"The morning of June 27th was clear and sunny, with the fresh warmth of a full-summer day; the flowers were blossoming profusely and the grass was richly green." (pg. 263)
What is a "lottery"? How does the title lead you to expect something very different from what the story presents?
The primary definition of lottery from dictionary.com is "a gambling game or method of raising money, as for somepublic charitable purpose, in which a large number of tickets are sold and a drawing is held for certain prizes." However, the fourth definition is "any happening or process that is or appears to bedetermined by chance." The cultural connotation of lottery is in line with the first definition. The title creates the illusion that this lottery has a positive result. Besides the title, the first part of the story creates the image of a peaceful day in a happy small town. The only hint that this is a stoning is the children's gathering of stones, yet this detail is disregarded. This makes the ending all the more surprising.
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