Tori-Hotspots

Tori Carras

Leah Graysmith

Eng 151- Writing Log 3B

4/13/11

1. Hotspots for The Lottery

- “The morning of June 27^th was clear and sunny, which the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green.”

(pg 54, par. 1, Jackson)

This quote was the opening sentence to the entire story and I chose it because it is describing what a beautiful day it is outside, ands leads you to think that June 27^th is going to be a wonderful day, but little do you know what is actually going to happen once the story ends. When I first read this hotspot it made me think of being back at home and made me remember what it felt like when the first beautiful day comes after a long, and dreary winter or spring. This quote put a smile on my face, until I kept on reading and realized that I should have known that the description of the beautiful day was foreshadowing irony because something bad was eventually going to happen, which it did, which broke my heart.

-“ By now, all through the crowd there were men holding the small folded papers in their large hands, turning them over and over nervously.”

(pg 59, par. 2, Jackson)

This hotspot is describing what all of the men were doing while waiting for everyone else to get their slips of paper, they seemed to be nervous, and anxious and fearful, which I would have been too if I were in their position. Even though my relatable situation isn’t even nearly as scary as the one that these men were in, after reading this hotspot I got a flashback to a memory from high school. I was a part of a dance team in high school, and the tryouts were very competitive and took a long time to complete, and at the end of the night all of the girls received an envelope telling you whether or not you made the team. You were not aloud to open the envelop until we were all dismissed from the gym so when you looked around the room, every single girl was biting their lip, anxious to know if they made it or not. Like I said, nothing comparable to the feeling of fear that these people had, but it was an instance that reminded me of what that nervous feeling felt like.

2. Hotspots for How to tell a True War Story

-“They were like soul mates he says, like twins or something, they had a whole lot in common.”

(pg 94, par. 3, O’Brien)

This hotspot is referring to the very beginning of the story where a man’s best friend has died in war, so he decides to write his best friend’s sister a letter. When I read this quote, it made me think of how similar I am to some of my friends, and how inseparable we are, and it made me think of how horrible it would feel to have to send a letter like that to your best friend’s sister. That would be such a heart breaking situation and I couldn’t imagine what it would feel like to number one, be in war, and number two, lose your best friend in the process.

-“In many cases a true war story cannot be believed.”

(pg. 96, par. 5, O’Brien)

This is said in the part of the story where the narrator is explaining what it feels like to retell a war story. He made it seem like it was so far off from reality that you don’t want to believe it, but unfortunately it actually did happen. This hotspot made me think of all of the movies made where people go off to war and come back traumatized, like the movie Deer Hunter or Brothers.

Hotspots 3B

My first hotspot for “The Lottery” can be found on page 56 and is as follows: “Mr. Summers spoke frequently to the villagers about making a new box, but no one liked to upset even as much tradition as was represented by the black box.” Although it is possible that no one wanted to make a new box for the simple reason that they were lazy or actually didn't want to upset tradition, I feel as though there is a more complex reason behind this. I think that perhaps the townspeople are intentionally allowing the old black box to deteriorate in hopes that this will end the “tradition”. In my opinion, it seems rather clear that the villagers do not like this tradition and fear that they themselves could be the next to get the black dot each time the papers are drawn. Therefore, it seems that the deteriorating black box could be a symbol of their feelings toward the lottery in the sense that they hope that allowing the box to fall apart will allow the tradition to fall apart.

The second hotspot from “The Lottery” comes from page 59: “'They do say,' Mr. Adams said to old man Warner, who stood next to him, 'that over in the north village they're talking of giving up the lottery.'” I felt that this really built upon my previous hotspot rather well. This quote indicates that, not only are the townspeople thinking about giving up the lottery, but they are discussing it. It seems to me that the people are realizing that this whole tradition of killing a villager to keep crops growing is completely ridiculous. They are realizing that other towns have stopped doing it and therefore maybe they should as well. To me, the whole idea of the lottery seems to be something that was started a long time ago and the people have since had the fear that changing it could mean their own death. This story seems to be representative of the idea that sometimes people are too afraid of the consequences to stand up and speak out for what they know, deep down, is right.

