“The Lottery” Shirley Jackson

Tradition “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon” ( ). ◦ 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

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)

Plot Elements Exciting force ◦ The growing season

Plot Elements Climax ◦ Tessie draws the black dot

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

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Man vs. man ◦ Tessie vs. the villagers Man vs. self ◦ Tessie vs. feelings of injustice Man vs. society ◦ Tessie vs. outdated tradition of stoning

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

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

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

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

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

Theme Reluctance of society to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices ◦ Old Man Warner said that giving up the lottery would be like going back to living in caves ◦ The villagers got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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Symbols The black box ◦ Worn, splintered, fading ◦ Represents outdated traditions

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

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