S.Y.

2020 - 2021
EMETERIO-FEDERICA GEREZ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Brgy. San Agustin, Babatngon, Leyte Q2
303421
JHS LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WK5
LAS No.: 1
Name: DANNY B. ELAGO________________________________________________Score:______________
Grade and Section: GRADE 9-HUMILITY____________________________________Date: ___________
Subject: English 9

ws Type of Activity: Concept Notes

Activity Title: THE LOTTERY

MELC: Analyze literature as means of valuing other people and other various circumstances in life
(EN9LT-IIb-15)
Learning To analyze literature as means of valuing other people and other various circumstances in life
Target:
References: Almonte, et al. (2014). A Journey Through Anglo-American Literature Grade 9. Philippines,
Department of Education.

CONCEPT
A Story To Tell!
We all like stories. Stories introduces us to situations and events which we may have or have not
experienced yet. The plot summary you are about to read tells of a fictional small town in
contemporary America who holds an annual rite they call “The Lottery.”

This short story by Shirley Jackson was first published in 1948 by The New Yorker is one of
the most famous short stories in the history of American Literature. It has been dramatized for
both radio and TV and literally analyzed for its sociological implications.

THE LOTTERY
by Shirley Jackson
(A plot based on the short story)

The Village Gathering

The story begins on a “clear and sunny” morning of June 27. The day is described as
having the “fresh warmth of a full-summer day” with flowers in full blossom and the grass “richly
green.” The people of the village gather in the square, between the post office and the bank, at
around 10:00 o’clock to participate in the annual lottery. Since there are only 300 people in the
village, the lottery takes less than two hours.
The children assemble first. Since school is recently over, their talk is mostly about
school---their teachers, their books and other school-related experiences. Bobby Martin stuffs his
pockets with stones and other children follow suit selecting the “smoothest and roundest” stones.
Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix make a huge pile of stones in one corner of the
square, guarding it against hoarding from other boys while girls stand aside observing the antics of
the boys.
Soon the men gather. And the women follow after. The menfolk stand together and talk
about their daily farming activities and challenges like planting and the rain, and tractors and
taxes. Womenfolk, on the other hand, exchange bits of gossip while keeping an eye out for their
children.
The Annual Ritual
Everyone settles down as soon as Mr. Summers arrives in the square. The villagers feel
sorry for Mr. Summers, a “round-faced, jovial man” who runs a coal business and “who has time
and energy to devote to civic activities” because of his wife.

LANGSOCTECH Department - LAS No. 1 - Page 1 of 2

 S.Y. 2020 - 2021
EMETERIO-FEDERICA GEREZ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Brgy. San Agustin, Babatngon, Leyte Q2
303421 JHS LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WK5

Mr. Summers, who is carrying a black wooden box and he apologizes to the townspeople
for being “a little late.” Mr. Graves, the postmaster, brings a three-legged stool which he places in
the center of the square so Mr. Summers can set the black box down on it. The villagers distance
themselves from the box.
Mr. Summers asks the men for help. After a brief hesitation, Mr. Martin and his son Baxter
come forward to hold the box steady while Mr. Summers stirs up the papers inside the box.
The Original Paraphernalia and Lottery Rules
The only thing left of the original paraphernalia for the lottery is the black box itself. It is
said to have been in used even before the time of Old Man Warner, the oldest man in town.
Although the subject of replacing the box has been always talked about, nothing is done about it
and it becomes shabbier every year. It is said that “no one likes to upset even as much tradition
as was represented by the black box.” One aspect that Mr. Summers iss successful in substituting
the “chips of wood that has been used for generations” with slips of paper. Mr. Summers
argument is that the town is growing and so it would be easier to fit slips of paper instead of chips
of wood.
Though a lot has been forgotten or discarded about the original ritual, the rules basically
remain the same: 1) the lottery has two draws, 2) no one under the age of sixteen is included in
the lottery, 3) only the head or man of the house can draw for the family, 4) if the husband is not
around, then the wife would draw for her husband, 6) Daughters draw with their husband’s family,
and 5) after drawing “keep the paper folded in your hand without looking at it until everyone has had
a turn.”
The First Draw
Mrs. Tessie Hutchinson comes in hurriedly into the square just as Mr. Summers is about to
begin. She says “ she forgets what day it is.” Mrs. Delacroix, who iss standing next to her, tells
her that she’s arrived “just in time.”
Mrs. Hutchinson goes over to where her husband and children are standing as villagers
notices her tardiness in good humor.
Mr. Summers soberly starts the first draw by confirming who is not around for the lottery
and who would draw for each of the family.
Then Mr. Summers gives last minute instructions, to which the villagers give only half their
attention as they are all familiar with it. He calls out names in alphabetical order and each takes a
turn to pick out a slip of paper from the box.
While the first draw is happening, Mrs. Delacroix tells Mrs. Graves how time seems short
between lotteries. Tessie Hutchinson cheers for her husband Bill when their family is called.
Mr. Adams tells Old Man Warner that the north village is talking about giving up the lottery
and that some villages have already given up the lottery altogether. Old Man Warner scoffs and
tell him that they are a “pack of crazy fools” and brings up the saying about “Lottery in June, corn
be heavy soon.” He insists that “there’s always been a lottery” and that having none could cause
“living in caves” and no one is wanting to work anymore.
Mr. Summers calls out the last family name, “Zanini.” After a momentary pause, the
villagers open their slips of paper and wonders who open the paper with the black dot at the
center. Everyone then realizes that the Hutchinson’s were the ones to draw it.
The Second Draw

