The Lottery Story

What human trait does Shirley Jackson criticize in this story?

• Being an independent thinker

• Young people, the new generation

• Conformity and Herd Behavior

• Farming Communities

What phrase best describes the mood the author creates at the end of the story?

• Calm and quiet

• Violent and suspenseful

• Sad and upsetting?

• Cheerful and pleasant

In the story, there are many hints of what will happen next. An example(s) of foreshadowing from the story was:

• The collecting of stones

• When they held their breath as the men opened their papers

• Nancy's friends saying they hope it's not her

• They grinned at one another humorlessly and nervously.

• All of the above

At what moment(s) in the story does Jackson allow her reader to understand the true meaning of the lottery?

• When Mrs. Hutchinson begins to say it's not fair

• When they all begin to pick up the rocks

• When they throw the rocks at Tessie

• When they put pebbles in Davy's hands to throw at his mother

• All of the above

The theme of "The Lottery" is most likely about...

• How people must make sacrifices so they can bring a good harvest, help their community.

• How arriving late brings negative consequences to everyone.

• How blindly following the crowd can be dangerous and cruel.

• Life is filled with joys and sorrows, we have to experience both.

What is the impact of the setting description in the first paragraph of the story?

• The bright, pleasant descriptions of the day create a happy, peaceful tone at odds with the story’s subject.

• The dark, ominous descriptions of the day warn readers about the impending death of a central character.

• The quiet, beautiful descriptions of the day create a feeling of connection to a lost past that was better than the present.

• The pointed, negative descriptions of the day illustrate how dissatisfied characters are with the lottery.

Which statement best describes the history of the lottery in the village?

• It is a ritual unchanged since its beginnings.

• It is a tradition as old as the village itself.

• It is a recent plan to raise money for Old Man Warner.

• It is a tradition unique to this particular village.

In the story, the lottery is put in the same category as "the square dances, the teenage club, the Halloween program" and other "civic activities" (lines 38-40).

Based on these ideas, how do you expect the winner of the lottery to feel?

• bored and disengaged

• curious and interested

• fearful and nervous

• joyful and excited

When talking about people who suggest the lottery should be given up, Old Man Warner says, "Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns" (lines 197-199). What can you infer about the purpose of the lottery from these lines?

• It provides money to support the farmers because the town has gotten smaller.

• It reminds the school children to behave after school ends on June 27.

• It determines what crops should be planted after the lottery is over in June.

• It allows for a good farming season and a bountiful harvest.

The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen-age club, the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities. He was a round-faced, jovial man and he ran the coal business, and people were sorry for him, because he had no children and his wife was a scold. When he arrived in the square, carrying the black wooden box, there was a murmur of conversation among the villagers, and he waved and called, “Little late today, folks.”

What does this excerpt demonstrate about the town in which the lottery is held?

• Mrs. Summer was a scold!

• The town is hostile, full of people who refuse to help each other in troubled times.

• The town is hopelessly backward, cut off from other American traditions.

• The town is a small community where the people know each other well.