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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. Who is the first to hold up his slip of paper?

2. Who will participate in the ritual?

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

4. What is happening when they make any change in the lottery procedure?

5. Why do they stop using the wood chips?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does the Martin family make the scene appear like a gathering of everyday families?

2. After locating the holder of the black spot, what do the villagers do?

3. According to the rules of the lottery, how long does the stoning go on?

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

5. Why is the lottery held later in the morning in this particular village?

6. What does Mrs. Delacroix do to participate in the stoning?

7. How are people dressed for this annual event?

8. Eventually, how do the people assemble as they wait for the lottery?

9. As Mr. Summers turns to face the gathered villagers, what disturbance occurs?

10. How does Tessie try to widen the odds of her drawing the black dot?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper comparing THE LOTTERY with the infamous Salem witch trials. What is the common psychological thread that runs through the people of the village and the citizens of Salem intent on removing witches?

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper where the towns people hold a meeting to decide if they will do away with the lottery. Use the characters from Shirley Jackson's story. Who, besides Old man Warner, will oppose the idea of doing away with it?

Essay Topic 3

Write a paper on surprise endings to short stories that are humorous instead of macabre. [If you do not know one, read O'Henry's THE RANSOM OF RED CHIEF for this assignment.]

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This section contains 539 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample