Lottery in June corn be heavy soon The

“Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon. ” ~ “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson Elements of Suspense and Mystery in Shirley Jackson’s short story, “The Lottery”

Literary Elements Used In “The Lottery” • irony – an unexpected, mocking twist • symbolism – when people/objects have a separate meaning; usually associated with emotions or ideas • tone – the attitude of the author in the story • mood – the feeling that is given (or intended to be given) to the reader

Important Ideas Central to the Story • Ritual - any practice or pattern of behavior regularly performed in a set manner (like a church service, Pledge of Allegiance, etc. ) • Sacrifice - the offering of animal, plant, or human life or of some material possession to a god for payment or good fortune • Scapegoat- person who takes the blame/suffering for others; takes their punishment.

Vocabulary Terms • boisterous - (adj) noisy and active • paraphernalia – (n) equipment • inevitable – (adj) unable to be avoided, evaded, or escaped; certain; necessary • reprimand – (n) a severe reproof or rebuke, esp. a formal one by a person in authority • liberty – (n) freedom from arbitrary or despotic government or control • exploitation – (n) use or utilization, esp. for profit • profusely -- (adv) plentifully • reprimands -- (n) punishments • surveying-- (v) examining or looking at carefully • reluctantly-- (adv) hesitant; unwilling

Vocabulary Terms • grasping-- (v) holding firmly • jovial-- (adj) cheerful; happy • paraphernalia-- (n) equipment • perfunctory-- (adj) routinely • good-humoredly-- (adv) cheerfully • petulantly-- (adv) irritably • precisely-- (adv) carefully • consulted-- (v) sought (seek) advice or information • daintily-- (adv) delicately • ritual -- (n) a ceremonial or traditional act

Symbolism in Names • Old Man Warner-warns the townspeople of the danger of dropping the lottery; symbolic of those who are afraid of change • Family name of Delacroix in French means "of the cross. ” • Mr. Graves- Graves stands for death. It is not only a symbolism, but it is also a foreshadowing of what was to come. • Joe Summers- the name represents a new time, a fresh start, change.

Symbolism • The black box - The color black usually stands for death, and the box itself is enclosed, indicating that whoever is chosen will be “closed in” by the crowd. • The box is old; the paint is peeling, and the wood is splintered. This condition reflects the fading of the tradition in other villages as well as the villagers’ questioning of the lottery in this village.

Superstition • The purpose of The Lottery is to ensure enough rain to have a good corn crop the following June. • Basically, the story centers around the misguided belief that if the villagers sacrifice one of their own people to what readers are led to believe is a rain god, then they will have good crops the next year. • They believe that if they do not do this, then they will go back to hard times.

Irony • The word lottery suggests that the villagers are going to draw for a prize. • The sunny day suggests that a happy event is about to take place. • Tessie Hutchinson, who in the beginning of the story views the lottery without concern or worry, is in the end the unfortunate victim who becomes the sacrifice.

Foreshadowing • The children’s gathering of stones prior to the beginning of the lottery. • Mr. Summers’ statement that they needed to get on with it, get it over with, which indicates this is not something for the villagers to enjoy. • The use of the black box. Prior to the lottery, it is treated respectfully and locked in the safe. Throughout the rest of the year, it is left in various places and almost forgotten as though it is not important. • The villagers’ reaction to the black box: their hesitation to help with it and their desire to keep it at a distance.

Possible Themes • Don’t believe everything you hear. – The ritual of the lottery: people can’t remember lots of the details about it and the actual event that caused it to be started, but they believe the stories anyway and keep on with the ritual. • Following the crowd can have disastrous consequences. – Although some townspeople raise questions about the lottery, they all go along with it in the end. So, they become unthinking members of a herd, giving up their individuality and sending Tessie Hutchinson to her death. • The wickedness of ordinary people can be just as horrifying as the evil crime of a serial killer. – From time to time, we are surprised to learn that the man, woman, or even child next door–a quiet, unassuming postal worker, bank clerk, or student–has committed offenses so outrageous that they make national news

Possible Themes • The reluctance of people to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices. – The villagers continue the lottery year after year because, as one of the villagers would say, “We have always had a lottery as far back as I can remember. I see no reason to end it. ” Put another way, this theme says: “We’ve always done it this way. Why change now? ”

Horrors of the Story • The tenth paragraph says, "Well, now, " Mr. Summers said soberly, "guess we better get started, get this over with, so's we can go back to work. " • The villagers do not excuse children from the lottery. Even Nancy Hutchinson, 12, and her little brother, Davy, must draw from the black box. If a child draws the slip of paper with the black dot, he or she will be stoned. • Children take part in the stoning. Little Davy is so small that he throws pebbles.

Horrors of the Story • Nancy Hutchinson and her brother Bill laugh when they draw blank lots. How could Nancy and Bill laugh when they know that their father or mother will draw the lot with the black spot and die? • Mr. Hutchinson pulls from his wife's hand the slip of paper she has drawn--the losing lot--and holds it up for all to see. He does not plead for his wife. Instead, he becomes one of the executioners. • After killing Tessie, the townspeople will go home to eat lunch or go back to work as if nothing out of the ordinary has happened. The first paragraph says, "[T][he whole lottery took less than two hours, so it could begin at ten o'clock in the morning and still be through in time to allow the villagers to get home for noon dinner. "