In the story, bad things happen to people. Examine at least one of the stories and the role of luck, fate, and destiny play, including asking what is random (luck) and what is predetermined. How do the protagonists contribute to their outcomes? These are some ideas below to get started, but you can create your own topics and ideas related to the stories,  too.

“The Lottery”: example topics: Is it really random? Why have something so random? How does it serve the community? Is its truly something that anyone could “win,” or is it fixed? Do you agree with Tessie that the “The Lottery” isn’t fair? How would she react if she wasn’t the “winner?” Is she sympathetic?