The Lottery: Theme and Irony Like most stories “The Lottery” has a theme and irony. The story leaves the reader to debate over what the prize may be. The title lets the reader know that there is something, either good or bad, being given as the prize. A lottery is a gamble that someone takes to win a certain prize. The title when looked upon by the reader tells he/she that a prize of some sort is involved in the story. The characters talk about the lottery all through the story giving no specific details except that the box, in which the names are drawn from, is black. It is a great, clear and sunny, summer day for a gathering. Th