Question

Read the excerpt from "The Lottery."

Bobby Martin had already stuffed his pockets full of stones, and the other boys soon followed his 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. The girls stood aside, talking among themselves, looking over their shoulders at the boys, and the very small children rolled in the dust or clung to the hands of their older brothers or sisters.

Whose behavior is ironic in this excerpt?

the villagers, for their pronunciation of Delacroix
the girls, for talking among themselves
the boys, for making and guarding the pile of stones
the very small children, for rolling in the dust

Answer 1

the boys, for making and guarding the pile of stones

This is ironic because the boys’ playlike gathering of smooth stones—an apparently innocent activity—actually prepares the instruments for a brutal ritual (contrasting childhood innocence with impending violence).