Download Timed Essay #1 Class Samples

Sample A
Literature can be broken apart into two categories, depending mainly on the intentions of an author.
Commercial literature, which could be exemplified by Richard Connell’s “The Most Dangerous Game”
(reprinted in Perrine’s Literature: Structure, Sound, and Sense; 8th edition, p. 51), is most often known for a
simple ability to entertain. Literary literature, however, as Thomas Wolfe’s “The Child by Tiger” (p. 695)
would express, follows up enjoyment with a deeper understanding of the world around us.
Although Connell’s story “The Most Dangerous Game” may twist and seem to make one’s imagination
run wild, one cannot see reality within it. Literary literature brings out one’s vision pertaining to life issues. In
the way that General Zaroff hunted men for sport, one can see that Connell was reaching even beyond realistic
inhumanity. This is shown clearly with Zaroff’s words in which he remarked “I refuse to believe that so
modern and civilized a young man as you seem to be harbors romantic ideas about the value of human life.”
Not only does the general in the story hold indifference to human lives, but expects it of others as well. Another
factor which indicates the commerciality of “The Most Dangerous Game” would be its lack of intensive study
and complexity. The story itself contains a large amount of dialogue, with few analogies and just enough
descriptive depth to give us an image of what’s happening. Literary literature, in comparison, as “The Child by
Tiger” shows, seeks to bring out vivid metaphors and descriptions to make the reader question their own view
of life. Wolfe can bring out a strong sense of tragic darkness when he writes “we heard coming toward us now,
growing, swelling at every instant, one of the most savagely mournful and terrifying sounds that night can know
it was the baying of the hounds as they came up upon the leash from Niggertown. Full-throated, howling deep,
the savagery of blood was in it, and the savagery of man’s guilty doom was in it too” (705). Even as he kindles
emotion in the reader, he also expresses the central idea of a manhunt through the baying dogs. Wolfe’s deeper
purpose to make a reader experience real life and thought-provoking ideas is very evident in this subject of
writing, and even in its conclusion. AS you question motives o the character Dick Prosser, Wolfe closes with
his idea of Prosser as “a symbol of man’s evil innocence…a friend, a brother, and a mortal enemy, an unknown
demon, two worlds together— a tiger and a child” (714). This closing gives way to deeper understanding, and
the conflicting personalities within a human, which a work of commercial literature would not provide.
Both novels, “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger” have a central idea of being
hunted, yet both are completely different in purpose as well as how they approach that theme. One uses
disturbing but unrealistic ideas made to entertain, while the other takes a more serious stance, showing the
realities o the world in an intricate though-process that requires intensive study.
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Sample B
In both short stories, The Most Dangerous Game and The Child by Tiger, the general premise is the
same. They share the same basic actions such as murder, manhunts and references to hounds. Though the two
stories have some similarities they differ on the basis that one, The Most Dangerous Game, is a form of
commercial fiction while The Child by Tiger is more literary fiction. The former leaves the reader feeling
enthused and optimistic about Rainsford’s future while The Child by Tiger leaves one in question and despair.
The Most Dangerous Game hits on the highs and lows of our emotions to allow the reader an escape
from daily thoughts. In the beginning one feels slight contempt for Rainsford, the professional hunter, yet
throughout the story one develops fear and concern for his safety. A key factor in determining that this is a
work of commercial fiction is the ending. In the end an optimistic view of Rainsford’s life is presented, he is no
longer in danger and General Zaroff is no longer.
After reading The Most Dangerous Game one does not question the surrounding world but comes back
to it. The reader is not left pondering any universal question but wakes as if reading the story was like being in
a dream. The reader feels no need to relate the story to his life or surroundings but puts the story aside fro
another time when an escape from life is necessary.
Wolfe’s short story The Child by Tiger is a work of literary fiction. The reader is made to display many
emotions throughout the story such as the initial admiration turned to disgust and presented to the end with
sadness. One does not simply forget the book or regard it as “a good read” but thinks upon the story. Why did
this happen? Do people really act this way? How would I feel in this situation? are only a few of the questions
one asks after completing this story. There is no happy and optimistic ending but an ending that displays
brutality and creates disgust.
In retrospect one is presented with enthusing stories on both accounts but only one provides a more
permanent and substantial feeling and that is The Child by Tiger. The Child by Tiger is a book that appears
more to create debate over sociological issues while The Most Dangerous Game is just that, a game. A game
that is enthusing and exciting yet allows the reader to slide back into reality with an untroubled mind, which is
the goal of commercial fiction.
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Sample C
Literary and commercial stories are compared to two opposite ends of a pole. Literary stories are used
to broaden and deepen the reader’s awareness of life, while commercial stories are meant solely to entertain.
“The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Child by Tiger” are similar to these poles; where as, “The Most
Dangerous Game” has the page-turning visage of a commercial story, and “The Child by Tiger” delves deep
into literary with its unexplained motives.
