The Lottery Shirley Jackson "The Lottery" is like the world's creepiest public service announcement against peer pressure. Similar to those warnings about drinking or smoking – except Jackson is warning against unthinkingly follow along with a group. 

Key Themes: Customs and Tradition "The Lottery" tells the story of an annual tradition practiced by the villagers of an anonymous small town, a tradition that appears to be as vital to the villagers as New Year celebrations might be to us. Yet, subtle hints throughout the story, as well as its shocking conclusion, indicate that the villagers' tradition has become meaningless over time. "The Lottery" is that it appears to be eternal: no one knows when it started, and no one can guess when it will end. Its apparent lack of history is what makes tradition so powerful: it's like a force of nature, and the people of the village can't even imagine rebelling against it.

Compare to: The Hunger Games The tradition of pulling names from the black box is similar to the “reaping scene” in the first of The Hunger Games Trilogy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e3PJ3Du_zDc For discussion: The lottery has become a meaningless tradition for the villagers to follow. The lottery is part of the village's traditional life and as such, still holds meaning for the villagers

Key Theme: Family "The Lottery" plays around with the concept of family in interesting ways. Each person in the lottery must draw by household, so this is the moment, each year, when belonging to a given family has the most socially recognized significance. In the midst of this collective ritual, though, become completely insignificant. (IRONY) Once the lottery has ended, family bonds reassert their importance, and the families who have lost members mourn them.

Symbols: The Lottery- tradition, ritual, word associate normally “lucky” IRONIC in this case, winner is unlucky The black box- physical manifestation (when a thought becomes an object) of tradition…. Because the blackbox exists the villagers have to continue the tradition, when the box goes missing/is damaged must be replaced or chaos would ensue 3 legged stool– 3 pillars of Christian Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Spirit)

Plot Diagram-- http://www.slideshare.net/kaley_d/group-6-ppt- 40374743?next_slideshow=1

Conflict -- EXTERNAL Person vs. Society WHY??