My first hotspot from “How to Tell a True War Story” was the following: “In many cases, a true war story cannot be believed. If you believe it, be skeptical. It's a question of credibility. Often the crazy stuff is true and the normal stuff isn't, because the normal stuff is necessary to make you believe the truly incredible craziness.” (page 96) I found this to be particularly interesting for several reasons. First, I felt that this really demonstrated the idea that war is truly unbelievable. In this quote, Tim O'Brien indicates that the true war stories are often complete craziness, and that they had to add some normality so that the story wouldn't seem made up. Second, I thought that another possible reason that these war stories could seem unreal was because of the skewed perspective of the soldier telling it. Each soldier can only speak from their own experience, and therefore cannot provide a realistic view, often because they are in shock or simply cannot think properly as a result of the strain of battle.

My second hotspot from this story can be found on page 99: “You can tell a true war story by the way it never seems to end. Not then, not ever.” This seems interesting to me because it illustrates the fact that war itself never seems to end. I think that the true war story of a soldier is more of a recounting of their experiences, rather than simply a story to tell to friends. Therefore, the stories would be long and endless, since their experiences were long and endless and seemed to blend into each other. I speak from experience, because my grandpa has a tendency of telling his war stories at family gatherings. They are always long and seem to go on forever, and he could probably keep talking for days if we would let him. I know that, for the most part, these stories are true because they are usually the same – though some parts change here and there, likely due to his bad memory. I feel that if they weren't true, they would be different every time because he forgot what he said the last time he told it.

HotSpots! 3B

The first hotspot that had caught my attention while I was reading “The Lottery” was on page 59 when they are gossiping about other towns thinking depleting the idea of having a lottery. “Pack of crazy fools, listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them. Next think you know, you’ll be wanting to go back to living in caves” said by Old Man Warner. Everyone around him also agreed that the lottery is a tradition that they have been doing for hundreds of years. They have done it so many times, it has become a part of the towns peoples lives. They say that there is 300 people currently living in their town, and the numbers keep growing. The idea of them taking the lives of the towns people, week by week, is to keep the numbers down. After reading that quote from Old Man Warner, it makes me think that they believe by keeping the lottery, it is making their town more evolved. They said those who want to take away the lottery will eventually go back to the old ways of not working and living in caves. I almost think that living in caves back then is a more civilized way of living then killing off their towns people. Every town has traditions that people look forward to, but for this town all people do is keep their fingers crossed it will be their neighbor or husband to die before they do. 


My 2nd hotspot that stuck out to me the most after reading the “Lottery” was the very last line on page 62. “It isn’t fair, it isn’t right,” stated by Mrs. Hutchinson. This caught my attention the most because the statement she said before she was killed by stones and pebbles by her fellow friends was completely against what she was saying from the beginning.


The 3rd hotspot that caught my attention was found on page 101. Eventually he realizes that he is telling tales that are not even on the lines of being true. He admits that he has told the same story a million times, but more on the lines of the truth. 


The 4th hotspot that I had found was found on page 96. This is where he explains that in any war or situation, it is difficult to separate what happened from what seemed to happen. He tells us that you want to look, then look away but your mind wants to know what really happens, so you take another look. While you take those looks away, you are missing important information. Without every detail in such a tragic accident, it is easy to add in parts that never really occurred. 

Writing Log 3B

The Lottery

The first hotspot that I noticed was “Pack of crazy fools,’ he said. ‘Listening to the young folks, nothing’s good enough for them.” (59) This is Old Man Warner talking about other towns doing away with the lottery. It seems that he is saying that the only reason that other places have done away with it is because of the younger generation. Instead he should probably be looking at what the lottery exactly is and why they would do away with such a thing. It seems that he is doesn’t want to see any change happen especially if it has to do with his beloved lottery. It made me think about several different things. First off it made me think why is the younger people’s fault that the lottery had ended. Did anyone think most people probably didn’t like the lottery but only went because they had to or it was expected of them. This is creating the illusion that everyone is excited that this is happening until the end result happens. Second, what is the big deal about the change of the lottery ending any way. Most of the starting traditions have been faded out over time and the only thing that really stays the same is when they use the marked paper and the box and then call everyone’s name. It seems as if the whole lottery tradition has changed quiet a bit over time. I guess all this shows that even in today’s world the people that have been apart of something for most of there lives no matter how bad it is still don’t want to see it be done away with.

