Lottery essay topics

You are welcome to search the collection of free essays and research papers. Thousands of coursework topics are available. Buy unique, original custom papers from our essay writing service.

19 results found, view free essays on page:

  • Representative Of The Lottery
    471 words
    'The Lottery,' ; written by Shirley Jackson is a story that takes place in a small town of approximately three hundred residents. Every year on June 27th the townspeople congregate in a giant mass in the middle of town, where the 'lottery'; takes place. This lottery is a ceremony in which each family throughout the town is represented by a tiny white piece of paper. The family representatives, who are the heads of the household, take turns drawing from a box that contains these three hundred pie...
  • Lucky Winner Of The Lottery The Person
    1,141 words
    Merriam-Webster's online dictionary defines tradition as, an inherited, established, or customary pattern of thought, action, or behavior (as a religious practice or a social custom) and the handing down of information, beliefs, and customs by word of mouth or by example from one generation to another without written instruction. If we are to go by the latter definition, we can understand how traditions are easily lost. Have you ever played the game telephone You whisper something in someone's e...
  • New Legal Gambling Industry
    1,400 words
    English attitudes and opinions prevailed in the "New World", and created gambling in America. Settlers brought with them the view that gambling was a harmless diversion. In these colonies, gambling was a popular and accepted activity. Legal gambling tended to be those types that were considered gentlemen-like. For example, it took a long time for cock fighting and prize-fighting to become legal because it was not considered a suitable gentlemen's' game. Although the financial backers of the colo...
  • Use Of The Lottery
    1,153 words
    The Lottery" and Religious Tradition While "The Lottery" is a fictitious story it can be argued that it mirrors the attitude of American culture in how it addresses religious tradition in its major holidays and celebrations. Two of the biggest holidays in the United States are Christmas and Easter. Both of which are derived from Christian beliefs. Even though "The Lottery" is apparently a pagan ritual, violent and horrific, it is appropriate, only by the fact that the participants no longer reme...
  • Texas Lottery Commission
    409 words
    House Bill 54, created a lottery in Texas, which was signed by the Governor in a special session of the 72nd Legislature. The lottery Act required voter approval before taking effect. (2) The Texas Lottery Commission was created in 1993 (House Bill 1587, 73rd Texas Legislature, Regular Session). Its primary purpose is to administer the Texas lottery, which had been authorized by a constitutional amendment approved by the voters in November 1991, and which had been administered by the Office of t...
  • Meaning And Purpose Behind The Ritual
    815 words
    Shirley Jackson's insights and observations about man and society are reflected in her famous short story 'TheLottery'. Many of her readers have found this story shocking and disturbing. Jackson reveals two general attitudes in this story: first, the shocking reality of human's tendency to select a scapegoat and second, society as a victim of tradition and ritual. Throughout history we have witnessed and participated in many events, where, in time of turmoil and hardship, society has a tendency ...
  • Poor Wasting Money On Lotto Tickets
    858 words
    Do Lotteries Benefit the Poor? Lotteries take advantage of the poor in several ways. The lottery entices the poor to waste their money on lottery tickets, rather than everyday necessities, such as food, clothing and shelter. The main way that lottery promoters succeed in attracting the poor is through the persuasive use of advertisements. Other members of anti-lottery groups believe lottery advertisements are deceitful and attract poor people to its promises. Flashy slogans and pictures of large...
  • Definition Of The Mechanical Theory Of Society
    577 words
    Essay # 1: Sociological Theory "The Lottery" is a short story by Shirley Jackson that was published in 1948 and gave a good example of the definition of the term sociological theory. This theory is a set of ideas on how people behave and how institutions operate. The analysis of this short story and the of the work of Emile Durkheim shows the relationship of the two in the field of Sociology. There are many well defined intertwining theories that Durkheim gave to society that are also included i...
  • Ironic Statements Throughout The Story
    645 words
    Irony in "The Lottery" In Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" irony is an underlying theme used throughout the story. The setting is introduced as a "clear and sunny" day, but ends with the brutal death of a housewife (715). The two people who essentially run the town, Mr. Graves and Mr. Summers, also have ironic names. In addition, the characters and the narrator make ironic statements throughout the story. The plot as a whole in "The Lottery" is filled with ironic twists. The whole idea of a lotte...
  • Next Lottery
    620 words
