Question

small group: analyzing universal theme
directions: answer the questions based on the short story, \the lottery ticket.\

1. read this paragraph from the story. then, underline the sentence in the paragraph below that shows how ivan realizes his wife figures out he plans to spend the money from the lottery ticket.

\and he looked at his wife, not with a smile now, but with hatred. she glanced at him too, and ivan could feel the hatred and anger coming from his wife. he realized she must have her own daydreams, her own plans, her own reflections. ivan grasped the knowledge that his wife understood perfectly well what his dreams were and that he would be the first to try and grab her winnings.\ (paragraph 37)

1. this question has two parts. first, answer part a. then, answer part b.

part a
which sentence states a universal theme from the story?
a. winning the state lottery and its shortcomings
b. complexities of human desires and relationships
c. obtaining immediate financial success and budgeting
d. having complete blind luck and the emotional drawbacks
part b
which sentence below supports the answer to part a?
a. \unable to believe his eyes, he hurriedly dropped the paper on his knees without looking to see the number of the ticket, and, just as though someone had given him a shower of cold water, he felt an agreeable chill in the pit of the stomach; tingling and terrible and sweet!\ (paragraph 9)
b. \the possibility of winning bewildered them; they could not have said, could not have dreamed, what they both needed that seventy - five thousand for, what they would buy, where they would go.\ (paragraph 19)
c. \he dozes sweetly, thinking of nothing, and feeling all over that he need not go to the office today, tomorrow, or the day after.\ (paragraph 24)
d. \and he looked at his wife, not with a smile now, but with hatred. she glanced at him too, and ivan could feel the hatred and anger coming from his wife. he realized she must have her own daydreams, her own plans, her own reflections.\ (paragraph 37)

Explanation:

1. In the given paragraph, the sentence "Ivan grasped the knowledge that his wife understood perfectly well what his dreams were and that he would be the first to try and grab her winnings." shows Ivan realizes his wife figures out his lottery - money - spending plans.

2.

• Part A: The story explores how the possibility of winning the lottery affects the relationship between Ivan and his wife, highlighting the complexities of human desires and relationships. So the universal theme is "complexities of human desires and relationships".
• Part B: The sentence in paragraph 37 shows the conflict and different desires between Ivan and his wife, which supports the theme of complexities of human desires and relationships.

Answer:

1. "Ivan grasped the knowledge that his wife understood perfectly well what his dreams were and that he would be the first to try and grab her winnings."

2.

• Part A: b. complexities of human desires and relationships
• Part B: d. "And he looked at his wife, not with a smile now, but with hatred. She glanced at him too, and Ivan could feel the hatred and anger coming from his wife. He realized she must have her own daydreams, her own plans, her own reflections."