Question/Answer

6

The Lottery

1. In the story, what idea does Shirley Jackson carefully avoid?

In the story “The lottery,” the author tries to avoid the symbolic meaning of the lottery. In the end it seen to be a tradition where they stone a person each year. In essence it is ironical the way the villagers revere the ceremony. They also in turn despise the other villages which have done away with the practice. Shirley Jackson tries to avoid explaining in detail the gift or consequence of the person who comes out a winner of the lottery. However, the author concentrates on describing the particular events of the story as it unfolds. The author also capitalizes on the events that also occur on the same square which are all led by the coal magnate Mr. Summer. This is evident as shown in the excerpt, “The lottery was conducted--as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program--by Mr. Summers. who had time and energy to devote to civic activities” (Shirley 1).

2. What is the tone as the story begins?

As the story begins the tone of the narrator is pensive and ardent. This can be seen in the excerpt, “The girls stood aside, talking among themselves, looking over their shoulders at rolled in the dust or clung to the hands of their older brothers or sisters. Soon the men began to gather. surveying their own children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and taxes” (Shirley 1). In the first two paragraphs, the author contemplates of the general surroundings. Giving reflective opinions of the day this is evident as the author describes the start of the day as cool and blossoming.

This is a philosophical suggestion of the day being welcoming. This gesture means that it is a day which is well awaited by all. The eagerness and the readiness shown by all displays ardency. It is not any ordinary day because all the villagers know the lottery tradition happens once every year. The children come to the square first since there in their summer holiday. It is clear that all are eager and punctual since the adults come in second. People stay in families hence depicting reverence. The ton of the author as he explains the situation can be described as ardent.

3. Has there ever been any other breaks with tradition?

The original Lottery paraphernalia was lost many years ago. So, the community used a black box which was built to replace the original item. The other tradition which had been broken is use of wooden chips. The first inhabitants of the village used wooden chips to mark the lottery slips. Mr. Summer had come up with the idea of using paper chips giving the reason that they could easily fit in the black box as the community grew each year. It is also said that the official of the ritual had to be sworn in and he chanted some reserved words to the crowd. This tradition was also broken. In this ritual, the official was supposed to walk among the people while chanting tuneless words.

Mr. Summer is determined to change most of the old tradition to fit the modern world. The author describes how each year after the lottery he tries to petition the people in order to change the black box. It is tattered and in bad condition but the villagers stand their ground not to change or alter any detail about it. As the official of the lottery he is also not sworn in and does not take initiative to maintain the tradition. People also remembered that there had also been a ritual salute that the official of the lottery had to use in communicating to every person who came up the box to pick a slip. This tradition was also broken with now Mr. Summer only felt it necessary to talk to the person who came up to pick their slip. This is evident in the excerpt, “There had been, also, a ritual salute, which the official of the lottery had had to use in addressing each person who came up to draw from the box, but this also had changed with time, until now it was felt necessary only for the official to speak to each person approaching” (Shirley 2).

4. What is on each of the children’s papers?

The papers belonging to the children of the Hutchison family were blank, they all picked their papers after their mother complained of unfairness in the casting of the papers. Nancy, Billy, and Dave all picked their slips on a household roll. The fact that the papers were blank meant that they were safe and had lost the lottery. If one got a blank paper they would participate in the sport as they were safe. On the contrary if the slip was dotted with coal, they were bound to be stoned by the village. That was the dimple rule of the village lottery. The children’s mother picks a dotted paper and is stoned by the mob. The slips are taken with a fair note as they are not opened until the round of picking is over. Nancy and Billy junior picked their papers, but David was helped by Harry the post man because he was little and could open his paper before they were done and mess the process.

This happens to be a unique situation because the children cast the lots if only representing a certain household. This can be done in an appeal manner, in the story Mrs. Hutchinson refuses the first result and calls for an appeal. The other child who is picks a slip in the lottery is Jack Watson. The author describes him as a boy who represents his mother. He is old enough past sixteen but he stand sin as a man in the head of households roll. His paper is also blank this means he is safe from winning the lottery which might lead to him being stoned. This is evident in the excerpt, “Mr. Graves opened the slip of paper and there was a general sigh through the crowd as he held it up and everyone could see that it was blank. Nancy and Bill. Jr.. opened theirs at the same time. and both beamed and laughed. turning around to the crowd and holding their slips of paper above their heads” (Shirley 6).

5. What is Tessie doing in the center of the circle of her friends, neighbors, and family?

The Lottery is a symbolist feature for a traditional stoning ceremony. Tessie is in the middle of the crowd so that she can pay the price of the lottery. As the story begins the children as seen piling up stones. The stones are then picked up by the villagers who then hurry to throw them at Tessie before she runs for her life. The essence of the lottery is to remove the bad omen in the community every year. This is symbolized by the coal used to mark the winning paper of the lottery. Tessie knows what is upon her and she says it is unfair to do so. The villagers don’t hesitate to stone her as soon as the Lottery official announces her the winner. This can be seen from the excerpt, “Although the villagers had forgotten the ritual and lost the original black box, they still remembered to use stones” (Shirley 7).

Work Cited

Jackson, Shirley. "The Lottery (1948)." The Treasury of American Short Stories (1949).