“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
Directions: Write down each
vocabulary word. For each word,
write the part of speech, define the
word, provide a synonym, generate
your own sentence using the word
correctly, and draw a picture of the
meaning of the word that will help
you remember the word.
1.Jovial
2.Perfunctory
3.Duly
4.Interminable
5.Petulant
6. Profusely
7. Boisterous
8. Reprimand
9. Reluctant
10.Paraphernalia
“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
1. In tab four of your notebook, under “Quick
Writes” please write for 15 minutes on the
following: You have just won the lottery worth
millions of dollars, what will you do now?
Make sure you label it Quick Writes #1 PreReading “The Lottery”
2. Read “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
As you read, interact with the text by answering
the following questions in complete sentences
in tab 3, Class notes/Assignments.
1. What is the significance of the title “The
Lottery” why does the author use this title?
What is ironic about the title?
2. Find an important quote or narration from the
text that you think best describes the setting,
characters, plot, or conflicts of the story and
tell why you chose it.
3. Define the Literary Term Foreshadowing and
find 1 example of it from the story. Explain
why it is foreshadowing and use a quote to
support your answer.
4. Define Symbolism and discuss what the character of
Old Man Warner symbolizes. Find a quote from the text
that supports your example.
5. What is ironic about his statement when referring to
certain town folk wanting to giving up the lottery, “next
thing you know they’ll be wanting to go back to living in
caves, nobody work any more, live that way for a while.
6. Explain why Mr. Graves, Mr. Summers, and Mr.
Martin are the most powerful men in the town. Hint:
Consider their occupations and roles in the community
they have. Why couldn’t the town exist without them?
Would they ever get chosen to be the “winner” of the
lottery? Explain.
7. Why is the lottery ritual held in the center of
the town? What color is the box that the slips of
paper are drawn from? How is this symbolic?
8. Define the term “scapegoat.” Which character
fits the definition and tell why.
9. What is the author trying to convey to the
reader with regard to the role of gender and
equality in the story? Find a quote or narration
from the text that supports the author’s purpose
in writing this story.
10. Which character yells out, “It isn’t
fair, it isn’t right.” What isn’t fair what
isn’t right? Explain
11. Define the term “rite.” How is the
town’s lottery an example of this?
Explain
12. Define conflict and find examples
with a quote to support each for man
vs. man, man vs. himself, man vs.
society.
4.
3.
1.
5.
2.
6.
From the diagram above, label the parts of the Elements of Plot