The Lottery quiz: Test your understanding of Shirley Jackson's story
This quiz helps you check your understanding of The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, from the black box to the story's irony. Answer concise questions and get instant feedback to prep for class or a test. If you're studying other short stories, try the necklace quiz, the most dangerous game quiz, or the Young Goodman Brown quiz.
Study Outcomes
- Identify Story Setting and Symbols -
Recognize key details of the village setting and describe how the townspeople view the lottery box within the community ritual.
- Analyze Community Behavior -
Examine how the townspeople's attitudes shift after the lottery begins and what that reveals about group dynamics and conformity.
- Interpret Thematic Twists -
Explore the shocking twist in Jackson's narrative and articulate its significance in conveying themes of tradition and violence.
- Answer Lottery Story Questions Accurately -
Demonstrate comprehension by correctly responding to quiz questions on plot points, character actions, and story details.
- Evaluate Character Motivations -
Assess Mrs. Hutchinson's behavior and her attempts to convince the townspeople, highlighting her motivations and the story's moral implications.
- Apply Critical Thinking Skills -
Use contextual evidence from the text to form reasoned interpretations and support your quiz answers with textual references.
Cheat Sheet
- Symbolism of the Black Box -
Jackson's worn black box represents the weight of blind tradition. According to Britannica and Oxford University Press, townspeople view the lottery box as a sacred relic despite its splintered state, showing how "how do the townspeople view the lottery box" underscores unquestioned ritual.
- Tradition vs. Individual Conscience -
Once the ritual starts, "after the lottery begins the townspeople become" fervent enforcers of custom, silencing any moral doubts. Use the mnemonic TOR (Tradition, Obedience, Ritual) to recall how Jackson critiques the dangers of conformism (University of Texas at Austin literature studies).
- Tessie Hutchinson's Protest -
When mrs. hutchinson tries to convince the townspeople that the drawing was unfair ("I tell you it isn't fair!"), Jackson spotlights scapegoating dynamics rooted in human psychology. A 2019 JSTOR paper on scapegoat theory confirms her defiance encapsulates moral outrage against senseless violence.
- Foreshadowing and Irony -
Answering the lottery story questions often hinges on spotting Jackson's subtle cues - joyful chatter about planting seeds foreshadows the grim finale. Purdue OWL recommends the S-I-C formula (Setting, Irony, Climax) as a handy framework when tackling the lottery quiz.
- Historical and Critical Context -
Understanding post-war American anxieties deepens insight into community violence in "The Lottery." René Girard's scapegoat mechanism (Modern Criticism journal) helps you connect societal critique to Jackson's narrative, boosting confidence when you face any related quiz question.