The Lottery Comprehension Questions & Reading Journal
3.7 out of 5, (30 ratings on Open Library)
The Lottery has 6 chapters · 32 pages
Also contained in: - Come Away with Me - Fifth Fontana Book of Great Horror Stories - Great Short Stories of the World - Magic of Shirley Jackson - Scarlet Letter and Related Readings - Scarlet Letter with Connections.
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Inside the journal: 6 chapter pages, one question each · 3 example answers · a cover for your reader’s name
Chapter by chapter Each question is about its own chapter.
What do you learn about the village and the people as they gather in the square? Use details from the story to explain the mood at the beginning.See all 6 questions ↓
About the book
Also contained in: - Come Away with Me - Fifth Fontana Book of Great Horror Stories - Great Short Stories of the World - Magic of Shirley Jackson - Scarlet Letter and Related Readings - Scarlet Letter with Connections.
Buy the book on Amazon ↗ (affiliate link)
The Lottery questions by chapter
We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. One question per chapter, across all 6 chapters, and every one is editable before you print. The example answers under 3 of the chapters are the ones printed at the front of the booklet.
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Chapter 1
What do you learn about the village and the people as they gather in the square? Use details from the story to explain the mood at the beginning.
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Chapter 2
The word lottery usually makes people think of winning a prize. How is the meaning of lottery different in this story, and why do you think the author chose that word?
Example answer: I usually think a lottery is something happy because someone wins money or a prize. In this story, the lottery is not happy at all, because the person chosen is in danger. I think Shirley Jackson chose that word to surprise the reader. It makes the ending feel even more shocking because the word seemed positive at first.
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Chapter 3
What kind of leader does Mr. Summers seem to be? Describe him using at least two details from the story.
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Chapter 4
As the drawing continues, what clues make you think something is not right? What do you predict might happen next?
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Chapter 5
What message, or theme, do you think the story gives about traditions? Explain how the villagers' actions help show that message.
Example answer: I think the theme is that people should think carefully about traditions instead of following them just because they are old. The villagers keep doing the lottery even though it hurts someone. Some people do not even remember all the reasons for it, but they still join in. This shows that a tradition can be harmful if nobody questions it.
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Chapter 6
How did you feel about the ending of the story? Do you think the villagers should keep doing the lottery or change their tradition? Explain your opinion.
Example answer: I felt upset and surprised by the ending because the village seemed normal at the beginning. I do not think the villagers should keep doing the lottery. A tradition should not hurt people or make families afraid. I think they should find a new way to bring the town together that is safe and kind.
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How to use this The Lottery reading journal
At home, as a discussion guide
After each chapter your reader writes a few lines on that chapter’s question. Read the answer together at bedtime: it shows what they understood and gives you something real to talk about, without a quiz.
In class, as a novel study
Print a class set (booklets fold from plain letter paper) and use one question per chapter as the reading-response or literature-circle prompt. The example answers at the front show what a full answer looks like.
Homeschool
One booklet covers the whole book, 6 chapters, so it doubles as the reading log for The Lottery. Reword any question before printing to match your reader.
Printing
The booklet PDF prints on ordinary 8.5 × 11 paper: print double-sided (flip on the short edge) at 100%, fold the stack in half and staple on the fold. There is also a one-page-per-sheet PDF and A5 binder pages.
Where the questions come from
Each question is about its own chapter. We know this book well. Every question asks about something that happens in its chapter, a moment, a choice or a character, without giving away what comes next. The questions were drafted with AI from what is known about the book and checked before publishing; every one is editable before you print.