How do you summarize the lottery?

“The Lottery” is a short story by Shirley Jackson that depicts a small town’s annual lottery. A black box full of paper slips is brought to the town square. The town’s residents gather in the town square, and each draws a piece of paper. Bill Hutchison, the head of his household, draws a paper with a black dot on it.

What is the main point of the lottery?

The elaborate ritual of the lottery is designed so that all villagers have the same chance of becoming the victim—even children are at risk. Each year, someone new is chosen and killed, and no family is safe. What makes “The Lottery” so chilling is the swiftness with which the villagers turn against the victim.

What is a good thesis statement for the lottery?

In short, the lottery is more of a tradition rather than a ritual at the point we witness in the story but out of respect and fear for tradition, the townsfolk are more than willing to commit an act of mass violence, simply for the sake of a tradition.

What are 3 themes in the lottery?

The main themes in “The Lottery” are the vulnerability of the individual, the importance of questioning tradition, and the relationship between civilization and violence.

What was Shirley Jackson’s message in the lottery?

The short story, “The Lottery,” by Shirley Jackson communicates this theme by showing how the villagers participate in a lottery every year. In life, there are people who follow tradition because the have to, or they are used to following without question.

Who broke their leg in the lottery?

Mr. Summers recalls the reason for his absence, revealing how well he knows each individual villager. The fact that even though Dunbar broke his leg, he still needs someone to draw for him and could potentially be the one chosen, further demonstrates the cruelty of the lottery and, indirectly, of Mr. Summers.

What is Shirley Jackson’s message in the lottery?

The primary message of Shirley Jackson’s celebrated short story “The Lottery” concerns the dangers of blindly following traditions. In the story, the entire community gathers in the town square to participate in the annual lottery.

Why was the lottery written?

1. Writing “The Lottery” was a snap for Shirley Jackson. Jackson, who lived in North Bennington, Vermont, wrote the story on a warm June day after running errands.

What are the symbols in The Lottery?

The Lottery Symbols

• Stones. The stones that the villagers use to kill the victim selected by the lottery are mentioned periodically throughout the story.
• The Black Box.
• The marked slip of paper.

What literary devices are used in The Lottery?

The literary devices Jackson uses to support the theme of ‘The Lottery’ are irony, foreshadowing, and pacing.

What do the stones symbolize in the lottery?

The stones that the villagers use to kill the victim selected by the lottery are mentioned periodically throughout the story. This repetition develops the stones as a symbol of the violence that humans are seemingly always prepared to commit.

Why did Tessie get stoned in The Lottery?

Tessie is not as nervous as her fellow neighbors beside her but by the end of the story when her husband pulls the first dot, she is complaining that it is unfair, and her husband did not have enough time to pull the paper he wanted. Ultimately Tessie ends up with the final dot and is stoned to death.