Read the excerpt from "The Lottery."
Explain what is learned by the actions of the characters
in the excerpt.
Soon the men began to gather, surveying their own
children, speaking of planting and rain, tractors and
taxes. They stood together, away from the pile of stones
in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled
rather than laughed. The women, wearing faded house
dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk.
They greeted one another and exchanged bits of gossip
as they went to join their husbands. Soon the women,
standing by their husbands, began to call to their
children, and the children came reluctantly, having to be
called four or five times. Bobby Martin ducked under his
mother's grasping hand and ran, laughing, back to the
pile of stones. His father spoke up sharply, and Bobby
came quickly and took his place between his father and
his oldest brother.
O The lottery was a happy occasion because the men
told jokes, the children laughed, and the women were
able to exchange gossip.
O The lottery may not have been a happy occasion
because the men smiled rather than laughed, and the
children were apparently very hesitant to join their
families when it started.
O Most of the villagers were indifferent about the lottery
since it was held every year, and they already knew
the outcome this time.
O Most of the villagers were ready to do away with the
lottery since it was an outdated custom, carried over
from years past.