The Lottery By Shirley Jackson Warm Up Activity

The Lottery By Shirley Jackson

Warm Up Activity If the majority of the people are doing something, does it make it right? What purpose do rituals and traditions serve in society? Why do people sometimes engage in pointless violence and inhumanity?

Round Robin Each person must share his/her responses. No interruptions until everyone has shared.

Making Predictions Based on the title, what do you think the story is going to be about? Give as much detail as possible. One or two sentence answer is unacceptable.

Annotation Ask questions Summarize Make predictions Make comments

Pay Attention to the Mood

Find Word Meaning in Context 1. Reprimand 5. Perfunctory 2. Paraphernalia 6. Consult 3. Precede 7. 4. Discard 8. interminable petulant

Reprimand –v/n to express to someone your strong official disapproval of them

Paraphernalia -n all the objects needed for or connected with a particular activity

Precede - v to be or go before something or someone in time or space

Discard -v to throw something away or get rid of it because you no longer want or need it

Perfunctory - adj done quickly, without taking care or interest

Consult -v to discuss something with someone before you make a decision

Petulant -adj easily annoyed and complaining in a rude way like a child

interminable continuing for too long and therefore boring or annoying

Discussion Questions 1. What are your preconceived notions of a lottery? What is ironic about the name of the story? 2. How does the building tension of the story add to its effect? 3. Is the ending foreshadowed at all? How? 4. What effect do the descriptions of the town and its people from your view of the day’s happenings?

Discussion Questions 5. How is the lottery an example of a ritual? 6. How do you see this event? Do you think it is right? Why should they change their views on the lottery? 7. How do you view it from a cultural standpoint? 8. Do you feel sorry for Mrs. Hutchinson? Why or why not?

Discussion Questions 9. How does "The Lottery" prevent the breakdown of society in this community? 10. Respond to the roles of the men and women, how the children act, and what the social and business goals are for each facet of this society.

2 Chunk TEA Paragraphs 1. ) From the context of the story, who controls the town? What do you think about this kind of control? Explain.

2. Is structure of the town and the lottery democratic? Explain. How do you feel about it? 3. What is one of themes of “The Lottery”? How does it relate to you?

4. How might Mrs. Delacroix justify the killing of Tessie? 5. How did you feel about the town people's actions in The Lottery?