The Lottery Essay Questions, Prompts, & Topics

“The Lottery” is one of those stories that can be interpreted in a million different ways. The author brings up many cultural, social, and even political issues for discussion. It is so controversial that the readers were sending hate mails to Jackson!

Did you receive a writing assignment on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson? Have no idea where to start? Don’t panic! Sometimes you can find it hard to decide on one topic when there are so many options. This short story also has many Easter eggs to analyze. Custom-Writing.org experts created this list of the best ideas for the essay and “The Lottery” essay questions to help you out!

💡 Essay Topics
✍️ Writing Prompts
❓ Essay Questions
✒️ Essay Samples

💡 The Lottery: Essay Topics

Don’t know where to start your essay on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson? Check out the prompts to help you write a successful paper!

Literary analysis essay on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. For this task, you would need to work through the main themes of the story. However, to make it easier, you might want to focus on one topic at a time. For instance, write about the role of tradition and how powerful it can be.
How are gender roles represented in the story? Look closer to how the roles are divided in this fictional society. There is violence against women, but it doesn’t seem like they are allowed to play victims. Can you catch a glimpse of sexism in some situations? You might as well draw some parallels with the real world.
How much do traditions affect our lives? “The Lottery” as an example. In this analysis essay on “The Lottery”, you are asked to elaborate on the central theme of the story. Shirley Jackson shows tradition to be so strong and powerful in this society that the rational mind can’t even bring others to reason.

Social classes in “The Lottery”. Are there any characters in the short story that may seem a bit more privileged than the others? All villagers seem to be in the same boat with equal rights. What about Mr. Summers? His name is on the list, and he draws with everybody else, but doesn’t he have more powers?
The psychology of the crowd in the short story. You are asked to write an argumentative essay on “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. Look for some strong arguments to support the idea. However, there is no need to come up with complicated psychoanalytic theories. Focus on your personal opinion and add some quotes.
Hidden symbols in Shirley Jackson’s story. Here, it would help if you worked on literary analysis for a little bit. There are some apparent symbols, such as the black box and the stones. But how many more can you find? For example, look at the importance of households and write a symbolism essay on “The Lottery”.
Investigate the phenomenon of hypocrisy in “The Lottery”. The villagers can be friendly and kind to their neighbors before the ritual begins. However, as soon as they know the results, they immediately turn against “the winner.” Tessie seems like she would do the same, but when she appears to be the chosen one, it doesn’t please her at all.
Tessie Hutchinson as a scapegoat in “The Lottery”. What can make you think that the main character serves as a scapegoat for the villagers? She might not have a good reputation among them. What do you think drives them to stone her to death? Start a debate on this issue, and don’t forget to use our literature study guide!
The significance of names in Shirley Jackson’s story. You might have noticed the specifics of the main characters’ names. For instance, Mr. Summers fits perfectly in the setting of a beautiful summer day. Mr. Delacroix, in his turn, carries some hidden religious meaning if you look up the translation. Can you find any other meaningful names?
What is the central message of “The Lottery”? You might have thought about it after reading the summary of the short story. Well, there is no specific answer because everything depends on your perspective. It may concern social or political issues or whatever you prefer. It is what makes your essay so unique, isn’t it?

✍️ The Lottery Writing Prompts

These “The Lottery” essay prompts will help you find inspiration and overcome the fear of a blank page.

The Lottery Tradition Essay Prompt

Explain why it’s hard to let go of traditions. Use “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson to prove your point. In your essay, analyze the quote, “Lottery in June, corn be heavy soon.” Try to find the reasons why people may keep following traditions even when they become redundant.
Should rituals and traditions exist in the contemporary world? There are still many cases of cruel customs today. For instance, in some African tribes, certain rituals can lead to grave injuries. Examine the tradition in “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. Is it morally adequate? Should we ban such traditions or let them remain in certain societies and countries? Share your ideas.

The Lottery Argumentative Essay Prompt

Why do you think characters in “The Lottery” willingly join the ritual? Tessie doesn’t try to disobey or run despite knowing the cruel outcome. In your paper, study the causes of such behavior.
Why did Tessie call the ritual “unfair”? At the very end of the story, Tessie is picked by people as a sacrifice. Before that, she complained that nobody had given her a choice during the lottery. In your essay, elucidate her accusations. Present your point of view on whether or not the ritual was just.

The Lottery Point of View Essay Prompt

What do you think about the narrative style of Jackson’s story? In your paper, scrutinize the literary techniques the author uses. How does it add to the narrative? Use examples from the story to prove your point.
Could “The Lottery” be told from the first person? How would you change the plot if you were to write it from the POV of one of the characters? Which character is best for that role? Provide answers in your essay.

The Lottery Ending Essay Prompt

How would you alter the final segment of Jackson’s short story? Did you enjoy it in general? In your essay, review the ending and express your feelings about it. Propose a few alternative ways of finishing the story.
What is the symbolic meaning of the final segment in “The Lottery”? Why did Shirley Jackson choose that specific way of finishing her story? Try to clarify why the story ends the way it did. What are the reasons behind such a cruel finale? Provide the answer in your essay.

❓ The Lottery Essay Questions

Was the ritual in Jackson’s story an example of herd behavior?
Is there a way to bring down the cruel tradition from “The Lottery,” in your opinion?
What makes people commit cruel and inhumane actions, according to Jackson’s story?
Is the ritual just an excuse to brutally murder someone?
What are the central themes of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”?
What are the symbolic meanings behind objects that villagers use?
Why did nobody try to stop the ritual, in your opinion?
Is there gender equality in the society from “The Lottery”?
How can ideas from this story be implemented in real life?
What is the role of group and social pressure in rituals?
Should we follow traditions even if they are redundant, according to “The Lottery”?
Are there any positive traits of villagers in Jackson’s story?