1. “The Lottery” Shirley Jackson
What is Symbolism?

2. Symbolism
Symbolism is the practice of representing something through the use of symbols.
It is the use of symbols to signify meaning and present ideas.
In a story, a character, an object, or an action can be symbolic of something.
Examples:
The American eagle represents the United States and freedom.
A character named Precious might represent something very valuable or someone who is very special.
When an author wants to suggest a certain mood or emotion, he can also use symbolism to hint at it, rather than just blatantly saying it.

3. Symbolism
Stones are a universal symbol for punishment, burial, and martyrdom: they indicate a morbid ceremony.
Chips of wood (now discarded for slips of paper) suggest an ancient origin, like the ancient sacrificial rituals for crops.
Square: (village square) may represent the four corners of the earth—earthly opposed to heavenly; human-created as opposed to natural; something boxed in; concealed.

4. Symbolism – Joe Summers
Mr. Summers: the season of summer is associated with youth, strength, growth, prime of life, warmth, leisure, prosperity, happiness, blooming, blossoming
Mr. Summers is the head of a coal business, which could symbolize close contacts with the underworld and evil.
Coal is earthly (as opposed to heavenly); black; formed in the process of many years (long-term process); formed from compressed, decaying matter; early chemistry used a black spot to symbolize coal.
Marxist critics point out how Mr. Summers, who would have been one of the wealthier citizens, leads the lottery. Those with money control the activities of the people.

5. What Stone Would Symbolize Bobby Martin?
“Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix --the villagers pronounced his name “Dellacroy”--eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.”
“Bobby Martin ducked under his mother’s grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the pile of stones. His father spoke up sharply, and Bobby came quickly and took his place between his father and his oldest brother.”

6. Do the rocks selected by the characters in the story symbolize something about them?
Davy is given pebbles to throw at his mom.
The boys in the beginning select smooth, round stones for their pockets.
Mrs. Delacroix selects one stone so large she has to use two hands to lift it.
What do these symbolize or what do they say about the characters?