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lottery since it was an outdated custom, carried over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.