The Lottery Lesson

The Lottery

By Shirley Jackson​

By Andrew Shoemaker

http://shirleyjackson.org​

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The Life and Work of Shirley Jackson

Shirley Jackson Biography

Open Ended

Write down one fact about Shirley Jackson that stood out to you?

"The Lottery" Vocabulary

1.  profusely—adv.  abundantly

2.  jovial—adj.  happy, good-natured

3.  paraphernalia—n.  equipment used for a specific task (e.g. photography)

4.  perfunctory—adj. routine, boring

5.  interminably—adv.  endlessly

6.  petulant—adj.  acting rude in speech or manner

7.  duly—adv.  properly (“duly”-noted)​

Less Words to Remember!!!

Draw

Draw a jovial person contrasted with a petulant person

Themes To Think About

1.  Recall that our quarter theme is "The Long Dark Shadow of Society”.  This town will perform an action that clearly fits our theme.  Look for clues throughout your reading to see why this town continues to follow this tradition every year.

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2.  In the story, keep an eye out for some of the discarded aspects of the lottery ritual.  What is a ritual? What are some rituals in American society?  Do rituals normally become simpler or more complex the longer we keep them?  Explain below. 

 

3. This story will also focus on gender issues, most notably the dominance of the males in this village over the women.  What do we mean by the term “gender-roles?”  In society, do we break up tasks, expectations, and ideas based on what is normally the role of a man and woman?  If so, is it fair to do so?  Explain below.

​Themes: Human Nature, Ritual, Gender Roles

Open Ended

What is your favorite ritual in American society? Has it become simplified or more complex the longer it has been in existence?

Themes To Think About

1.  Recall that our quarter theme is "The Long Dark Shadow of Society”.  This town will perform an action that clearly fits our theme.  Look for clues throughout your reading to see why this town continues to follow this tradition every year.

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2.  In the story, keep an eye out for some of the discarded aspects of the lottery ritual.  What is a ritual? What are some rituals in American society?  Do rituals normally become simpler or more complex the longer we keep them?  Explain below. 

 

3. This story will also focus on gender issues, most notably the dominance of the males in this village over the women.  What do we mean by the term “gender-roles?”  In society, do we break up tasks, expectations, and ideas based on what is normally the role of a man and woman?  If so, is it fair to do so?  Explain below.

​Themes: Human Nature, Ritual, Gender Roles

Open Ended

Name specific ways you see gender roles defined within society? How do we continue to reinforce them as a society or have we started to redefine them?

Skills Focus

1.  Mood

As we read, focus on the story’s mood and how it changes throughout:

         -- What is the mood at the beginning of the story? What diction indicates this mood? What phrases help establish the mood?

         -- How or when does the story’s mood change? What phrases help establish this mood?

         -- What is the mood at the story’s conclusion?

2.  Setting

As we read, focus on the story’s setting:

         -- Shirley Jackson never tells us exactly where and when the story is set.  She will give us a date and a time of day, but not a year.  She will give us the fact that it is set in a village, but never a name. Take some guesses periodically on the global setting of the story, and attempt to find out why she doesn’t directly tell us when and where the story takes place. 

1.  Answer all questions along the side.

2.  Pay attention to While Reading questions vs. After Reading

Poll

What do you think will be the ritual in the lottery?

• An opportunity to become a millionaire

• A person is selected to compete for their community (ex. Hunger Games)

• A person is selected to rule the community

• A person or family is exiled from the community

• A person is awarded with a technological device of their choosing, which has become scarce in the community

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wpl3nFL7-yQ​

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Sit back, relax, and enjoy the thrill!

"The Lottery"

Audio

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