMBOLIC NAMES OF THREE CHARACTERS
MR. SUMMERS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FERTILITY RITES.
MR. GRAVES IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NOTION OF DEATH.
MR. WARNER IS THE VOICE OF THE PAST WARNING THE CITIZENS THAT TO BREAK WITH TRADITION WILL HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.
THE CHOICE OF NEW ENGLAND AS THE SETTING SUGGESTS THE NOTION OF WITCHCRAFT AND SUPERSTITION.
THE LOTTERY IS FIRST A SIMPLE TALE OF TERROR
SECOND, A STUDY OF A UNIVERSAL HUMAN PROBLEM THAT PERSISTS IN ALL TIMES IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
• This story was published June 28, 1948 in the New Yorker.
• “The Lottery” presents conflict on more than one level.
• The most important conflict is between the subject matter and the way the story is told.
• Jackson presents her short story as a folksy piece of Americana.
• There is a horrible underlying secret, which comments on the hidden horrors of our everyday existence.
• The victim is a woman—a housewife—who raises her children and takes care of her husband and her home.
• Jackson attempts to convey two main messages in the story.
• First, the life we idolize in America has terrible secrets at its very heart.
•
• Second, she illustrates the sacrifice of women—women must sacrifice themselves and their ambitions to raise a family and take care of a husband.
• This sacrifice has been a part of the lives of all women according to Jackson.
• This reflects post-World War II American.
• The story also deals with the idea of using a scapegoat as a means of resolution. (Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.)
• In using a scapegoat people project their sins and guilt and temptation.
• The story showed pointless violence and general inhumanity.
• The world of the lottery is everyone’s world by showing a socio-economic stratification, violence and inhumanity.
• The central theme of the story is tradition.
• The point of view of the story is 3rd person dramatic and omniscient.
• Lurking beneath man’s civilized trappings is an innate savagery.
• The story contains a psychological shock.
• The horror of the story is realizing that unchanging traditions can be changed if a person realizes their implications.
• In “The Lottery” man is the victim of the unexplained and unchanged tradition.
HOMEWORK: DUE THE DAY AFTER WE COMPLETE THE STORY.
THE LOTTERY by Shirley Jackson
A. Write a sentence for each of the words below. Sentences must reflect the story.
1. Lottery
2. reprimands
3. survey
4. scold
5. ritual
B. Briefly answer the following questions.
1. When does the lottery take place?
2. Where does it take place?
3. What is the population of the town, and how long does the lottery take?
4. What are the boys in the square doing?
5. What details suggest this is a social event?
6. Who conducts the lottery and what business does he run?
7. To what other civic activities is the lottery compared?
8. What procedure is followed to determine who will “win” the lottery? Describe it.
9. Why do all the townspeople open their papers form the first drawing at the same time?
10. Why is it ironic that Mr. Summers says, “Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessis.” When Mrs. Hutchinson is late?
11. What family is “chosen” as a result of the drawing?
12. What person is drawn to become the victim?
13. At what point in the story does the reader realize what is going to happen? Quote the two key lines.
14. How does the story end?
15. Can you think of any ritual or custom that is practiced in our society but seldom questioned? Name one and discuss why traditions are not often questioned.
C. Write true or false for each statement below.
1. The lottery takes place in early August.
2. Every person dresses formally for the event.
3. The slip of paper with a dot on it determines who will be the victim.
4. The black box drawing is an annual ritual.
5. Bill Hutchinson is chosen to be the victim.
D. Answer each question below.
1. What is the setting of this story and when does it take place?
2. How often does the lottery occur?
3. What are the emotions present in this group of people?
4. Explain the ritual of the lottery.
5.Who are the first to draw from the lottery?
6. Who has first picked the slip with the black dot?
7.Who complains about the drawing and why is the complaint vocalized?
8. What is the response of the other townspeople to these complaints?
9. What is the final conclusion of the lottery?
BY SHIRLEY JACKSON
THE STORY IS A TYPE OF SCIENCE-FICTION.
