8.

What do you understand to be the writers own attitude toward the lottery and the
stoning? Exactly what in the story makes her attitude clear to us?
I believe that the authors own attitude toward the lottery and the stoning is that it is
unfair and purposeless violence. Throughout the story, the writer purposely described
the scene as a warm summer morning where flowers were blossoming and the grass was
green. However, near the ending of the story, the authors attitude towards the tradition
was revealed by one of the characters, Tessie Hutchinson. When she pointed out the
unfairness of the lottery system, everyone disagreed with her. Mrs. Delacroix, one of the
neighbors, even told her to be a good sport. At the end, the last words to be said were:
"It isn't fair, it isn't right, which I believe is the authors opinion.
9. This story satirizes a number of social issues, including the reluctance of people to
reject outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices. What kinds of traditions,
practices, laws, etc. might The Lottery represent?
The lottery might represent the act of stoning for a capital punishment, as well as the
idea that sacrificing someone insures a good harvest. (Old Man Warner: 'Lottery in
June, corn be heavy soon.)
10. This story was published in 1948, just after World War II. What other cultural or
historical events, attitudes, institutions, or rituals might Jackson be satirizing in this
story?
Jackson seems to be satirizing the events that happened during WWII, when people
blindly followed Adolf Hitler as he killed innocent people without any justification. Most
civilians simply stood there watching as their neighbors were taken out of their homes
and brutally murdered, which is similar to what happened in the story.
Plot chart:
Initial situation:
It's a beautiful summer day, school was over for the children, and the villagers have begun
assembling in the square to hold a lottery. We dont really know what the prize of this lottery is going
to be.

Conflict:

Everyone in the village gathered in the square to begin the lottery

Mr. Summers began calling out the heads of families first, and the man of each family took a
paper out of the box and kept it folded in their hand
The Hutchinsons family was selected
Tess Hutchinson disagrees with the result of the lottery
Each member of the Hutchinson family (except for the married daughters) draws from the
box

Climax:
Tess Hutchinson wins the lottery

Falling action:

Everyone surrounds Tess with the stones and pebbles that the kids have gathered in the
beginning of the story
Tess Hutchinson keeps pointing out the unfairness of the lottery
The villagers ignore her protests and begin attacking