Literary Endings

This literary analysis worksheet is designed for students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 to deepen their understanding of theme, author’s purpose, and interpretive reading through close study of Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” Students focus on the story’s shocking and ambiguous ending, analyzing why Jackson concludes the narrative abruptly and how this choice reinforces themes of tradition, violence, and human nature through careful textual evidence and reasoned argument.

Learning Goals

• Theme & Interpretation (Grades 9-11)
  Students analyze central themes such as blind tradition, conformity, and violence.
• Author’s Purpose & Ending Analysis
  Learners evaluate how the abrupt conclusion shapes meaning and reader response.
• Symbolism & Human Nature
  Students interpret symbolic elements connected to the story’s final moments.
• Evidence-Based Reasoning
  Written responses require citing and explaining specific details from the text.

Instructional Benefits

• Teacher-Created Resource
  Designed by educators to align with secondary ELA literature standards.
• Focus on Ambiguity & Multiple Interpretations
  Encourages students to explore more than one valid reading of the ending.
• Critical Thinking Emphasis
  Moves students beyond summary into interpretation and argument.
• Flexible Classroom Use
  Ideal for short story units, discussion prep, analytical writing, or assessment.

This printable worksheet gives students meaningful practice with analyzing literary endings, author’s craft, and thematic interpretation using a classic and challenging text. By examining why “The Lottery” ends as it does, learners strengthen critical reading, symbolic thinking, and evidence-based writing skills. Suitable for classroom instruction or homeschool use, this no-prep resource supports thoughtful engagement with literature and deeper understanding of how endings shape meaning.

This worksheet is part of our Grade 11 Reading Comprehension collection.