The Lottery

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

MOCK EXAM - The lottery 

Goals:

- I understand the story of The Lottery

- I can indicate the different fictional elements in the Lottery and explain them
&
I know what to expect at the SE. 

First, read the story
(The story is in your mailbox)

While you read and afterwards: 

Look for literary devices (take notes!)

Step 1:
Let's discuss the story

What is the story about?
Which literary devices did you recognize?

What are the themes of the story?
What's your opinion on the story?

Individual working time

First, look at the questions on the hand-out and prepare answers for all the open questions first. 
If you have time left, formulate answer to the multiple chouce questions as well. 

Now make a group of 3

Together, you will answer the questions
(1 of you will answer in Lessonup - all of you will contribute)

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 type of conflict is present in The Lottery

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

What do all these terms mean?

Freytag's pyramid

What is the story arch (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

Tradition plays a huge role in the story

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.

Give examples of Foreshadowing in the Lottery

Foreshadowing:

The children collecting stones: Early on, the children gather stones and pile them up, which seems innocent at first but later reveals itself as preparation for the ritual.

The townspeople's nervousness: There are hints of unease as the villagers gather, with people avoiding eye contact and showing anxiety about the lottery, which foreshadows its sinister nature.

Reluctance and hesitation: Mr. Summers mentions that some villages are giving up the lottery, hinting that this tradition is controversial and unsettling.

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

Find an example of Irony in the story and explain the effect of it.

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

Fill out a Function Scheme for TESSIE

> Subject = Tessie
> Object (= what does she want)
> Helper
> Adversary

SUBJECT = TESSIE HUTCHINSON

Subject: Tessie Hutchinson becomes the central character, or subject, after she arrives late to the lottery. Initially, she’s a passive participant in the tradition, like the rest of the villagers. However, once her family is selected, she becomes the story’s primary subject in resisting the ritual, albeit unsuccessfully.

Object: Tessie’s objective ultimately shifts to survival once her family is chosen. Her goal is to avoid becoming the lottery's "winner" and to escape the deadly tradition. This object emerges as she protests the fairness of the lottery process, reflecting her desire to avoid being the sacrifice.

Helper: Interestingly, Tessie has little to no helpers. Her family members, even her husband, stand aside and participate in the ritual without coming to her defense. The lack of a helper emphasizes her isolation and highlights the community’s power over the individual.

Adversary: The adversary in Tessie’s scheme is multifaceted. It includes the lottery tradition itself—the institution that dictates her fate, as well as the townspeople, who embody this tradition and act as agents of the ritual. They represent the collective force of conformity and blind tradition, opposing Tessie’s desire for fairness and survival.

Object = survival

Tessie’s objective ultimately shifts to survival once her family is chosen. Her goal is to avoid becoming the lottery's "winner" and to escape the deadly tradition. This object emerges as she protests the fairness of the lottery process, reflecting her desire to avoid being the sacrifice.

Helper: none

Interestingly, Tessie has little to no helpers. Her family members, even her husband, stand aside and participate in the ritual without coming to her defense. The lack of a helper emphasizes her isolation and highlights the community’s power over the individual.

Adversary = Tradition. The lottery itself & the townpeople.

The adversary in Tessie’s scheme is multifaceted. It includes the lottery tradition itself—the institution that dictates her fate, as well as the townspeople, who embody this tradition and act as agents of the ritual. They represent the collective force of conformity and blind tradition, opposing Tessie’s desire for fairness and survival.

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? Give at least 2 examples and explain.

Symbolism in the lottery 1/2

The Black Box: The shabby black box symbolizes tradition and the unquestioning adherence to rituals. Even though it is old and falling apart, the villagers are reluctant to replace it because it represents their history and customs. This reflects how people can cling to outdated practices without questioning their morality or purpose.

The Lottery: The lottery itself is a powerful symbol of blind tradition and social rituals. By following this annual event without questioning it, the townspeople show how societal norms and customs can mask brutality. The fact that the lottery ends in a violent act suggests a critique of the ways societies justify harmful behaviors simply because "they’ve always done it that way."

Symbolism 2/2

The Stones: The stones symbolize the violence that the villagers are willing to carry out in the name of tradition. Even young children collect stones, showing how deeply ingrained and normalized the violence is within the community. The stones also represent mob mentality and the collective cruelty that can arise when individuals participate in group actions without individual moral consideration.

Names: Some characters' names carry symbolic meaning. For example, Mr. Summers (who conducts the lottery) suggests a cheerful, benign force associated with good times, which contrasts with the horror of the lottery. Similarly, Mr. Graves’s name evokes death, foreshadowing the grim outcome.

What could the message of the story be?

Themes

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

Message

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’.

So, in short, the message could be:

"Not all traditions should be followed blindly."