The Lottery vers. 2
by Shirley Jackson
Name _______________________
ALL RESPONSES SHOULD BE DOCUMENTED ON YOUR TEXT AND CITED FOR
LOCATION AND RESPONSE. RESPOND IN COMPLETE SENTENCES ONLY.
1. (RL1) Paying attention to details. Underline details about the setting of the
story. Setting: time and place of the events
When –
Where –
Atmosphere (description of the environment) –
2. (RL2) What is symbolic about the description of the setting?
Reread the first paragraph and explain what the reader can infer about the
village and its’ people.
(RL4) Tone is the attitude of the narrator toward the setting, characters and the
action of the story. The narrator could be sarcastic, formal, informal, factual,
indifferent, sentimental, reverent, calm, irreverent, serious and / or humorous.
 Look up each of these attitudes and define.
 Describe the tone used at the beginning of the story.
3. (RL4) Define: PROFUSELY
4. (RL1) Highlight in PURPLE the details about the village.
5. (RL5) What is the occupation of most of the villagers?
6. (RL2) Who is in charge of the village activities?
What is his occupation?
Describe the person in charge based on his responsibilities and the way
others react to him.
7. (RL4) Define: PARAPHERNALIA –
8. (RL3) Who is the oldest man in town?
9. (RL3) What textual evidence shows how old man Warner feels about the
tradition of the lottery?
10. (RL4, RL1) What is a tradition? What traditions are maintained and
continued by the village?
11. (RL5) What parts of the tradition have changed or been altered over the
years?
12. (RL4,RL1) Explain the symbolism used to develop the theme of the story.
Cite evidence to support your interpretation.)
13. (RL4) Define: PERFUNCTORY
14. (RL4) Define: DISCRIMINATE
(RL5) How does the author use the actions of the characters to “discriminate”
among the groups?
15. (RL3) Who is missing?
Why is he/she missing?
16. (RL4) Define: PETULANTLY –
17. (RL5, RL1) What was the old saying about the lottery?
18. (L5b) Explain what the saying means?
19. (L5) What can the reader infer about the lottery and why it exists?
20. (RL5) Highlight in BLUE details about the lottery? What happens, how does
it work?
21. (RL5) What does the first drawing of the slips determine?
22. (RL4) Define: DEFIANTLY
23. (RL3, RL1)Develop a character chart. Identify what you know about each
character.
Example:
Characters name
Mr. Summers
Bill Hutchinson
Dickie Hutchinson
Tessie Hutchinson
/
Description and details about the character
Old Man Warner
24. (RL5) Who participates in the second drawing?
25. (RL5) What does the second drawing determine?
26. (RL3) What part of the ritual is maintained?
27. (RL3) What was the original purpose of the lottery?
28. (L4a) What could be the benefits of this type of “lottery”?
29. (L3) What is the irony in the story? What type and explain how it is ironic?
30. (RL4) Define: RATIONAL
(W1) Do the villagers act rationally?
31. (RL4) Define: INTERVENE
(W1) Why does no one intervene on behalf of Mrs. Hutchinson?
Tessie is angry with the villagers and shows her emotions by her actions.
List other ways Tessie could have behaved defiantly in this situation.
32. (RL5) Highlight in PINK the actions that are surprising? Lines 310 – 329
(W1) Explain the overall effect of the surprising actions.
33. (RL1, RL2) Do analyzing the text questions on page 36.
34. (RL4, RL5) Do the writing activity on page 36.
35. (L5b) Do the critical vocabulary activity on page 37.
36. (L5b) Do the Denotation and Connotation activity on page 37. Practice and
apply:
Create a chart
Original word / Connotation/ Synonyms / How the synonym’s connotation
Changes the meaning of the
sentence.
Common Core Standards (summary)
RL1 – cite textual evidence
RL2 – Determine theme and analyze its development.
RL3 - Analyze complex characters
RL4 – Determine meanings of words
RL5 – Analyze author’s choices
W1 – write an argument
W1d – establish formal style in writing
L3 – apply language in different contexts to establish styles.
L4a – context as a clue fro meaning
L5b – analyze nuances in words.