"The Lottery: by Shirley Jackson

This story was published in The New Yorker in 1948 and caused an instant uproar. (1) Many people were angered by the story's ending. (2) What do you think the purpose of "The Lottery" is? (3) Why did Jackson write this ficition piece? (4) What is the Theme or message of the story?

1. The towns people felt that the Lottery was fixed, but there was nothing they could do.
2. The purpose could have been not to trust anyone and done believe everything you hear.
3. The author wrote this story because during that time there was depression.
4. The theme is about traditions. How people are reluctant to change over the years.

"Everyday use" by Alice Walker

1. What does the term "everyday use" mean in this story? Why did Walker choose this as \the title?

• Everyday use can mean (1) something that is used everyday and is taken for granted. (2) Could mean something that is important enough to use every day; a must have.
• (Part B) Because the word "everyday " means different things to different people. It depends upon one's upbringing.

2. How do Dee, Maggie, and Mama define heritage? Whose view does Walker want us to agree with?

• Dee uses her heritage as a weapon to get what she wants. Maggie and mother embrace their heritage as an integral part of their lives.
• (Part B) Wants us to be statisfied with what you have in life. It is ok to long for things; but done make it your only focus. Never forget what you come from.

3. What is ironic about Dee's name change to Wangero?

• Dee changed her name because her given name was unimportant to her. The author on the other hand felt the opposite. Names are symbolic of one's heritage.

4. How would the story have changed if Mama was not the narrator?

• If mama was not the narrator, we would not have known the difficulties of the family. We would not be able to visualize how difficult it was for her to perform in a man's role.

Araby

1. Trace the text's use of light and dark imagery. Quote the text. When is the only time Joyce use light imagery in the story? What do these images represent in the story?

• "gazed at one another with brown imperturbable faces."
• "the colour of everchanging violet"
• "the dark dripping gardens"
• "the soft rope of her hair tossed from side to side"
• "like a summons to all my foolish blood"
• "my body was like a harp"
• "fine incessant needles of water playing in the sodden beds."
• "my soul luxuriated and cast an eastern enchantment over me"
• The air was pitilessly raw"
• "the brown clad figure"
• "like that which pervades a church after service"
• (part 2) When thje author describes how the boy is feeling about Mangan.
• (part 3) The images represent how the main character is feeling.

2. Explore symbolism- what various things might Araby represent to the narrator?

Araby represents the boys opportunity to please Mangan with a gift. It also makes him realize how inadequate he is, considering he is still a boy.

3. Identify and explore the plot -climax and falling action of the story. Why did the narrator eyes burn with "anguish and anger" act the end? What happens to him? What does he realize? What lesson does he learn?

PLOT: A young boy who inhabited a childrens home. He is secretly in love with a woman (Nun I think) who has no idea how he feels about her.

CLIMAX: The turning point in the story when the boy has opportunity to get close and talk to the woman he has been fantacizing about. Also obtaining the opportunity to impress her.

FALLING ACTION: The falling acting is the boys inability to buy a gift for his love.

(PART 2) His eyes burned because he was upset and disappointed.

• He saw that he was driven by his own vanity instead of reality.
• He realized fast how unimportant he is and that he has nothing to offer.
• He learns that he is but a boy that is maturing.

The Tell-Tale Heart

1. The protagonist is the main charater or hero.
The protagonist in this story is the murderer (un-named).
The antagonist is the character or force in conflict with the protagionst.
The character(s) inconflict with the protagonist could be either the old man or the offices. The old man because there must be some reason that the main character wanted to murder him. The offices because they represented authoity and therfore could penalize the murderer for his sins.

2. The conflict or struggle that must be resolved?
There is an underlying conflict in the murderer's own mind that he is not crazy.
There is the conflict within the murderer's mind that he will be found out.
There is a conflict as to why were the offices still calmly sitting and chatting.

3. Identify the Climax
The Climax is the murderer confeses to his murderous dead due to his own guilty concicnce.