“The Lottery”
Shirley Jackson
Group Study Questions
In your small groups, discuss the following questions about “The Lottery.” Try to get beyond just talking about
the plot; use your critical thinking skills to deeply examine this story. One copy per group is to be passed in for
evaluation. (Value: 20)
1. From the context of the story, who controls the town? Explain.
2. How is society structured in this small town (think roles of men, women, children, town officials)? How
does the social structure affect the actions of the townspeople towards the lottery? Are they scared of
upsetting the social structure and why?
3. How does the lottery prevent the breakdown of society in this community? Explain.
4. Is the structure of the town and the lottery democratic? Explain
5. Which characters are static and which are dynamic? Explain giving examples from the story.
6. What character do you most believe would agree with the need for strong work ethic and why? Support
your answer with text.
7. How is the choice of the lottery foreshadowed?
8. How do the commonplace details of life and the folksy language contribute to the impact of the story? Why
do you think Jackson chose common people for her characters? What is the irony of the trite (ordinary,
everyday) dialogue and casual tone of this story?
9. What is one of the themes of “The Lottery”? Explain how it is evident in the story.
10. What does it mean to be a scapegoat? In what ways might Tessie Hutchinson be considered scapegoat for
the community? Looking back at the story, can you see why Tessie Hutchinson is singled out as the ‘winner’?
11. What does the large stone that Mrs. Delacroix chooses represent? How might she justify the killing of
Tessie?
12. How does Jackson’s choice to withhold the ultimate purpose of this tradition until the end of the story
prove to be an effective way to communicate with her readers?
13. What universal human quality does this story illustrate? Explain.