    Repressing Challenges to Order The rigid structure of society reinforces order and promotes conformity of all classes, but an individual contradicting established customs poses a threat. Shirley Jackson, the author of The Lottery, conveys that rebellious impulses of humans are repressed by society to maintain a rigid social order. The lottery enforces an unfair distinction in class status between men and women. Women are subordinate in the social power structure of the village, as shown when Mrs...
  • Old Man Warner Believes In The Lottery
    611 words
    In the days of Jesus through the mid 1900's, people had many different superstitions, or beliefs, about life. People believed if they were to do certain things, they would have good luck. Like Indians used to do a dance, called the "Indian rain dance", when they wanted it to rain so it would help their crops or even their heritage. It was a dance people still believe in today, but those people don't know that the reason they said it worked was because the Indians didn't quit dancing until it rai...
  • Jackson's The Lottery
    944 words
    Shirley Jackson's The Lottery: An Exposition of Conformity in Society The Lottery, a short story by the nonconformist author Shirley Jackson, represents communities, America, the world, and conformist society as a whole by using setting and most importantly symbolism with her inventive, cryptic writing style. It was written in 1948, roughly three years after the liberation of a World War II concentration camp Auschwitz. Even today, some people deny that the Holocaust ever happened. Jackson shows...
  • State Lottery
    971 words
    GAMBLING FOR EDUCATION" You cannot ignore the fact that there will be divorce problems, domestic abuse problems, homelessness and addiction problems if you pass this bill " (Williams). Senator J.T. "Jab o" Waggoner, of Alabama, made this statement opposing the lottery bill. At first glance, this would put fear in the predominantly protestant state of Alabama, which is in the heart of the Bible Belt, as well as surrounding states that are trying to obtain a lottery. However, these problems are pr...
  • Lottery Of Death
    838 words
    Symbolism on 'The Yellow Letter' by Shirley Jackson Shirley Jackson's "The Lottery" is a chilling tale of a harsh ritualistic gathering conducted by people of a small village. The word lottery would typically remind someone of a drawing to win a cash prize. A better comparison to the story would be the lottery used to select troops for the Vietnam War; a lottery of death. Another would be the human sacrifices the Aztecs willingly made long ago. The story opens by embracing the reader with a rela...
  • While The Lottery Money To Education
    1,110 words
    State Lotteries: Take a Second Look From the time the Europeans first landed on the Atlantic shore, lotteries have been a part of the American society. According to Will Spink, most states are currently operating a state lottery despite its bleak history in the U.S. (Spink 1). Since 1983, North Carolina has introduced lottery bills in the legislature every year (NC Christian 15). North Carolina Governor, Mike Easley, favors a lottery for increasing revenues for education (Analysis 2). However lu...
  • Tradition Of The Lottery
    1,127 words
    The Illusion of Tradition There is a Lottery going on today and we all hold a ticket. In "The Lottery" Shirley Jackson is asking people to stop for a moment and take a look at the traditions around them. Shirley Jackson uses symbolism to show that traditions today are sometimes as misguided as the tradition of the lottery in that small town in Somewhere, USA. Evil can be evoked in the most kind-hearted person if tradition deems it ok. Though the years there have been many wars in which many men ...
  • Ticket Mr Summers
    464 words
    The Lottery The story takes place in a small town with a population of about three hundred. They are all gathering for a lottery in the Town Square. The lottery has been a tradition since the beginning of the towns history. Some parts of the ritual had been forgotten and they even lost the original black ballot box. But just the same they still have the lottery year after year. The townspeople are gathering in the Town Square waiting for the rest of the residents. Before the lottery may commence...
  • Tradition Of The Lottery
    336 words
    Religous Symbolism in "The Lottery" In "The Lottery", Shirley Jackson reveals one of the most basic facets of humanity, the need for a scapegoat. Mrs. Hutchinson, having been designated the recipient of the lottery, becomes the scapegoat for the village. The tradition of the lottery is analogous to religious traditions because it is passed on at an early age, people rarely openly question it, and it focuses on a scapegoat. Religious traditions are passed on to children at an early age, just as t...
  • Adoption Of A State Lottery
    1,106 words
    The Alabama Lottery The Alabama Lottery is a much-debated issue. The lottery is a proven historical income producing system. While we do not entertain a state lottery, our Alabama money flows to those states embracing one. Most states enjoying a lottery system fuel their educational programs from revenue created by their lottery. Alabama cannot afford to upgrade their current educational system, although rated among the worst in the nation. Many refute adoption of a state lottery because it is g...

19 results found, view free essays on page: