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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. Why are people gathering in the town square?

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

3. What type of story is THE LOTTERY?

4. What explanation does the late comer give for being late?

5. How many people live in the village?

Short Essay Questions

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

2. Where are the women and what are they doing?

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

4. What does the setting of THE LOTTERY say about the citizens of the village.

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

6. What is different about this year's lottery?

7. Until she is knocked unconscious, what does Tessie keep trying to do?

8. How is the black spot finally revealed?

9. Why is everything so organized in the village for the lottery?

10. Who is the second citizen of the village and what is his function in the lottery?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Write two or three paragraphs in which you discuss whether Tessie Hutchinson had a premonition that she would draw the black spot. Decide if you think Shirley Jackson had that idea in mind as she wrote THE LOTTERY.

Essay Topic 2

Write a paper on how well written short stories hold the interest of the reader including the fact that they can be read in one sitting.

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

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