“The Lottery” By Shirley Jackson

Journal Imagine that you have just won the Mega Million Lottery. 4 minutes - Brainstorm a list of things you would do with your money. How do you think it would change your life? Write a well-written paragraph ON PAPER explaining your answers. I am looking for: Topic sentence Sentence structure. Closing sentence.

Reading the Story Please read the story independently to yourself. Go to my website. Open the link to “The Lottery.” - open in notability.

Annotating While you read this story . . . ANNOTATE . . . or “take notes” while you read. You may mark: Things that surprise you. Words / phrases that confuse you. Words / phrases that show great description. Questions you have along the way.

Debriefing the Story With your assigned partner, discuss what you believe was the prize of this lottery. Be sure to include your justification as to why you think this was the prize.

situational irony defined: an occasion in which the outcome is significantly different from what was expected or considered appropriate.

Cautionary Tale #1: Billy Bob Harrell Jr. “In 1997, Billie Bob Harrell was having trouble making ends meet when he won $31 million in the Lotto Texas jackpot. A year and a half later, after spending money like water and losing his wife, he committed suicide.” Source: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/06/mega-millions-jackpot-5-cautionary-tales-of-lottery-winners/):

Cautionary Tale #2: Evelyn Adams “The New Jersey woman won the lottery twice, an amazing feat of luck. Yet, despite her $5.4 million in winnings, by the early 2000s she was broke and living in a trailer, having apparently gambled and given away all her money.” Source: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/06/mega-millions-jackpot-5-cautionary-tales-of-lottery-winners/):

Cautionary Tale #3: Abraham Shakespeare “In 2006, the Florida man won $17 million in the lottery. But within four years, Shakespeare was found dead, his body located beneath a cement slab. It's believed he was murdered by a woman who became a hanger-on after he won. After he disappeared, she allegedly used his cell phone to send text messages to make people think he was alive and well.” Source: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/06/mega-millions-jackpot-5-cautionary-tales-of-lottery-winners/):

Cautionary Tale #4: Jack Whittaker “When West Virginian Jack Whittaker scored a $315 million jackpot in 2002, it was the biggest lottery winning in U.S. history. Now, Whitaker is known for being the most cursed lottery winner of all. He's struggled with substance abuse, lost his daughter and granddaughter, tangled with the law, went through marriage trouble and lost all of his money (he says it was stolen from him). After his granddaughter died, Whittaker's wife, Jewell, said she wished she had torn up the lottery ticket.” Source: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/06/mega-millions-jackpot-5-cautionary-tales-of-lottery-winners/):

Cautionary Tale #5: Callie Rogers “Rogers was just 16 when she won roughly $3 million in a British lottery. At 22, though, she told the British media that she was broke and was forced to move back in with her mother. She estimated that she blew $400,000 on a vicious cocaine habit. She attempted suicide twice.” Source: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/06/mega-millions-jackpot-5-cautionary-tales-of-lottery-winners/):

What is ironic about this?

A little different look…

Make the following chart: Find at least 4 other examples of phrases / images that contribute to the irony in this story. Example of Irony What Makes this Ironic Sample: “blossoming profusely and the grass [is] richly green." Sample: The setting sounds idyllic—like the perfect day where nothing bad could ever happen

Time to do some Scuba-diving Consider the following discussion questions. Which one better represents “scuba diving” thinking? Why do you think so? How would you feel or act if you were Mrs. Hutchinson? What is surprising about Mrs. Hutchinson’s reaction? What seems to be “typical?” Think about her role as a wife, mother, friend, etc.

Time to do some Scuba-diving Consider the following discussion questions. Which one better represents “scuba diving” thinking? Why do you think so? What themes or life lessons can you see in this story? How does the author reveal the theme to you? Do you think that rules and traditions should just be followed without thinking about them? Why / why not?

Time to do some Scuba-diving Consider the following discussion questions. Which one better represents “scuba diving” thinking? Why do you think so? How was this story similar to The Hunger Games? How do you see elements of this story in other works of fiction OR real life even today?