Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- With the exception of the final five paragraphs, are there any indications of violence in the life of the village? What might the absence or presence of violence in other aspects of village life indicate, in light of the story's conclusion?
- Do you agree with Mrs. Hutchinson – is the lottery unfair? How or how not? Her friends and neighbors point out that they all take the same risks in participating.
- Are there any clues in the story that might explain how the lottery first started? What might its purpose be? What passages give the reader clues about the origins of this ritual?