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Fiction Essay
Engl 102

Fiction Essay Thesis and Outline

Thesis: In both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, the authors write to emphasize the sanctity of life through the conflicts endured by their main characters both implicitly and explicitly.

I. Introduction
A. Thesis Statement
B. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson brief description
C. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell brief description

II. Characterization
A. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
1. Mr. Summers – Presider of Lottery
2. Mrs. Hutchinson – Winner of Lottery

B. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
1. General Zaroff – Presider of the Game
2. Rainsford – Quarry in the Game

III. Theme/Author’s Purpose
A. Overt flippancy exhibited by Hutchinson/Rainsford
B. Game/Lottery begins
C. Immediate change of heart once characters are affected

IV. Tone/Style/Irony/Symbol
A. “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson
1. Springtime setting
2. Implicit foreshadowing
3. Death of flippant character

B. “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell
1. Ship Trap Island
2. Explicit description of fear
3. Death of oppressor

V. Conclusion
A. Different experience for reader
B. Similar pointless rituals
C. Moral lesson
Fiction Essay

In both “The Lottery” by Shirley Jackson and “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell, the authors write to emphasize the sanctity of life through the conflicts endured by their main characters both implicitly and explicitly. Both stories deal with the topic of the taking of human life. “The Lottery” implicitly delves into the thought processes and ritual of a society where the taking of a life is ceremonial. However, the reader is left to wonder the purpose of this seemingly ageless tradition. “The Most Dangerous Game” on the other hand, is much more sinister in nature. Human life is also taken in a systematic way, with rules that must be followed, but also a chance that the target may earn


References: Connell, R. The Most Dangerous Game. Retrieved from http://media.pearsoncmg.com/pcp/pcp_97542_lit_lu/ebook/media/connell_dangerous.swf Jackson, S. (1948) The Lottery. In D. Gioia & X.J. Kennedy (Eds.), Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama & Writing (pp.213-218). New York, NY: Pearson Education
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