Shirley Jackson was famously tight-lipped about her story's theme, leaving her audience confused, disgusted, and angry—but also incredibly intrigued! In this discussion, you'll work with your classmates to ask, and answer, questions that will help you to unlock the theme of the story. Take a look at Arnold's post.

Here's a question I have: I really think Old Man Warner is an important character to analyze if we wish to discover the theme. Why is his reaction to the lottery so very different from everybody else's? Why does he react so strongly (even angrily) to one woman's timid observation that "some places have already quit lotteries"?

Poses at least two questions that will prompt your classmates to think critically about the story's theme.

Read the excerpts from part 3 of "an occurrence at owl creek bridge." a rising sheet of water curved over him, fell down upon him, blinded him, strangled him! the cannon had taken a hand in the game. as he shook his head free from the commotion of the smitten water he heard the deflected shot humming through the air ahead, and in an instant it was cracking and smashing the branches in the forest beyond. *** a whiz and rattle of grapeshot among the branches high above his head roused him from his dream. the baffled cannoneer had fired him a random farewell. he sprang to his feet, rushed up the sloping bank, and plunged into the forest. *** as he is about to clasp her he feels a stunning blow upon the back of the neck; a blinding white light blazes all about him with a sound like the shock of a cannon—then all is darkness and silence! what function does the motif of the cannon serve throughout the story? the cannon continually pushes farquhar to continue his journey through his dream and back to reality. the cannon encourages farquhar to investigate whether his escape was a dream or reality. the cannon reminds farquhar that time is subjective and encourages him to move quickly in order to reach his home. the cannon represents farquhar’s romantic dream that he escaped his execution and will return home.