LANGSOCTECH Department - LAS No. 1 - Page 2 of 3

 S.Y. 2020 - 2021
EMETERIO-FEDERICA GEREZ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Brgy. San Agustin, Babatngon, Leyte Q2
303421 JHS LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WK5

As people turn to look at the Hutchinsons Tessie Hutchinson shouts that Bill isn’t given
enough time to take the paper he wants. She insists that it isn’t fair. Mrs. Delacroix points out
how they all took the same chance and Bill Hutchinson tells his wife to shut up.
When Mr. Hutchinson asks if there are any other Hutchinson household, Tessie yells that Don and
Eva should also be made to take their chance. However, Mr. Summers gently reprimands and
reminds her that “daughters draw with their husband’s family.”
Tessie keeps insisting that the draw isn’t fair but Bill resigns and tells everyone that he’s got
no other family except his wife, Tessie, and his three kids, Bill Jr., Nancy and little Dave.
Mr. Summers then directs Mr. Graves to get the Hutchinson’s tickets and put these back
into the box.
Tessie adamantly insists to all those around her that “it isn’t fair!” but the villagers ignore her
cries.
Mr. Summers facilitates the second draw. He asks Mr. Harry Graves, to help little Dave
reach into the box. Mr. Graves laughs when Davy draws several and tells the little boy to draw
only one. After little Dave, Nancy draws a paper from the box. By the time it is Tessie’s turn, she
is subdued but still defiant. Bill draws the last slip of paper.
Around them, some girls whisper that they hope Nancy does not draw the paper with the
black dot.
Old Man Warner complains how people “ain’t the way they used to be” before Mr. Summers
gives the signal to the Hutchinson’s to open their respective papers. Mr. Summers directs Mr.
Graves to help Davy open little Dave’s and after opening it he holds up a blank slip of paper.
Nancy and Bill Jr. open theirs at the same time and happily show everyone their blank tickets. Bill
unfolds his and holds up a blank paper.
The crowd stirs as soon as they realize that Tessie has the slip of paper with the black dot.
The Sacrifice
Mr. Summers asks Tessie to open her paper but she refuses. Bill forces the paper out of
her hand and shows the incriminating paper to the crowd. Mr. Summers tells the crowd that they
should finish quickly.
And though the villagers have forgotten much about the ritual, they remember the use of
stones. Stones are all around them, ready to be used. Mrs. Delacroix picks up a stone so large
she has to pick it off the ground with both hands. She tells Mrs. Dunbar to hurry up.
The children who earlier make piles of stones armed themselves, too. Someone also gives
little Davy some pebbles.
Tessie Hutchinson cowers in the center of a cleared space. She holds out her hands
desperately as villagers moves in. While she shouts “It isn’t fair!” a stone hits the side of her head
and blood gushes out. Old Man Warner encourages everyone to hurry up and the villagers throw
stones at her.
The story ends with Mrs. Hutchinson screaming “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right!”

LANGSOCTECH Department - LAS No. 1 - Page 3 of 3

 S.Y. 2020 - 2021
EMETERIO-FEDERICA GEREZ NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Brgy. San Agustin, Babatngon, Leyte Q2
303421 JHS LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET WK5

LANGSOCTECH Department - LAS No. 1 - Page 4 of 3