1. What is the significance of the narrator’s description of the black box?
2. What is the significance of Tessie’s repeated exclamations that the lottery is unfair? Exactly which aspect of the lottery does she challenge?
3. Why do you think Jackson composed this story? What was she trying to say about American culture?

“Rocket Night”

4. What is the significance of the fourth paragraph? What kind of victims are chosen and how are they chosen? What do you think Weinstein is trying to say with this story?

Comparison

5. Compare the process by which victims are chosen in “The Lottery” and “Rocket Night.” Which seems more horrific? Why?
6. What recent events or news stories do either of these two stories bring to mind? Are there modern-day “lotteries” or “rocket nights”? Are there traditions we carry on but that no longer make sense or are harmful? Why would people carry on outdated or harmful traditions?