There is more meaning behind each object and the importance it holds is what is focused on to make it more understandable to readers. Symbolism is the use of symbols to signify ideas by giving them symbolic meanings that are not the same as their literal meaning. For example, violets can symbolize shyness. Even animals can be represented as symbols. Here in the United States, the bald eagle represents freedom and independence. A cross also represents religion and faith. Even today, teenagers and children use symbols when texting or on their social networking sites. We see symbols every day and we don't always pay much attention to them. Symbols are particularly used in literature and writing. Many of the greatest writers in history and even today use symbolism in their diaries or novels. In the short story, there is a small village that holds a lottery every June. When you think of a lottery, you automatically think of something good or winning money. Well, in this story, it's not exactly that. They hold a lottery to see who will be chosen to be stoned in order to have a good harvest season. The story features characters like Mr. Summers who runs the lottery and Mr. Graves who helps him and people like Old Man Warner who is the oldest man in town and won the lottery sixty -seventeen times. It's not like a drawing but what happens is the head of the family goes up and takes a little paper from a black box. Once each family has chosen their little paper, they all open it to see which family received the paper with a black dot on it. In the short story, it is the Hutchinson family who draws the paper with the black dot. After each person in the family draws again from the black box the one who has the paper with the black ...... middle of paper ......23 Help me. 123 Help Me, Inc., nd Web. March 17, 2014. Cassel, Seth. "Symbols in 'The Lottery'." Flamboyant net. Litpick, LLC, November 2005. Web. March 17, 2014. Gahr, Elton and Rhonda Bowen, eds. "Understanding the symbols of 'The Lottery'." Bright Hub Education. Bright Hub, Inc., January 5, 2012. Web. March 17, 2014.Jackson, Shirley. “The Lottery”. Heritage of American literature. Ed. James E. Miller. Flight. 2. Austin: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1991. 1864. Print. Ma, Martine. “Literary Analysis Essay: “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson.” Word Press. NP, June 10, 2013. Web. March 17, 2014. Pirate Professor and Lentz. "What are the symbols in 'The Lottery' by Shirley Jackson." Enotes. Enotes, Inc., November 10, 2011 and September 19, 2012. Web. March 17, 2014. Scheelat, Lucas. “Symbolism in Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery.” » Reading reaction. NP, January 26, 2009. Web. March 17 2014.