Besides the names that Shirley Jackson chose for the characters, she also used several images in "The Lottery" reminding the reader of the primitive past. The words to describe the appearance of the box leads one to believe that it is the victim's blood that stained, faded, and blackened the box. (Nebeker) The three-legged stool symbolizes not only the three legs on the tripod of the Delphi oracle, but also the three parts of the blessed trinity. (Nebeker) The wooden chips that were used, but have been replaced by paper slips, bring a historic picture to mind also. It shows that the town has moved forward, from wood to paper, but not entirely changed the institution of the “Lottery”. The reference to wooden chips portrays images of prehistoric
