Michael Thomas Harbuck						English 1201-SCC
27-02-2008								Lottery questions
Ambrose								Sanford, Florida
	
Rewrite Nrs.  2 and 3

1.  I imagine The Lottery taking place in some  remote eastern European country, where 

everything is still very backwards.   The setting, being in my opinion an agricultural one, is 

familiar  to a large proportion of Americans, and is important, because the connection with the 

land, which is here nature, and the driving force behind the lottery, must be emphasized.  It 

seams ordinary, because it COULD happen anywhere, at any time.

2.  The fact that there were persons, here boys, who were piling up rocks, within the view of, 

and under the supervision of elders, began the foreshadowing within the story.  The stone has 

been used in the bible as the weapon of the meek, and unless these piles are to be used as 

markers, to which there is no indication, then they are to be thrown.  Normally, parents, and 

adults do not allow their children to throw stones at others, as the once on the receiving end of 

the rocks, can be injured.  

3.  The black box is reminiscent of a coffin, which has the color of death, and which is not 

talked of fondly, but as an object associated with something bad of evil, and is therefore passed 

from person to person, because there is a feeling of foreboding, and dislike of having to keep 

the object.   The black spot is an evil foreboding of death which Robert Louis Stevenson 

created and used in his novel “Treasure Island.”  The ominous  black spot has been used in 

other stories as well throughout literary history, and is reveled as a harbinger of the grim 

reaper.

4. I believe her attitude is one of ignored acceptance, because she has not written against the 

lottery, but has not condoned the actions, or attempted to affect an active stoppage, only 

passively suggesting that others have abolished the practice.  Thus,  if someone else does it,it 

must be ok. 

5  There is a double meaning here.  The lottery is used as a yearly mark of progression within 

the community, and the lottery is also seen as a ritual which appeases nature, therefore 

granting them the needed nourishment.