The atmosphere of the short story "The Lottery" is initially normal and friendly. There is nothing peculiar about the people and how they assemble in the square.
The lottery was conducted—as were the square dances, the teen club, the Halloween program—by Mr. Summers.
The writer manages to create the mood by portraying the townspeople as ordinary families going about a typical day. The writer starts by describing the day, which is clear and sunny. She also reinforces the background by using positive references such as “fresh warmth” and “full-summer day” to create a lively atmosphere. The author places much emphasis on the people, and the actual nature of the lottery is withheld until the end of the story. The writer describes the children as jovial and engaging in normal childhood activities. The men arrive after the children, and they engage in normal talk about farming and taxes.
They stood together, away from the pile of stones in the corner, and their jokes were quiet and they smiled rather than laughed.
The women arrive last, and when they meet, they engage in gossip before joining their husbands.
From the title, setting and earlier progression of the story, one might expect a normal lottery with prizes for the winner. However, the story ends in the freakish murder of the singled-out individual.
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