The second hotspot really got my attention was “A stone hit her on the side of the head.”(62) This is talking about the end result of the lottery when Mrs. Hutchinson got the slip of paper with the black dot on it. Since she got this paper everyone got to throw stones at her even her own five year old son. I would think that this is probably the reason that most other towns did away with their lottery. In the beginning it was looked at as wrong that a women was going to have to draw for her family but then in the end the family has to draw. This hotspot made me mad because at first they made such a deal about the man not being there to draw but at the end its just all fine and dandy that the women is the one everyone is throwing stones at. I think it shows how times have changed and how even women and children are looked at. After this sentence Old Man Warner is egging everyone on to throw stone. The author makes it appear that everyone is excited to do this and the old man is just giddy with joy over getting to do this. This is all just very upsetting to look at.

How to Tell a True War Story

The fist hotspot that I really noticed was “You can tell a true ware story but the way it never seems to end.”(99) This is referring back to the story that he was told by Mitchell Sanders, and how you could tell that there was more to the story that wasn’t tellable. I think he might be meaning that the story never really dies and is with that person forever and that nothing can change that. This hotspot made me think of all the people who live with stories that are really never ending. Because in the middle of the night they wake up with these type of stories playing in their mind, reliving the details, the way that they saw things happen and the way the understood it.

The second hotspot that I found was “And in the end, of course, a true war story is never about war.”(106) This was concluding the whole essay about war stories and seems very fitting. I am sure we have all heard a war story from someone at one point or another in our lives and in the end it is not about the war you are thinking about. Your thinking about all the people and things that happened with in the story, and how all of that lead to present day. This hotspot made me think about all the stories that my grandpa has told me over the years about when he was in the war. And I made me realize the things I remember aren’t the war its self it about the people, the places and even what was going on other than the war. It is something that I think a lot of people over look or just don’t notice at all. This hotspot I think is very truthful and makes you think about a lot.

Writing Log 3B

The Lottery


‘While reading Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery”, a few different points really stood out to me. The first one is on page 55 where it says “The children assembled first, of course. School was recently over for the summer, and the feeling of liberty sat uneasily on most of them.” It then goes on to say that a few of the kids had already gotten their stones ready. This stuck out to me because it is saying that even the young children knew what was going on with this. It seems to me that the village is so messed up in the heads that they have already morphed the children’s minds into thinking that it is okay to do.

Another hotspot that stuck out to me is that none of them would move away from this crazy “lottery”. They have been doing this event for so long that they are just used to it. They could easily pack up and move away from all of this madness, but they don’t seem to do it. I feel as if people are so afraid of change that they don’t want to lose this ritual.


How to Tell a True War Story


The essay “How to Tell a True War Story” was very intense and it really makes me think about how things were back at the old wars. One of the things that were said was kind of humorous to me but I’m sure it is true. This was on page 96 where is stated “Often the crazy stuff is true and the normal stuff isn’t, because the normal stuff is necessary to make you believe the truly incredible craziness.” This is saying to me that there is nothing that happened in war that was like a normal situation back home.

Another spot in this story had kind of the same meaning to me, but it also stuck out/ to me. This point is on page 98 where Sanders says “you won’t believe” and the narrator just says that he knows. Sanders then says that “You won’t, and you know why? Because it happened. Because every word is absolutely dead-on true.” He then goes on to say that he sounded like he didn’t care if the narrator believed him or not, but in reality he did care

