2. Theme Definition
A general idea or insight conveyed by the work in its
entirety
Can be singular or plural
Theme is a general idea of the story, therefore should not
be to detailed or to simple
Theme may take the form of a moral
3. “The Lottery”
The Plot: A town gathers early one early summer
morning for the drawing from the black box. This a
tradition in their town for many years. The townspeople
gather with their families, and the head of each
household draws from the box. The family who draws
the black dot, is then selected to gather around the box
and each individual member draws their own piece of
paper. The climax of the story is when the family
member who draws the black dot again is stoned by the
townspeople.
The underlying theme seems to be the comparison of the
lottery to the draft used in WWII
4. The Road from Omela’s
The Plot: The author begins this story with the
description of a joyful community. He seeks to include
all areas in which the people could find joy, and to
exclude all areas in which there could arise a conflict of
interest between parties, and thus endanger the joyful
happy prosperity all have.
The Plot II: In a sudden turn of events the author begins
to tell of the child who is kept in the basement. The
laughing stock of the community, and the reason that the
prosperity reigns. There is no mention as to whom the
contract is made with, but only that if one should show
kindness to this child the joyful existence known by the
people would all disappear.
5. The Elements of theme
The elements of theme in the story of The Lottery.
The name of the story The Lottery suggests that the
story is about “winning” something, which in a way is
correct.
In the story the black box is mentioned over and over
which gives the reader the object in which to focus on.
The black box in a way then becomes the theme in a
foreshadowing way.
6. Elements of Theme
As the story progresses the theme of “winning” the prize
at the end is still right in font of the reader but it is seen
as a “good” prize. An incredible accomplishment on the
part of the writer. Some might say that in the end there is
conflict on whether or not the theme as a moral aspect to
it or not because of the stoning that happens at the end.
Theme is something that is apart of every story whether
or not it seems moral.
7. Elements of Theme
The theme of the Lottery is to
see that life will deliver the
unexpected and that not all
things end the way we want.
8. Theme: “Omelas”
The theme for “The Ones who Walk Away from
Omela’s” is a little convoluted. There is no set in stone
theme but it rather forces the reader to question the
morality of whether the suffering of one is worth the
happiness and well being of the many. The author states
“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, the skill
of their makers, even the abundance of their harvest and
the kindly weathers of their skies, depend wholly on this
child's abominable misery.”
9. Theme: “Omelas”
The people of Omelas are raised and taught that this one
person must suffer for the good of the town. Its almost
like the blind leading the blind. There is an
understanding that if anything nice is done to the child
and if the child were to be set free then it would negate
the implied contract for the wealth and health and
happiness of the town. Nobody seems to understand
why exactly it has to be this way
but they go along with it anyways.
10. Theme: “Omelas”
There are many ways in which people today, not only in
our country but may foreign countries, are forced with a
similar question of morality. There are many instances
in which one (many times few) suffer for the greater
good of the majority. This is seen when countries go to
war. Their few are “sacrificed” to protect the freedom of
the whole. Some people don’t understand why exactly it
has to be that way but they blindly follow the rituals and
customs that were once set before they were allowed a
word in the matter. What choice do they really have but
to follow suit?
11. The Conflict
“The Lottery”
The conflict in this story
shows us how traditions
are passed down with
moral expectations and
the fear of one man
speaking out against the
practice in fear of going
against the rest of the
society. It’s man vs.
society; or society vs.
society.
“The Ones Who Walked
Away from Omelas”
It is clear the ones who
walked away were
conflicted with personal
morals and values and
the decision of whether
or not to intervene to
help the child. This is
clearly why they left the
town and chose to walk
away from having to
make that decision.
12. How Are The Stories Similar?
The Scapegoat: Each story has one
person that suffers for the sake of the
happiness of the others. In “The
Lottery” that person is Tessie, and in
“The One’s Who Walked Away from
Omelas”, that person is the boy locked
in the room. These two characters are
chosen to represent the sins of the
respective communities, and by their
ailing, bring good fortune to the rest
of the communities members.
There is a “collective mentality” with
both groups of people in the stories.
This mentality is most defined by “the
behavioral tendency of the group of
which they are a part”. If everyone is
doing it, is it then wrong?
13. How Are The Stories Different?
In “The Lottery” the townspeople all witnessed and
participated in the demise of Tessie. There is never a
mention of feelings, unlike in “The Ones Who Walked
Away from Omelas”, where we get that sense from
those who left at the end of the story the author writes
"The place they go towards is a place even less
imaginable to most of us than the city of happiness. I
cannot describe it at all. It is possible it does not exist.
But they seem to know where they are going, the ones
who walk away from Omelas.”
14. WORKS CITED
Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery.” The Lottery and Other
Stories. New York: Farrar, 1991. 291-302.
Le Guin, Ursula K. "The Ones Who Walk Away from
Omelas." The Story And Its Writer. 4th ed. Ed.
Ann Charters. Boston: Bedford Books of St.
Martin's Press, 1995. 827-831.
