Analysis of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery'

Setting and Mood in 'The Lottery'

“The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson

1. What do you think of when you think of the lottery? 

* Setting can best be defined as: 

A. The emotional effect or feeling that a text creates in a reader.
B. The physical location, time, and social environment in which a story takes place.
C. The background information that is important to a text.
D. The hints or clues within a story that help readers determine what will happen next or at the end.

2. In the first paragraph of this story, the setting is described. What kind of day is it? 

3. What kind of tone – or atmosphere – does this set for the story? 

Mood can best be defined as:

A. The emotional effect or feeling that a text creates in a reader.
B. The physical location, time, and social environment in which a story takes place.
C. The background information that is important to a text.
D. The hints or clues within a story that help readers determine what will happen next or at the end.

4. What kind of mood do the villagers seem to be in? 

5. How can you tell? 

6. What type of event does the lottery seem to be? 

7. In the fourth paragraph, it says there was a hesitation before two men helped Mr. Summers with the box. What possible reason could there be for people to hesitate to help? 

8. How long has this village been holding a lottery? 

9. How do you know? 

10. What are some of the differences between the lottery in the past and the lottery today? 

11. Why do you think they’re so concerned with everyone being there and finding replacements for those who are missing? 

12. How does Janey Dunbar feel about drawing for her husband? 

13. How can you tell? 

14. What is the mood of the crowd as Mr. Summers begins to draw the names?

15. Why do you think this is? 

16. How does Old Man Warner respond to the comments about getting rid of the lottery? 

17. Why does he respond this way?

18. What family won the lottery?

19. What was their reaction? 

20. Why do you think Mrs. Hutchinson reacted in such a way?

21. Why did everyone sigh when little Dave’s paper was blank?

22. What was the pile of rocks for?

Irony can best be defined as: 

A. An object, place, name, character, or event that represents something else.
B. An outcome that is very different from what is expected.
C. The message the author wants to convey to readers.
D. A long-established or inherited way of thinking or acting.

23. What was ironic about the ending of the story?

24. How did the villagers feel about what they were doing at the end of the story? 

25. How can you tell? 

26. Why do you think the villagers respond this way (including little Davie)?