Wednesday 9/9/15 (Journal Section) How important do you think rituals and traditions are to our culture, families, &/or groups? In answering this prompt identify rituals &/or traditions you are aware of. What do you think the short story “The Lottery” will be about? What do you know about Lotteries?

Objective: I will be making inferences and predictions from “The Lottery.” In order to do this, I will need to make text predictions before reading, during reading, and I will create visual representations as well as lists of characters and settings. To show this, I will have a completed section in my journal with predictions, lists, visual representations, and connections.

Academic Vocabulary: The Lottery Scapegoat a person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place. Archetype the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form;prototype. Rituals an established or prescribed procedure for a religious or other rite. Traditions the handing down of statements, beliefs, legends, customs, information, etc., from generation to generation, especially by word of mouth or by practice. Irony the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning:the irony of her reply, “How nice!” when I said I had to work all weekend.

The Lottery Read together as a class.

Thursday 9/10 (Journal Section) What are two themes in the short story “The Lottery”? Themes are lessons the author is trying to point out to the readers.

Video of the Lottery https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV03h3XWTDU

Themes of the Lottery There are a total of 5 themes written in The Lottery. Once in your groups consult with each other and identify 5 different themes from the story. Come up with 5 themes even if your not sure if they fit. Once you have 5 write them on the white board with all your team members names. I will give you 5 minutes to come with 5 different themes and the group that comes closest to the 5 actual themes will be able to drop their lowest formative assessment grade. Plus maybe a little candy!

Theme 1 – Put in Journal The reluctance of people to reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices. The villagers continue the lottery year after year because, as one of the villagers would say, “We have always had a lottery as far back as I can remember. I see no reason to end it.” Put another way, this theme says: “We’ve always done it this way. Why change now?” In real life, defenders of the status quo have used this philosophy down through the ages and into the present day. For example, it was used in 1776 to retain slavery even though the Declaration of Independence asserted that “all men are created equal.” Until 1919, it was used to prevent women from voting. Until the 1960's, it was used as an official public policy to allow racial segregation.

Theme 2 - Put in Journal Society wrongfully designates scapegoats to bear the sins of the community. According to some interpretations of “The Lottery,” Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death to appease forces desiring a sacrificial lamb offered in atonement for the sins of others. The practice of using scapegoats dates back to ancient times, when Jews ritually burdened a goat with the sins of the people, then threw it over a cliff to rid the community of those sins. Ancient Greeks performed a similar ritual with a human scapegoat, although the scapegoat apparently did not die. In ancient Rome, an innocent person could take on the sin of a guilty person, thus purifying the latter. Early societies in Central and South America offered human sacrifices to appease higher powers.  

Theme 3 - Put in Journal The wickedness of ordinary people can be just as horrifying as the heinous crime of a serial killer or a sadistic head of state. From time to time, we are surprised to learn that the man, woman, or even child next door–a quiet, unassuming postal worker, bank clerk, or student–has committed offenses so outrageous that they make national news. 

Theme 4 - Put in Journal The unexamined life is not worth living. The truth of this dictum of the ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, becomes clear when the townspeople refuse to examine their traditions and continue to take part in a barbaric ritual. 

Theme 5 - Put in Journal Following the crowd can have disastrous consequences. Although some townspeople raise questions about the lottery, they all go along with it in the end. Thus, they become unthinking members of a herd, forfeiting their individuality and sending Tessie Hutchinson to her death. 

The Lottery The lottery Black Box Boys gathering pebbles Irony Symbolism – Group Comp! DROP LOWEST GRADE The word lottery suggests that the villagers are going to draw for a prize. The sunny day suggests that a happy event is about to take place. When Old Man Warner hears that the north village is considering ending the lottery, he says, "Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back to living in caves." (The lottery is as savage and barbaric a ritual as any practiced by cave dwellers.)  The lottery Black Box Boys gathering pebbles Old Man Warner Mr. Summers Bill & Davey Hutchins Village Mrs. Delacroix

Lottery Questions – Answer 1 Write an essay that presents your opinion on why the ancestors of the villagers began the lottery. Give several examples of questionable traditions or customs, such as hazing, in which people today participate. Black is a symbol representing evil or death. Sunlight is a symbol representing joy and happiness. Give other examples of symbols that writers regularly use in short stories, poems, and novels. Write an essay that describes the tone (mood) of the story. Present examples from the story that support your thesis.