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- Were you surprised by the ending of the story? If not, at what point did you know what was going to happen? How does Jackson start to foreshadow the ending in paragraphs 2 and 3? Conversely, how does Jackson lull us into thinking that this is just an ordinary story with an ordinary town?
- Where does the story take place? In what way does the setting affect the story? Does it make you more or less likely to anticipate the ending?
- In what ways are the characters differentiated from one another? Looking back at the story, can you see why Tessie Hutchinson is singled out as the "winner"?
- What are some examples of irony in this story? For example, why might the title, "The Lottery," or the opening description in paragraph one, be considered ironic?
- Explain the possible allusions, irony or symbolism of some of these: Delacroix, Graves, Summers, Bentham,Hutchinson.
- Take a close look at Jackson's description of the black wooden box (paragraph 5) and of the black spot onthe fatal slip of paper (paragraph 72). What do these objects suggest to you? Why isthe black box described as "battered"? Are there any additional symbols inthe story?
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...li style="text-align: justify;">Jackson gives interesting names to a number of her characters.
The author's opinion on the lottery and stoning is explored in "The Lottery". The story uses satire to criticize outdated traditions, ideas, rules, laws, and practices within society. Published in 1948 after World War II, Jackson may also be satirizing other cultural or historical events, attitudes, institutions, or rituals through this narrative.
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