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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. What is the irony of Tessie Hutchinson drawing the black dot?

2. What is being used for the first time this year?

3. What does Jackson suggest about civic prominence in the character of Mr. Summers.

4. Who is assigned to conduct the lottery?

5. How does Jackson suggest that tradition may be questioned?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why is Mr. Summers always in charge of the lottery every year?

2. What does Tessie Hutchinson do when she realizes that Bill has the paper?

3. What do the villagers begin to do at that point?

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

5. Have there ever been deviations from tradition in the past? What are they?

6. How does Jackson draw the reader into the spirit of the lottery?

7. What kind of lists are required for the conduct of the lottery?

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

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

10. How are people dressed for this annual event?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write a paper explaining how traditions may change over time. Traditions are usually handed down by example or word of mouth. How would this make it easy for change to happen?

Essay Topic 2

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.

Essay Topic 3

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.

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This section contains 555 words (approx. 2 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample