Name _______________________________________ Date: _________________

The Lottery

1. When does the lottery take place?

2. Where does it take place?

3. What is the population of the town, and how long does the lottery take/

4. What are the boys in the square doing?

5. What details suggest that this is a social event/

6. Who conducts the lottery and hat business does he run?

7. To what other civic activities is the lottery compared?

8. What procedure is followed to determine who will “win” the lottery? Describe it.

9. Why do all the townspeople open their papers from the first drawing at the same time?

10. Why is it ironic that Mrs. Summers says, “Thought we were going to have to get on without you, Tessie” when Mrs. Hutchinson is late?

11. What family is “chosen” to become the victim?

12. At what point in the story does the reader realize what is going to happen? Quote the two key lines.

13. How does the story end/

14. Think of a custom or ritual that is practiced in our society but seldom questioned. Name it and discuss why traditions are not often questioned.