Question

section 1: rhetorical devices
device\tdefinition & textual example
irony: the contrast between expectations and reality.
example: the \clear and sunny\ day contrasts with the dark, violent ritual that follows.
symbolism: using an object to represent a larger idea.
example: the black box represents the decaying, outdated nature of the tradition itself.
foreshadowing: hints about what is to come.
example: bobby martin and the other boys stuffing their pockets with stones.
section 2: analysis frame - point, evidence, analysis
analyze how jackson uses one of the devices above to critique blind adherence to tradition.
point:
evidence (quote):
analysis (how it builds the critique):

Explanation:

To complete this analysis for "The Lottery" (assuming we choose Symbolism as the device, though Irony or Foreshadowing could also work; let's use Symbolism for example):

Point:

Jackson uses symbolism to critique blind adherence to tradition by highlighting the lottery’s outdated, violent nature.

Evidence (Quote):

"The black box grew shabbier each year; by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained." (From The Lottery)

Analysis (How it builds the critique):

The black box symbolizes the lottery tradition itself. Its decaying, shabby appearance (splintered wood, faded/stained surface) mirrors how the tradition has grown outdated, meaningless, and morally corrupt over time. Yet the villagers still use it, showing their blind loyalty to a ritual that has lost its original purpose (if it ever had a just one) and now exists only as a violent, mindless custom. This symbolism exposes the danger of clinging to traditions without questioning their value.

If you prefer a different device (e.g., Irony or Foreshadowing), adjust the point/evidence/analysis accordingly:

• Irony example:

Point: Jackson uses irony to critique blind adherence to tradition by contrasting the lottery’s violent reality with its misleadingly “harmless” setup.
Evidence: “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.”
Analysis: The cheerful, peaceful setting (clear sky, blooming flowers) is ironic because the lottery ends in murder. This contrast highlights how the villagers’ blind adherence to tradition allows them to normalize violence, masking it with a facade of pleasantry.

• Foreshadowing example:

Point: Jackson uses foreshadowing to hint at the lottery’s violent end, critiquing how tradition blinds villagers to its cruelty.
Evidence: “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix … eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.”
Analysis: The boys collecting stones foreshadows the stoning at the lottery’s end. Their casual, playful behavior (guarding stones “against raids”) contrasts with the violence to come, showing how tradition has desensitized them to the ritual’s brutality—they see it as a game, not a murder.

Choose the device that best supports your analysis of “blind adherence to tradition”!

Answer:

To complete this analysis for "The Lottery" (assuming we choose Symbolism as the device, though Irony or Foreshadowing could also work; let's use Symbolism for example):

Point:

Jackson uses symbolism to critique blind adherence to tradition by highlighting the lottery’s outdated, violent nature.

Evidence (Quote):

"The black box grew shabbier each year; by now it was no longer completely black but splintered badly along one side to show the original wood color, and in some places faded or stained." (From The Lottery)

Analysis (How it builds the critique):

The black box symbolizes the lottery tradition itself. Its decaying, shabby appearance (splintered wood, faded/stained surface) mirrors how the tradition has grown outdated, meaningless, and morally corrupt over time. Yet the villagers still use it, showing their blind loyalty to a ritual that has lost its original purpose (if it ever had a just one) and now exists only as a violent, mindless custom. This symbolism exposes the danger of clinging to traditions without questioning their value.

If you prefer a different device (e.g., Irony or Foreshadowing), adjust the point/evidence/analysis accordingly:

• Irony example:

Point: Jackson uses irony to critique blind adherence to tradition by contrasting the lottery’s violent reality with its misleadingly “harmless” setup.
Evidence: “The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.”
Analysis: The cheerful, peaceful setting (clear sky, blooming flowers) is ironic because the lottery ends in murder. This contrast highlights how the villagers’ blind adherence to tradition allows them to normalize violence, masking it with a facade of pleasantry.

• Foreshadowing example:

Point: Jackson uses foreshadowing to hint at the lottery’s violent end, critiquing how tradition blinds villagers to its cruelty.
Evidence: “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix … eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.”
Analysis: The boys collecting stones foreshadows the stoning at the lottery’s end. Their casual, playful behavior (guarding stones “against raids”) contrasts with the violence to come, showing how tradition has desensitized them to the ritual’s brutality—they see it as a game, not a murder.

Choose the device that best supports your analysis of “blind adherence to tradition”!