Question

In 1948, Shirley Jackson wrote a popular story called “The Lottery.” In the story, a town holds a drawing every spring that everyone must enter. No one knows where the tradition came from. When it is time for the lottery, the town has a large celebration. Then, everyone must draw a slip of paper. The person who draws a slip of paper with a black dot must be sacrificed.

Which details in this contemporary story were likely influenced by the story of Theseus and the Minotaur? Check all that apply.

holding a yearly drawing
having a large celebration
not knowing where a tradition came from
using the color black to indicate the unlucky winner
sacrificing people from the town every year

Answer 1

- Holding a yearly drawing

- Using the color black to indicate the unlucky winner

- Sacrificing people from the town every year

Step-by-step explanation:

Since the brief summary of "The Lottery" is already given, let's remind ourselves of the story of Theseus and the Minotaur.

King of Crete has set an ultimatum to the Athenian king; he will either destroy the Athens or 7 men and 7 women will be sacrificed each year to the Minotaur. So, like in Shirley Jackson's story, there was an annual drawing, and the unlucky winners who drew black balls were taken to Crete as a human sacrifice. When Theseus grew strong enough, he volunteered to go as one of seven men planning on killing the Minotaur.

So, the origin of a tradition is known and there was no celebration in this Greek mythology story, which makes other three options correct.