SHIRLEY JACKSON WAS BORN DECEMBER 14, 1916 AND DIED IN 1965.
SHE WAS BORN IN SAN FRANCISCO, CA.
IN 1933 HER FAMILY MOVED TO ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.
SHE WROTE NOVELS, SHORT STORIES, AND HER BEST WORK IS “THE LOTTERY.”
IN 1940 SHE RECEIVED HER BA IN ENGLISH FROM SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY.
SHE AND HER HUSBAND SETTLED IN NORTH BENNINGTON, VT. IN 1945.
SHE HAD FOUR CHILDREN.
HER WORKS APPEAL TO ONE OF TWO VERY DIFFERENT EMOTIONS—FEAR OR HUMOR.
SHE WRITES WITH A LIGHT, COMIC TONE WHICH CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH THE DARK PESSIMISM—SPINE TINGLING TALES OF SUPERNATURAL EVENTS—OF OTHER WORLDS.
THE GENERAL THEME OF THESE WORKS IS THE PRESENCE OF EVIL AND CHAOS JUST BENEATH THE SURFACE OF ORDINARY, EVERYDAY LIFE.
“THE LOTTERY” IS A CHILLING TALE WHOSE MEANING HAS BEEN DEBATED AND PROVOKED WIDESPEARD PUBLIC OUTRAGE WHEN IT WAS PUBLISHED IN 1946.
SHIRLEY JACKSON HAS A FASCINATION WITH EVERYDAY BEHAVIOR THAT GETS OUT OF HAND.
THEMES AND MEANINGS
THE EVENTS BORDER ON THE ABSURD.
JACKSON SKILLFULLY USES ELEMENTS OF SEVERAL ANCIENT RITUALS TO CREATE A TALE THAT TOUCHES ON THE CHARACTER OF RITUAL ITSELF.
IT SHOWS THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF MOB PSYCHOLOGY
AT THE HEART OF THE STORY IS ONE OF THE OLDEST CONCEPTS OF MANKIND—THE SCAPEGOAT.
ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS CONDUCT CEREMONIES IN WHICH THE EVILS OF AN ENTIRE SOCIETY WERE SYMBOLICALLY TRANSFERRED TO ONE MEMBER OF THE GROUP, EITHER HUMAN OR ANIMAL, THEN THAT MEMBER WAS KILLED OR BANISHED.
THE DEATH OR BANISHMENT SUGGESTED THE EVILS OF THAT GROUP HAD BEEN REMOVED.
THIS ALLOWED A BETTER FUTURE FOR THE GROUP.
JEWISH PEOPLE OF THE OLD TESTAMENT CONDUCTED THE RITUAL USING A GOAT AS A RECIPIENT OF ALL SINS AND EVIL.
THEN THEY TURNED THE GOAT OUT INTO THE DESSERT.
HENCE, THE TERM SCAPEGOAT.
TESSIE HUTCHINSON IS THE SCAPEGOAT IN HER TOWN.
THE LOTTERY IS AN ANNUAL EVENT
THE SCAPEGOAT IS USED TO BANISH THE EVILS OF SOCIETY SO THAT THE CROPS WILL FLOURISH.
TWO ANCIENT RITUALS ARE COMBINED.
BANISHING EVILS VIA A SACRIFICIAL VICTIM
THE IDEA OF APPEASING HIGHER POWERS IN SOME WAY TO ENSURE FERTILITY FOR THE LAND.
MOB PSYCHOLOGY RULES THE MASSES.
STYLE AND TECHNIQUE
THE ENDING IS A SURPRISE.
THE FUTURE NATURE OF THE GATHERING ENHANCES CAMARADERIE OF THE TOWNSPEOPLE AND DIMINISHES THE HORROR THAT OCCURS AT THE CONCLUSION.
JACKSON KEEPS THE READER OFF GUARD BY USING 3RD PERSON NARRATION.
THERE ARE CHILLING FORESHADOWING SUCH AS
THE CHILDREN BUILDING ROCK PILES
THE ABSENCE OF CERTAIN PEOPLE
SYMBOLIC NAMES OF THREE CHARACTERS
MR. SUMMERS IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FERTILITY RITES.
