Lottery : Shirley Jackson

Here are some informations about Lottery by Shirley Jackson that maybe can help you, guys. Actually, it's my discussion task in my college. Don't forget to put the credit if you want to copy it. Thankyou :)

Discussion questions:

1.       Where does the story take place? In what way dose the setting affect the story? Does it make you more or less likely to anticipate the ending?

The setting is in the town square. The setting affect this lottery story because it will become some kind like weird if an event like lottery, where there are many people gather in one place, doesn’t have the setting in town square. I think, the title make the reader more likely to anticipate the ending. It is about “who will become the winner of the lottery” when I start to read it. So, setting doesn’t affect the reader to anticipate the ending.

2.       In what ways are the characters differentiated from one another? Looking back at the story, can you see why Tessie Hutchinson is singled out as the “winner”?

The characters differentiated from one another in the way the author tell the story, like in the character’s dialogue. I’m not really sure why Tessie Hutchinson is singled out as the “winner”. But maybe it is because she is late to come to the event and even forgot about the event.

3.        What are some examples of irony in this story? For example, why might the title, “The Lottery”, or the opening description in paragraph one, be considered ironic?

I think it is ironic because of the story. The story is about a lottery for a punishment, not for a thing.

4.       Jackson gives interesting names to a number of her characters. Explain the possible allusions, irony or symbolism of some of these:

-          Delacroix

Berasal dari bahasa Prancis yang berarti “salib”. Ini menggambarkan bahwa drama tersebut berhubungan dengan keagamaan.

-          Graves

Dalam bahasa Inggris berarti “kuburan”. Ini menggambarkan bahwa drama tersebut berhubungan dengan kematian.

-          Summers

Menunjukkan setting waktu dalam drama tersebut, yaitu pada musim panas (Summer dalam bahasa inggris berarti musim panas).

-          Bentham

Menyimbolkan seorang filosofi Inggris yang bernama Bentham, yang merupakan pejuang kemanusiaan.

-          Hutchinson

Berasal dari bahasa inggris “Hutch” yang berarti “peti”. Ini menggambarkan bahwa drama tersebut berhubungan dengan kematian.

5.       Were you surprised by the ending of the story? Give some clues or explanation if your answer wither no or yes.

Yes! Of course. I am shocked with the ending. I think the lottery is about some things that u will get if u win the lottery. But, it’s different! Because it is a lottery for a punishment.

6.       How does Jackson start to foreshadow the ending in paragraphs 2 and 3?

By mentioning the “stone” word many times. It just like giving clue that may be the “stone” is related to the ending

7.       How does Jackson lull us into thinking that this is just an ordinary story with an ordinary town?

From the title of the story, and from some opening paragraph of the story.