Passaic County Community College

Passaic County Community College

English Department

EN 102 Fall 2021 Final Exam

Writing Prompt: In a well-developed essay of five paragraphs, discuss the theme of anachronistic tradition that surfaces in Shirley Jackson’s short story “The Lottery” and what you think the author wants readers to learn from this story.

Support your explanation and interpretations by integrating at least two quotes from the story to support your points. Be sure to remember proper quoting format. Include the author’s name and the page number in your parenthetical citation.

Ideas to Consider:

Why do the elders of the town insist on continuing the tradition of the lottery?

How did this tradition start and why are they opposed to discontinuing it?

How can a reader tell that there are those who wish to drop this tradition?

What do you think about this tradition of the lottery?

What other traditions in our society continue even though the original meaning for this tradition has been lost or forgotten?

What is one or some anachronistic traditions still alive in society today? (That is, a society still has the tradition but its continuation is so outdated.)