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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

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

2. What is revealing about the social order of the village?

3. What is Old man Warner's meaning when he says lottery in June, corn harvest soon?

4. What does Tessie try to do before Bill draws for the family?

5. What is Jackson's first element of surprise in the story?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Mr. Graves do at the Hutchinson family drawing?

2. What excuse does Tessie make for being late?

3. How are people dressed for this annual event?

4. Who do they look for before continuing with the lottery?

5. Whose name was the first to be called up for the lottery?

6. This time, who comes forward to draw slips of paper from the box?

7. What happens next after it is settled that Bill Hutchinson holds the paper with the black dot?

8. What request do Mr. Summers and Mr. Graves make of the villagers and who volunteers?

9. Describe the kind of morning it is on the day of the lottery.

10. What are some other town functions that Mr. Summers presides over?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Do some research and write a paper that briefly describes cultures that have held human sacrifices. Identify, if possible, their reasons for doing so.

Essay Topic 2

Write a few paragraphs about fear of the unknown. Think of a time when you were anxious because you did not know what was going to happen. Then write down what you were afraid of and whether your fears were real or unfounded.

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper on what you believe Shirley Jackson is satirizing in THE LOTTERY. Explain whether you think there is a religious undertone to the story.

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