The Lottery

Quote 1: 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. (Jackson 2)
Paraphrase: The black box was falling apart. The paint was faded and the wood was chipping.
Analysis: This is an example of imagery. The black box is described through the years of
tradition and how throughout the box itself has changed and morphed into something broken
down and grotesque. This transition from new to old could be in reference to how the tradition
itself has changed from something that might have been looked forward to or even fun for the
villagers has now changed to a tedious task that they wanted to get over with quickly.
Quote 2: Mr. Graves had selected the five slips and put them in the box. and he dropped all the
papers but those onto the ground. where the breeze caught them and lifted them off. (Jackson
4)
Paraphrase: Mr. Graves dropped the papers on the ground and the wind blew them away.
Analysis: This is an example of personification because the wind can not actually catch
something; therefore, the wind is being given the human ability to catch these papers and lift
them up. In doing this the author is showing how, even though Tessie is trying to prolong it,
someone will be chosen from this lottery. Except with the pieces of paper getting caught in the
wind you get a visual of how the lottery is slowly coming to an end with the pieces of paper
slowly falling to the ground. The only things in the way is the wind which, much like what Tessie
is saying can only slow down the process instead of stopping it.

The ones who walked away from Omelas

Quote 1: Some of them understand why, and some do not, but they all understand that
their happiness, the beauty of their city, the tenderness of their friendships, the health of
their children, the wisdom of their scholars, skies, depend wholly on this childs
abominable misery. ( Le Guin 3)
Paraphrase: The people that lives in Omelas believe that with the child hidden away
dealing with its misery than the people lives would stay as it is.
Analyze: The mood from this quote is bitter sweet. The people are so cheerful and
delighted with their lives and that should be a good thing. People should be allowed to
be happy, but they should not be happy knowing that innocent children are suffering.
When the reader finds out that the people are aware of this fact and choose to ignore it
makes the story that much more sorrowful. The author has it where the reader starts to
feel the joy of the people up until the moment we find out the children are in pain, by
doing this it crushes the reader even more so than if the story wasnt so happy.

Quote 2: They flared their nostrils and pranced and boasted to one another; they were
vastly excited, the horse being the only animal who has adopted our ceremonies as his
own. (le Guin 1)
Paraphrase: The people dance and talked to each other all very excited. Even the
horses seemed to be enjoying themselves in the festivities.
Analysis: The tone of this story is very pleasant, happy, and joyous. The author
describes people who are happy and enjoying their lives. These people are contempt
with the horrors of their world. I know this because the author uses words like excited,
boasted, and pranced to describe the people and animals. This gives the story a fairy
tale aspect in how everything seems too perfect. Then we learn that their happiness is
at the expense of the childrens suffering.