Little Davy is symbolic of the biblical David. ... The black box is an ill-omened symbol, marking one unlucky winner to be morbidly murdered by their fellow villagers. ... The villager's attitude towards the black box and its traditions goes unquestioned. ... Summer often suggests having a new box made but his suggestion goes unanswered because "no one liked to upset even as much has tradition was represented by the black box " (134). ... The black box of death is placed on top of the three legged stool of the Christian Trinity. ...

• Word Count: 686
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

The atmosphere is serious, where the children are "gathered around quietly." (335) The black box is the central theme or idea in the story. ... Someone's fate lies in an dull object, the black box. ... The box is symbolic of our dislike of change; it is old and splintered (337) showing that we cling to what is familiar rather than change and it also symbolizes the traditions of the community. No one in the little town questions the origin of the black box, but accepts it as part of their lives. ...

• Word Count: 454
• Approx Pages: 2
• Grade Level: High School

Then unexpectedly her family gets the paper with the black dot, and Mrs. ... Another example of irony in the story is when the author stated " The children had stones already, and someone gave little Davy Hutchinson a few pebbles." ... The author also uses the black box to set an uneasy mood when she says" "the stool was put in the center of the square and Mr. Summers set the black box down on it. ... They seem to be scared of what the box represents, a symbol of bad luck. ...

• Word Count: 648
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Playing as such shows little or no feelings of sadness or anxiety. ... Also used is the black box that they draw the tickets from. This box represents the traditions of the town and the sole purpose of the lottery. The characters in the story are so resistant to change that they refuse to build a new box. Even the current box is built from pieces of the old one. ...

• Word Count: 654
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Also, their attitude toward the black box that holds the slips of paper was one of indifference. "The black box grew shabbier each year; by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some place faded or stained." ... Relief is understandable, but wouldn't the majority of people be a little bit upset knowing that they had to stone their own mother to death? ...

• Word Count: 717
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

Although, in retrospect, there is some hints earlier in the story such as "stone" and people's feeling that tells a little bit about the outcome of the story. ... In a tranquil, calm and happy little village, there is an annual lottery. ... Also, when the black box is brought in, the mood and atmosphere of the residents noticeably change. A "murmur of conversation"(256) rolls through the crowd, and when the lottery official asks for help carrying the box, there "s a "hesitation"(256) before two men step forward to assist him. ...

• Word Count: 643
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: High School

The whole tradition of the drawing slips of paper from a black wooden box has its roots in ancient history and people already forgot the original reason of it. ... The slip of paper with a black point finally ends in the hands of Tessie Hutchinson. ... But in this case he is not successful because of disagreement of those people who believe that the present box had been made with some pieces of the original box which had been constructed by people who established their village. ... Jackson, New Yorker, 1948, p. 3) In the middle: "And now we`ve got to be hurrying a little more to get done...

• Word Count: 2043
• Approx Pages: 8
• Grade Level: High School

Men of each family must pick a slip of paper from a black box. ... Little do the readers know, the lottery in the story's case, is being stoned to death. ... Almost every little detail in this story has a bit of irony to it, including the names of the characters. ... Graves made up slips of paper and put them in the box"(2). ...

• Word Count: 1411
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School