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

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

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

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

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

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

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

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

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.

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CCSS.RI. 9-10.9

CCSS.RI.11-12.9

CCSS.RL.7.2

CCSS.RL.8.2

CCSS.RL.9-10.2

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.

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CCSS.RL.11-12.3

CCSS.RL.6.3

CCSS.RL.7.3

CCSS.RL.8.3

CCSS.RL.9-10.3

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.

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CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

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

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CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

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.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4

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.

Tags

CCSS.RL.2.10

CCSS.RL.2.2

CCSS.RL.2.3

CCSS.RL.4.3

CCSS.RL.4.4