10th Grade Homework: Comprehension Questions for 'The Lottery'

Comprehension Questions for 'The Lottery'

Write each answer in a thorough, thoughtful complete sentence. Use specific citations from the story whenever possible. You should write down each question and answer in the notes section of your notebook.

1. Describe the initial setting of 'The Lottery.' Based on the setting and the title of this story, what expectations did you have about this story?

2. Describe the society of the village within 'The Lottery.' What kinds of jobs do they have? Do they seem educated? What details of the story helped you come to this conclusion?

3. Foreshadowing is an indication that hints at later events in the story. Find three examples of foreshadowing that point to the surprise at the end of the story.

4. This story has a very suspenseful mood. In what ways does Shirley Jackson create suspense within the story?

5. Dialogue is a conversation between two or more characters. What does the dialogue within the story reveal about the characters of the story?

6. On page 7, Old Man Warner says 'Listening to the young folks, nothing's good enough for them. Next thing you know, they'll be wanting to go back living in caves, nobody work anymore, live that way for awhile. Used to be a saying about 'Lottery in June, corn be heavy sooon.' First thing you know, we'd all be eating stewed chickweed and acorns...' What is ironic about this section of the story?

7. Apart from the grisly end of the story, what is one part of this story that you found especially disturbing?

8. What is the theme of 'The Lottery.' What did this story teach you or make you think about?