The Lottery H4

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• havo
• Leerjaar 4

Goals: 

- I understand the story of The Lottery

- I can indicate the different fictional elements in the Lottery

https://www.newyorker.com/podcast/fiction/a-m-homes-reads-shirley-jackson

What happens when you win the lottery?

The Lottery - Shirley Jackson

What is the traditional dictionary definition of 'tradition'?

1. Customs and beliefs passed down from generation to generation.
2. Disregard for historical customs and rituals.
3. A recent practice developed by a community.
4. Innovation and modernization of cultural practices.

How do people feel about tradition in 'The Lottery'?

1. They actively rebel against it and seek change.
2. They are indifferent and apathetic towards it.
3. They feel a sense of obligation and duty to uphold it.
4. They view it as a source of joy and celebration.

Foreshadowing

•  literary device that writers utilize as a means to indicate or hint to readers something that is to follow or appear later in a story.
• excellent device in terms of creating suspense and dramatic tension for readers.

What is the purpose of foreshadowing in 'The Lottery'?

1. To describe the setting
2. To hint at the shocking ending
3. To provide historical context
4. To introduce the characters

What effect does foreshadowing have on the reader's perception of 'The Lottery'?

1. Creates a sense of unease and anticipation
2. Builds admiration for the tradition
3. Elicits sympathy for the lottery winner
4. Highlights the fairness of the lottery process

In 'The Lottery', what event foreshadows the tragic outcome?

1. The annual gathering of the villagers
2. The children gathering stones in the square
3. The mention of the black box
4. The description of the summer weather

Irony

•  What you hear or see does not match with reality.
• Think of sarcasm. When it is raining and someone tells you: "What a lovely day to be outside."
• Often used in cases of misfortune:
  Win the lottery and die the next day
  Being hit by an ambulance

Why is the title 'The Lottery' ironic?

How does the author create situational irony in 'The Lottery'?

1. By revealing the lottery's true purpose at the beginning
2. By setting a seemingly festive atmosphere before the grim revelation
3. By introducing a conflict between the villagers
4. By depicting the characters' joyful anticipation

Should we uphold traditions without changing anything about them, just because it was always done that way?

1. yes
2. no

What is the theme of The Lottery?
(i.e. what lesson can you learn)

Jackson’s point is that every age and every culture has its own illogical and even harmful traditions, which are obeyed in the name of ‘tradition’.

Not all traditions should be followed blindly.

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/-r0OJS7jgxk

Can we judge other cultures for having traditions that seem weird to us?

1. yes
2. no