The Lottery

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Goals: 

- I understand the story of The Lottery

- I can indicate the different fictional elements in the Lottery

Let's read together

While we read: 

look at the elements we see in fiction and indicate how they are present in the story.

https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction/a-m-homes-reads-shirley-jackson

What happens when you win the lottery?

What is the point of view in The Lottery?

1. first person pov
2. third person pov
3. omniscient pov
4. limited omniscient pov

which conflict is present in The Lottery

1. man versus nature
2. man versus society
3. man versus man
4. man versus self

Freytag's pyramid

What is the plot of The Lottery?

What is the plot of The Lottery?

it's lottery day

traditions

- box gets readied

- family's draw a piece of paper

- Hutchinson family wins and draws again

Tessie wins

Tessie argues unfairness,

while villagers gather stones

Tessie is stoned to death

unclear, but the villagers probably go on with their lives until the next lottery

The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

What is the traditional dictionary definition of 'tradition'?

1. Customs and beliefs passed down from generation to generation.
2. Disregard for historical customs and rituals.
3. A recent practice developed by a community.
4. Innovation and modernization of cultural practices.

How do people feel about tradition in 'The Lottery'?

1. They actively rebel against it and seek change.
2. They are indifferent and apathetic towards it.
3. They feel a sense of obligation and duty to uphold it.
4. They view it as a source of joy and celebration.

Why is tradition important in 'The Lottery'?

1. It encourages progressive ideas and societal advancements.
2. It maintains social order and stability within the community.
3. It leads to frequent conflicts and divisions among the villagers.
4. It has no significant impact on the lives of the villagers.

In 'The Lottery', how is tradition portrayed?

1. As a ritualistic and unquestioned practice.
2. As a constantly evolving and changing custom.
3. As an insignificant aspect of the community's life.
4. As a practice subject to frequent scrutiny and change.

Foreshadowing

•  literary device that writers utilize as a means to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story.
• excellent device in terms of creating suspense and dramatic tension for readers.

What is the purpose of foreshadowing in 'The Lottery'?

1. To describe the setting
2. To hint at the shocking ending
3. To provide historical context
4. To introduce the characters

What effect does foreshadowing have on the reader's perception of 'The Lottery'?

1. Creates a sense of unease and anticipation
2. Builds admiration for the tradition
3. Elicits sympathy for the lottery winner
4. Highlights the fairness of the lottery process

How does the author use foreshadowing to create suspense in 'The Lottery'?

1. Emphasizing the importance of the lottery to the villagers
2. Describing the villagers' cheerful demeanor
3. Hinting at the tradition's dark nature
4. Depicting the lottery as a community event

How does foreshadowing contribute to the theme of 'The Lottery'?

1. Questioning the authority of tradition
2. Revealing the hidden darkness within the community
3. Emphasizing the randomness of fate
4. Celebrating the unity of the villagers

In 'The Lottery', what event foreshadows the tragic outcome?

1. The annual gathering of the villagers
2. The children playing in the town square
3. The mention of the black box
4. The description of the summer weather

Irony

•  What you hear or see does not match with reality.
• Think of sarcasm. When it is raining and someone tells you: "What a lovely day to be outside."
• Often used in cases of misfortune:
  Win the lottery and die the next day
  Being hit by an ambulance

What is the purpose of irony in 'The Lottery'?

1. To highlight the dark side of human nature
2. To celebrate the tradition of the lottery
3. To emphasize the positive aspects of society
4. To portray the characters' happiness

What is the effect of the irony in 'The Lottery' on the reader?

1. To encourage blind acceptance of established customs
2. To provoke reflection on societal traditions and human behavior
3. To evoke a sense of excitement and anticipation
4. To reinforce the reader's faith in communal rituals

How does the author create situational irony in 'The Lottery'?

1. By revealing the lottery's true purpose at the beginning
2. By setting a seemingly festive atmosphere before the grim revelation
3. By introducing a conflict between the villagers
4. By depicting the characters' joyful anticipation

Symbolism

• A symbol stands for something else, bigger, universal.
  
• It is a literary technique that adds meaning to a short story by using an event or object as a symbol to represent something else. 
• For example, a gravestone may be a symbol of death since gravestones are associated with death.
• Many authors use symbolism to subtly allude to the meaning of something without being obvious.

How is symbolism present in The Lottery?

What is the theme of The Lottery?
(i.e. what lesson can you learn)

Jackson’s point is that every age and every culture has its own illogical and even harmful traditions, which are obeyed in the name of ‘tradition’.

Not all traditions should be followed blindly.