English 102 - the Most Dangerous Game and the Child by Tiger

Fiction Essay: Comparison and Contrast of

“The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger”

Caitlin Finfrock

English 102

04/10/2017

OUTLINE

Thesis: Both stories, “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and Rocking Horse Winner by D. H. Lawrence, have different conflicts from one another but both stories have two common themes: morals and consequences of greed.

Outline  

1. Introduction

1. Importance of conflict, plot and structure
2. thesis

1.  Similarities between “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger”

1. Intro to the conflicts
2. Man vs. Nature,
3.  Man vs. Man,
4.  Man vs. Self

1.  Differences between “ The Most Dangerous Game” and “ The Child by Tiger”

1. How each character handled conflict
2. Success and failure of major character

1. Point of View

1. First person point of view
2. omniscient third-person point of view
3. who readers root for and why

1. Conclusion

Fiction Essay: Comparison and Contrast of

“The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger”

        In a story, the elements of conflict, plot, and structure produce a tension within the story, creating scenarios that the characters must face internally and/or externally. These fundamental parts of a story are necessary to keep readers engaged, keeping them interested enough to want to find out the end results of the conflict. The conflict and plot are the key to every story and are important to the stories of “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “The Child by Tiger” by Thomas Wolfe. Both authors use the concepts of conflict, plot, and structure to convey the message of the limits people will go to when under stressful situations as well as battling good vs. evil.

        The conflict between the two stories “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger” are much different from one another, yet they both share some similar qualities. Both stories can relate the common conflicts of man vs. man, man vs. nature, and man vs. self. In the beginning both main characters, Rainsford and Dick, were the “hunters” who later become the “hunted”. Rainsford in “The Most Dangerous Game” is a well-respected hunter who fell off his yacht and landed himself on Ship-wreck island where he fell a victim to the cruel Zaroff who hunts humans for a hobby. The main conflict of the story is man vs man. However, Rainsford is also seen at the mercy of the island, using the elements of the jungle to his advantage forming the conflict of man vs nature, which is also seen in the situation with Dick in “The Child by Tiger”. Dick was described as a nice, structured, religious man who later goes out and murders nine people. After Dick’s rampage, he must face nature as he tries to escape the mob that is trying to kill him. Both characters were fighting internal battles of morality or what is right or wrong. Wolfe made it a point to show multiple times that Dick had anger management problems which lead him to the killings. Wolfe provided readers with glimpses into this internal conflict within Dick when it is shown that “suddenly the whites of his eyes were shot with red…his hands twitched slightly, but he did not move” (Wolf, 1937, p. 21) . Living in a time of slavery and discrimination, Dick was under a lot of pressure which lead to his violence. Similarly, Rainsford was under severe stress causing the conflict within himself which stems from his fear and his morals. Fear from being hunted and going into survival mode, but also being in the situation he was in, forcing him to reconsider his view of his morals on killing another human. Both stories share common elements of conflicts, but there are also great differences.

        The main difference between the two stories would be their conflicts and how the major characters handled the situations. Connell decided to use a faster paced and thrilling development of his character while Wolfe used a slower paced and mysterious approach. Both characters are placed in high stressful situation, Rainsford overcomes and conquers his conflict with man, nature and himself when he outwits Zaroff and kills him at the end. On the other hand, Dick Prosser was defeated by his internal conflict due to his inability to control his anger, causing him to snap which later was the reason for his demise. Wolfe chose to use a different technique in his story telling because the story is told from Spangler’s eyes looking back 20 some years earlier to these events trying to make sense of it all. This approach allows readers to create their own perceptions about Dick. Another big difference is Connell ends his story when Rainsford kills Zaroff and Wolfe chose to continue showing the after-shock of the whole situation which gives the readers the insight that Dick had premeditated the whole thing when it is mentioned about Dick underlining that Bible quote. So, Dick knew he was going to die, where Rainsford battling to survive. Both hold greater and deeper meanings which people can relate to, which matters when it comes to constructing any story.