The Lottery and Other Stories Lesson Plan

In “The Intoxicated,” how does the drunk man feel about Eileen, and why?

Students should analyze how the drunk man treats Eileen, how he thinks about her, and the things he says to her. For example, he expects her to harbor certain interests he thinks are more “appropriate” to a teenage girl. Imagine what his expectations are of someone of her age and gender, and how she defies or subverts these expectations. Encourage students to consider the factors that impact his treatment of Eileen, especially his uncomfortable reactions to her apocalyptic theories. Additionally, you may encourage to speculate about why the story is told from the viewpoint of the drunk man—what...