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“The Lottery”

“The Lottery”. Shirley Jackson. Tradition. “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon” (528-529). The stoning was a sacrifice made for good crops Sacrifice goes back to ancient times (Aztecs, Incas, Mayans) Blood is vital to human life, a life-giving source Stoning goes back to Biblical times.

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“The Lottery”

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  1. “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson

  2. Tradition • “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon” (528-529). • The stoning was a sacrifice made for good crops • Sacrifice goes back to ancient times (Aztecs, Incas, Mayans) • Blood is vital to human life, a life-giving source • Stoning goes back to Biblical times

  3. Tradition • The villagers get rid of parts of the tradition they feel are pointless • The chant & the salute • They keep the savage ritual of sacrifice • The author is pointing out how resistant people are to change (esp. the older generation – Old Man Warner)

  4. Plot Elements • Exciting force • The growing season

  5. Plot Elements • Climax • Tessie draws the black dot

  6. Plot Elements • Resolution • “‘It isn’t fair,’ . . . and then they were upon her” (531) • Tessie gets stoned

  7. Conflicts • Man vs. man • Tessie vs. the villagers • Man vs. self • Tessie vs. feelings of injustice • Man vs. society • Tessie vs. outdated tradition of stoning

  8. Characters • Mr. Summers • In charge of the lottery. Wants to get done in time for lunch & to go back to work • Lottery is a fact of life like any other part of the day • Old Man Warner • Been through the lottery 77 times & doesn’t want to change it • Represents stubborn older generation

  9. Characters • Clyde Dunbar • Broken leg, but family draws anyhow • Everyone must participate • Mrs. Delacroix • Chooses the largest stone • Friendship ties don’t matter

  10. Characters • Lil’ Davy • The youngest Hutchinson • Even little children could be sacrificed • Given tiny pebbles to stone his mother • Everyone participates so there is no guilt • Tessie Hutchinson • Shows up late & jokes around until her family draws the black dot • Fairness only matters to the victim • Wants her daughter to be part of the draw • Willing to risk her own daughter’s life to save herself

  11. Theme • Man’s inhumanity to man • The cruelty humans are capable of, the awful things people do to others • The villagers stone Tessie for the crops • Tessie puts her own daughter at risk to save herself • No one was exempt (even Lil’ Davy could have been chosen & had to stone his own mother) • Mrs. Delacroix chooses the largest stone

  12. Theme • Fairness only matters to the victim • Tessie was happy, joking, and participating until her name was drawn • It only became unfair when her name was chosen

  13. Theme • Reluctance of society to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices • Old Man Warner said that giving up the lottery would be like going back to living in caves • The villagers got rid of the chant & salute, but they kept the stoning

  14. Theme • Society wrongfully designates scapegoats to bear sins of the community • For a successful growing season, Tessie was the unlucky one chosen to be sacrificed • Everyone participates so there is no guilt

  15. Setting • June 27th, 10 AM, farming village (no year, no town name) • Could be anytime, any town because man’s inhumanity to man happens any and everywhere

  16. Foreshadowing • Boys gathering stones at the beginning • The box is black • Tessie being late and making jokes • Tessie saying it isn’t fair when her family is selected and when she draws the dot

  17. Don’t open the door! Dramatic irony • When the reader knows something the character does not.

  18. Dramatic Irony • Giving up the lottery would be uncivilized (Old Man Warner) • Nothing civil about a lottery where the winner gets stoned • Gave up parts of the ritual (salute, chant) but keep the inhumane part (stoning)

  19. Situational Irony • There is a contradiction between what the reader expects to happen and what really happens

  20. Situational irony • Sunny day, people talking and joking, ready to eat lunch • About to stone someone • Lotteries are supposed to be good . . . win a prize • The winner “wins” death

  21. Symbols • The black box • Worn, splintered, fading • Represents outdated traditions

  22. Symbols • The black dot • Family member who draws it is stoned to death • Represents the scapegoat who bears the blame of society

  23. Symbols • The setting • Vague with no year, no town name • Represents how man’s inhumanity to man happens any time and anywhere

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