Week 4: The Lottery Dr. Peih-ying Lu Apr. 8, 2010

Pre-reading Questions When and where did the lottery take place? Is the result of the lottery as what you expect? If not, what are you expecting the lottery? Why do the villagers participate in the lottery?

Pre-reading Questions What do you think the ritual for? What’s the author’s thesis?

Tradition What is the tradition in this short story? Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.G8 Why do they continue this tradition? We’d all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns. There’s always been a lottery.G10

Tradition Do people normally question the traditions they follow? Do people normally understand the origins and significance of the traditions? At the different times in history, had people ever passively accepted traditions without questioning? Give such examples in our culture.

Scapegoat Original meaning: One member of a community was sacrificed in an effort to cleanse the community and ensure a good harvest. Give an example of scapegoat in our modern society.

In-class Discussion Describe the setting of the story and explain why it does or doesn’t seem appropriate to the action. Identify those parts of the ritual that have been lost, those that have been altered, and those that remain the same

In-class Discussion If you were the one who drew the paper with a black spot on it, what would you do? Express and explain your opinions about the lottery.

In-class Discussion Try to relate the following criticism to the short story Capitalism Feminism McCarthyism

References http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McCarthyism http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scapegoating http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN5V8cQ2DAk http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMOMcO0vlfo