MR. GRAVES IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NOTION OF DEATH.
MR. WARNER IS THE VOICE OF THE PAST WARNING THE CITIZENS THAT TO BREAK WITH TRADITION WILL HAVE DIRE CONSEQUENCES.
THE CHOICE OF NEW ENGLAND AS THE SETTING SUGGESTS THE NOTION OF WITCHCRAFT AND SUPERSTITION.
THE LOTTERY IS FIRST A SIMPLE TALE OF TERROR
SECOND, A STUDY OF A UNIVERSAL HUMAN PROBLEM THAT PERSISTS IN ALL TIMES IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER.
• This story was published June 28, 1948 in the New Yorker.
• “The Lottery” presents conflict on more than one level.
• The most important conflict is between the subject matter and the way the story is told.
• Jackson presents her short story as a folksy piece of Americana.
• There is a horrible underlying secret, which comments on the hidden horrors of our everyday existence.
• The victim is a woman—a housewife—who raises her children and takes care of her husband and her home.
• Jackson attempts to convey two main messages in the story.
• First, the life we idolize in America has terrible secrets at its very heart.
•
• Second, she illustrates the sacrifice of women—women must sacrifice themselves and their ambitions to raise a family and take care of a husband.
• This sacrifice has been a part of the lives of all women according to Jackson.
• This reflects post-World War II American.
• The story also deals with the idea of using a scapegoat as a means of resolution. (Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.)
• In using a scapegoat people project their sins and guilt and temptation.
• The story showed pointless violence and general inhumanity.
• The world of the lottery is everyone’s world by showing a socio-economic stratification, violence and inhumanity.
• The central theme of the story is tradition.
• The point of view of the story is 3rd person dramatic and omniscient.
• Lurking beneath man’s civilized trappings is an innate savagery.
• The story contains a psychological shock.
• The horror of the story is realizing that unchanging traditions can be changed if a person realizes their implications.
• In “The Lottery” man is the victim of the unexplained and unchanged tradition.
HOMEWORK: DUE THE DAY AFTER WE COMPLETE THE STORY.
THE LOTTERY by Shirley Jackson
A. Write a sentence for each of the words below. Sentences must reflect the story.
1. Lottery
2. reprimands
3. survey
4. scold
5. ritual
B. Briefly answer the following questions.
1. When does the lottery take place?
2. Where does it take place?
3. What is the population of the town, and how long does the lottery take?
4. What are the boys in the square doing?
5. What details suggest this is a social event?
6. Who conducts the lottery and what business does he run?
7. To what other civic activities is the lottery compared?
8. What procedure is followed to determine who will “win” the lottery? Describe it.
9. Why do all the townspeople open their papers form the first drawing at the same time?
10. Why is it ironic that Mr. Summers says, “Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessis.” When Mrs. Hutchinson is late?
11. What family is “chosen” as a result of the drawing?
12. What person is drawn to become the victim?
13. At what point in the story does the reader realize what is going to happen? Quote the two key lines.
14. How does the story end?
15. Can you think of any ritual or custom that is practiced in our society but seldom questioned? Name one and discuss why traditions are not often questioned.
C. Write true or false for each statement below.
1. The lottery takes place in early August.
2. Every person dresses formally for the event.
3. The slip of paper with a dot on it determines who will be the victim.
4. The black box drawing is an annual ritual.
5. Bill Hutchinson is chosen to be the victim.
D. Answer each question below.
1. What is the setting of this story and when does it take place?
2. How often does the lottery occur?
3. What are the emotions present in this group of people?
4. Explain the ritual of the lottery.
5.Who are the first to draw from the lottery?
6. Who has first picked the slip with the black dot?
7.Who complains about the drawing and why is the complaint vocalized?
8. What is the response of the other townspeople to these complaints?
9. What is the final conclusion of the lottery?
# posted by Sister Pat / English @ 6:15 AM 
