The Lottery 1. When does the lottery take place? June 27th in the summer 2.

Where does the lottery take place? Describe the setting. It takes place in the square of a village of more than 300 people. 3. How does the author, Shirley Jackson, foreshadow what is to come? The box for the lottery is black and worn away, and people keep their distance from it whenever they can. 4. What can you say about the people of the town? They treat the lottery as nothing special and mostly honor its tradition. 5. What paraphernalia is used to conduct the lottery and what attempts are made to keep the traditional ceremony? A black box is used, and although its older than the oldest man in the village, people dont want a new one. 6. What role does Old Man Warner play? Hes the village elder who says that staying to tradition is best and change is foolishness. 7. The lottery is carried on by Mr. Summers, who owns the coal company, and Mr. Graves, the postmaster. What do the names and the objects hint at? Summers represents something new and fresh coming, while the coal company shows his profession is dirty, hinting at him being the source of this horrid ritual of change. Graves represents death, and his job as postmaster makes him seem the messenger or helper of death. 8. Usually a lottery is something good. When do you begin to suspect that, in this case, no one wants to win the lottery? Tessie Hutchinson begins crying that it wasnt fair. 9. How does the author build tension? He drags on the process of the lottery and keeps what they win vague and unmentioned, despite the growing hints. 10. What is the procedure of the lottery?

The heads of the houses draw for their families, and then each member of the family draws for themselves. Once a winner is chosen, the villagers stone them. 11. What is the reaction of Old Man Warner to the fact that in the north village theyre talking of giving up the lottery? He accuses them of listening to the young ones and says theyre fools to change tradition. 12. What does the saying Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon hint at? There will soon be a dead body buried in the fields. 13. What does the story imply about traditions and ceremonies? Support your opinion from the story. Although traditions tend to fade over time, people usually dont want to give them up, just like the villagers who have forgotten most of the lottery rituals, but dont want to stop. 14. What does the story imply about religion? Support your opinion from the story. People are often stubborn and steadfast to their religion, even if it seems wrong. The villagers are determined to follow through with their tradition of stoning someone, even though it seems so atrocious to us. 15. What does the story imply about family loyalties? Support your opinion from the story. Family members arent always loyal when their life is on the line, just as how Tessie Hutchinson suggested her married daughter draw with them, likely so her chances of being picked decrease. 16. What does the story imply about human nature? Support your opinion from the story. Humans are greedy and selfish and dont care if they harm someone else as long as they get to live.