Twisting Expectations: Horror Short Stories

Lesson 5
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ELA

Unit 16

8th Grade

Lesson 5 of 20

Objective


Identify examples of foreshadowing and analyze the message Shirley Jackson is trying to convey about human nature in her short story, "The Lottery." 

Readings and Materials


  • Short Story: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson 

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Target Task


Discussion & Writing Prompt

What idea is Shirley Jackson trying to convey about human nature in "The Lottery"? Provide specific evidence from the text to support your answer and carefully explain your thinking. 

Sample Response

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Key Questions


  • How does Mrs. Hutchinson (Tessie) react to the fact that her husband pulled the marked paper in paragraphs 44–54? How is this different from her attitude in paragraphs 8–9? Provide specific evidence from both sections of the text to support your answer.

  • How does Jackson foreshadow her story's ending in the first two paragraphs of "The Lottery"? Provide evidence from these paragraphs and carefully explain your thinking.

  • How does the meaning of paragraph 63 change once the reader discovers the true purpose of the lottery? Provide evidence from this paragraph and carefully explain your thinking.

  • What do paragraphs 73–76 reveal about the townspeople and the tradition of the lottery? Provide specific examples from these paragraphs and carefully explain your thinking. 

Vocabulary


Literary Terms

foreshadowing

n.

a subtle warning or indication of a future event in a text;  a "hint" the author provides the reader that something (usually bad) is going to happen.

Text-based

defiant

adj.

boldly resisting authority (The Lottery)

Homework


To ensure that students are prepared for the next lesson, have students complete the following reading for homework. Use guidance from the next lesson to identify any additional language or background support students may need while independently engaging with the text.

  • Short Story: “The Monkey's Paw” by W. W. Jacobs 

While reading, answer the following questions.

  • Who are the members of the White family?

  • What powers does the monkey's paw allegedly have?

  • What happened to the first person who had the paw?

  • What does Mr. White wish for? What happens immediately after he wishes?

  • Does Mr. White's wish come true?

  • What is the unintended outcome of his wish?

  • What does Mrs. White beg Mr. White to wish for as his second wish?

  • What is Mr. White's final wish?

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Common Core Standards


  • RL.8.2 — Determine a theme or central idea of a text and analyze its development over the course of the text, including its relationship to the characters, setting, and plot; provide an objective summary of the text.
  • RL.8.3 — Analyze how particular lines of dialogue or incidents in a story or drama propel the action, reveal aspects of a character, or provoke a decision.

Supporting Standards

L.8.6
RL.8.1
RL.8.4
RL.8.10
SL.8.1
SL.8.6
W.8.1
W.8.1.a
W.8.1.b
W.8.4
W.8.9
W.8.9.a
W.8.10

Next

Explain how characters' perspectives differ in "The Monkey's Paw."

Lesson 6
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