“The Lottery” By Shirley Jackson

Brain Games https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o8BkzvP19v4 Lottery slogans https://www.lotterypost.com/thread/217509

Definitions Jovial: characterized by hearty, good natured humor; jolly Boisterous: noisy; high-spirited Defiantly: openly or boldly resisting; bold disobedience Disengaged: released or loosened from something Ritual: a routine followed faithfully; a series of actions in a prescribed order, often has a religious connotation.

Definitions Perfunctory: a matter of routine; an action carried out with a minimum of effort or reflection Paraphernalia: equipment used for a particular purpose or activity Profusely: excessive; “a lot”; given freely; lavishly Shabbier (Shabby): faded and dingy from wear or exposure; in poor condition; worn out

Definitions Tradition: the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs,information from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice; a long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting Conformity: compliance with social standards, rules, laws, attitudes and practices Obedience: compliance with an order, request, or law or submission to another's authority.

Definitions Conscience: the inner sense of what is right or wrong in one's conduct or motives; impelling one toward right action Reverence: a feeling or attitude of deep respect tinged with awe; veneration.

About the Author / Social Context Born in 1916. Published “The Lottery” in 1948. Had a fascination with horror stories. She wrote “The Haunting of Hill House.” The Haunting, The Legend of Hell House, and The Shining She had an interest in witchcraft.

About the Author / Social Context “The Lottery” was first published in The New Yorker magazine. There were more letters written to the magazine in response to her story than the magazine had ever received. People were baffled, shocked (horrified), and angry. Jackson was called “perverted” and “gratuitously disagreeable” with “incredibly bad taste.” Her story was called “outrageous,” “utterly pointless,” “gruesome.” Some people thought it was based in fact. Jackson’s husband wrote that she was always proud that the Union of South Africa had banned “The Lottery” because she felt that they at least understood the story. (subversive)

About the Author / Social Context “Explaining just what I had hoped the story to say is very difficult. I suppose, I hoped, by setting a particularly brutal ancient rite in the present and in my own village to shock the story's readers with a graphic dramatization of the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives.” What does Jackson mean by “the pointless violence and general inhumanity in their own lives”? Milgram Experiment

Examples of Irony in “The Lottery” The Title: Before reading - winning, money, future, luck, prize, numbers, pick, selected, choose, rich, freedom, play, ticket, drawing, random, scratch, dream, fun, imagine After reading - death, murder, betrayal, tradition, sacrifice, stones, Other Examples: Takes place in an idyllic rural village on a beautiful summer day. Mr. Summers’ name (but not Mr. Graves’ name) Mr. Adams Mrs. Delacroix

Foreshadowing and Suspense Tessie Hutchinson arrives late. This sets her apart from the other town’s people. Mr. Summers says, “thought we were going to have to get on without you.” Tessie says, “Wouldn’t have me leave m’dishes in the sink …” Mr. Summer says, “let’s finish quickly” Words like, “breathless” and “nervous.” Calling the names in alphabetical order builds suspense. All the people who don’t have family members. Mr. Summers has no children, Watson boy draws for his mom (where is dad?), “ ...forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones.” Jackson does not say what the lottery is for until the very end of the story. This builds suspense as the reader starts to get clues that something bad will happen

Symbolism in “The Lottery” The lottery – the outdated customs, rules and procedures that society follows blindly. The randomness of life. Some are lucky/some unlucky. The black box – tradition, ancient rituals, outdated practices, the social rules people participate in so that they will feel like they are part of the group. The stones – allusion to religious stonings. Connection to stone age – how far back does the ritual go? Makes the reader think of primitive human behaviour. Little Davy - indoctrinating the children early.

Role of women in “The Lottery” The man draws for his family. The woman who does not have a man to draw for her is pitied. Each woman’s fate is tied to their father or their husband. Little things: Mrs. Martin has little control over her son. Mr. Martin reins him in. Bill tells Tessie to shut up.

Themes The faults, problems, or dangers of following tradition blindly. Message: Be critical! Think! Conformity and mob mentality can lead to evil acts.

Conflict Man vs. Circumstance - Tessie Hutchinson vs. the tradition of the lottery (fate). Man vs. Society - Tessie Hutchinson vs. the people of the town. Man vs. Self (Internal) - Tessie changes her opinion of the lottery. She starts off by telling Bill to “get up there.” Ends up declaring that it’s not fair. Man vs. Man - Tessie stands with her “hands out desperately as the villagers move in on her.”

Sources of Power Tradition Society as a mob Men Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves Old Man Warner “it’s always been this way”

Who is exempt from the lottery? No one!!! Why are there so many “missing” people in this town? They got killed by the lottery.

What is the reason for the lottery? Human sacrifice to make the crops grow. Tradition - it’s always happened. Why do the townspeople participate in the lottery? Traditions. It’s the rules. Conformity and wanting to fit in. Why don’t they stop having it? Because it’s always happened. Fear that society will crumble if they start to break the rules. They take comfort in knowing what the rules are and following them.

What changes have been made to the lottery over the years? The box - the original box is gone. Mr. Summers wants to change the box but the town people don’t want to break tradition. Holding the lottery over two days instead of one because the population is too big. They’ve lost the ritual salute and song. Change to paper instead of wood chips. Why are people afraid of change? What does this story say about tradition and conformity?