Writing Log 3B

Alex Plantinga
English 151
Graysmith
Writing Log 3B

The first story I read was “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson. This story is about a 300 population town sacrifices one family each year, which is known as the “lottery.” My first hot spot I have picked was on page fifty five. “The lottery was conducted- as were the square dances, the teenage club, the Halloween program- by Mr. Summers, who had time and energy to devote to civic activities.” While reading my first hot spot, I thought of how this “lottery” seemed as if there was a positive outcome as the other events Mr. Summers hosted. Later on reading this story, I read to realize that the lottery meant that someone was randomly picked every year to be stoned to death to save themselves from living in the caves. This hot spot has made me realize how unfair stoning someone to death is, and how it isn’t right to sacrifice someone randomly by choice.
The second hot spot I have found was on page sixty six. “There was a pause, and then Mr. Summers looked at Bill Hutchinson, and Bill unfolded his paper and showed it. It was blank. “It’s Tessie,” Mr. Summers said, and his voice was hushed.” In this hot spot, the lottery winner was chosen and it happens to be this girl named Tessie Hutchinson. Before she was selected, she was fighting for her husband who was in the lead to “win” the lottery, she spoke out and by luck, her name was drawn. This hot spot also made me think how unfair this “lottery” is. At the end of this story Tessie, the winner is stoned to death by her town.
The second story I have read was “How to Tell a True War Story” by Tim O’Brien. My first hot spot was founded on page ninety four. “A true war story is never moral. It does not instruct, nor encourage virtue, nor suggest models of proper human behavior, no restrain men from doing the things men have always done.” This hot spot has kept me thinking before I could possibly continue on with the reading. I agree with the part where a true war story is never moral. Not all the times does any story need to have a moral to it, sometimes a story is just a story. This hot spot had me thinking because what is a true war story? When Curt Lemon died playfully with a grenade, is that considered a true war story? This hot spot also had me question “proper human behavior.” What is proper human behavior? I believe there is no such thing, especially when you are under the condition “fight or flight” being in a war situation.
The second hot spot I have found in “How to Tell a True War Story” was on page one hundred and four. “You can tell a true war story by the questions you ask. Somebody tells a story, let’s say, and afterward you ask, “is it true?” and if the answer matters, you’ve got your answer.” This hot spot has made me go back and think about the third hot spot I have chosen. I was questioning what makes a true war story true. I agree with this statement because it seems in most cases on a personal experience, when a answer matters, you have your answer. This hot spot has also made me think because through out the story you hear all these little stories about what is a true war story and how it is considered to be one.

The Ultimate Blog 3b

How to tell a war story begins by talking about a soldier named Rat and his best friend who gets killed. Rat writes a letter to Lemon’s sister with a very emotional and strong prose. Lemon’s sister never writes back and Rat ends up getting very upset. He curses about her, and cries a little bit.

O’Brien goes on to talk about how no war story can ever be believed because some of the most unbearable parts are true. War is so horrific that people begin to lose their minds and they have the complete right to because of the situation they are in. Anyone who can keep sane through a war has to have a either very shallow conscience or a courage that is borderline insane. I would probably give the story of Rat and the letter the first hotspot because of the way Rat feels towards the sister. The bitter, cruel opinion of not getting the letter back shows the feeling of war and the obscene and evil undertones it contends.

The next hotspot in the story comes when O’Brien is trying to decide how Curt Lemon died. Although they say he was blown into a tree by grenades, O’Brien starts to believe it was the sunlight killed him. “The sunlight seemed to gather Lemon and carry him up into the air.” O’Brien is then asked by a woman to tell the story differently because it is too sad. O’Brien realizes it is in fact a love story not a war story, and that he can only make people understand by continuing to tell the story and making things up as he goes along. Because the powerful metaphors he makes up are truer then what really happened.

The Lottery is a story with a fantastic twist. Most of the story is left to hold the reader in suspense and then shock them even more. Once you get to the end of the story in turns out this lottery was an opportunity to get stoned to death. Anyone who could have seen that coming deserves credit.

The first hotspot in The Lottery is one that lets the reader realize the truth of what was happening at the moment once they have finished the story. “Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pocket full of stones, and the other boys soon followed example, selecting the smoothest and roundest stones; Bobby and Harry Jones and Dickie Delacroix---the villagers pronounced this name “Dellacroy”---eventually made a great pile of stones in one corner of the square and guarded it against the raids of the other boys.” I think this is necessary to the story because it leaves the reader somewhat confused, not only confused but a little more interested. As the reader wonders what is going on they still are under the impression that this lottery is a good thing.

The next hotspot was when Mrs. Hutchinson began getting pelted to death. I think this is the turn that makes the story so cool. The story builds up to this leads up the big lottery but then doesn’t turn out to be a lottery. When an audience gets tricked like that, I’m sure it was it Shirley Jackson goal and she was pleased to be able to create the spectacle.