A commercial story is created to carry the reader away from the real world and into a world of suspense
and pleasure. This world is created by Connell in “The Most Dangerous Game”, through setting and a
suspenseful plot that keeps you yearning for what happens next. “They would be on him in a minute now. His
mind worked frantically…Then he ran for his life. Rainsford knew now how an animal at bay feels” writes
Connell, as he builds upon the chase. “The Most Dangerous Game” is written strictly for pleasure. It is a
commercial story due to its label as a page-turner and its happy ending that leaves the reader undisturbed. “He
had never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided”, finishes Connell, leaving no doubt in the reader’s mind of
the outcome.
Pleasure plus understanding is the essential idea of a literary story. The purpose is to cause the reader to
think. Wolfe conveys this ideas as he leaves us wondering, “who and what he had been, what he had done,
where he had come from”, about Dick Prosser. What had caused this man to go on such a violent spree? By
learning this for ourselves, we accomplish the feat of what a literary story is. This epiphany is the broadening
and deepening of the reader’s awareness.
These two stories cannot be viewed as complete opposites, but aspects of each story place each in a
separate category. Whether it be the ending or the thought process of the reader throughout the story, “The
Most Dangerous Game” is viewed simply as a non-stop suspense commercial story that keeps your heart
pounding. While, “The Child by Tiger” is a thought provoking literary story that leaves us questioning the
motives of a man.
Essay Strengths:
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Sample D
Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game and Thomas Wolfe’s The Child by Tiger represents two opposite
ends of the fictional spectrum. The Most Dangerous Game certainly allows the reader an escape into a world of
unknown, and is therefore a work of commercial fiction. The Child by Tiger oozes with deeper meaning and
truth and is placed under the category of literary fiction.
A piece of commercial fiction gives the reader certain elements that are expected. The Most Dangerous
Game fulfills these expectations by characterizing the epitome of a hero. The protagonist Rainsford is a stock
character with dashing bravery and wit. Throughout the story, the reader feels a nagging urge to keep turning
pages until the manhunt has come to its end. This suspense plays a key role in the definition of commercial
fiction. At the conclusion of the work, the statement “He never slept in a better bed, Rainsford decided” lets the
reader known the inevitable truth. Rainsford wins the hunt, and the reader is given the pleasurable feeling of a
happy ending, which is also an important factor in commercial fiction.
A work of literary fiction creates a better awareness of life and may result in epiphany. The Child by
Tiger, narrated by an insignificant young boy, presents the story at an odd angle and aids the reader in finding
artistic truth through the eyes of a child. In addendum, literary fiction is meant to make the reader think, and
this particular story’s unexpected plot is truly a mind bender. The statements “Dick was a deeply religious
man” and “We were all so proud of him” give the notion that Dick Prosser is harmless and honorable. His
sudden attack upon the townspeople, the tireless chase, and Dick’s death and humiliation ended the story in an
unsettling way. All of these are characteristics of literary fiction.
When Richard Connell and Thomas Wolfe each wrote their stories, they had a certain goal in mind. For
Connell, the objective was to entertain the readers with a pleasurable form of literature. Wolfe fully intended to
pleasure the reader, but also wanted to give an understanding of an issue in society. Both authors depicted their
distinctions clearly and distinguishably.
Essay Strengths:
Essay Weaknesses
Sample E
In two books of similar action and plot, it is difficult to imagine that they can represent such opposing
examples of fiction. Richard Connell’s novel “The Most Dangerous Game” is a literary work of commercial
fiction. It’s entertaining mood of folklore, the strange and unexpected, and somewhat comical characters and
personalities all play to its label of enjoyable reading. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Thomas Wolfe’s
“The Child by Tiger” represents a much heavier form of fiction, the literary story. While it holds similar
elements of suspense, its’ conclusion shows that its purpose is to make the reader ponder Dick’s actions and
motives. By developing ideas of religion, community, and the emotions of trust and misconception, the work
draws the reader into a much deeper state of mind.
From the beginning, “The Most Dangerous Game” enthralls the reader. Its setting of a Caribbean night
aboard a yacht with tales of sailor lore towards the curiosity-inducing “Ship-Trap Island” immediately captures
one’s imagination. Its purposeful imagery such as the night being “like a most black velvet” plays to the
commercial literature style, and as the story progresses and leads Rainsford to the island where shots have been
fired (another “page-turning” element) the story continues to do so. The characters’ silent Ivan, the “gigantic
creature, solidly made and black bearded to the waist” and the “singularly handsome” General Zaroff with his
“vivid white” hair and a face “used to giving orders” creates a picture that is the epitome of entertainment.
Even the rest of the book, with Zaroff’s maniacal ideas and the hunt for Rainsford that ensues, inspires an
excitement and curiosity that can only be remedied by reaching the end of the story. All of this combined, is
what makes “The Most Dangerous Game” a perfect example of commercial literature.
However, “The Child by Tiger” portrays a much more meaningful story. The character Dick Prosser,
whom was described as “amazingly tender and watchful” transforms into an unrecognizable killer devoid of this
“deeply religious” qualities. The serious tone, as well as the events that transpire, shock a reader into
wondering why such a man would commit such an atrocity. By using meaningful themes such as the friendship
and admirably Dick provides for the boys, the religious imagery of Dick standing “humbly, and listen to the
course of the entire sermon” and the sense of Dick being “the best man [Mr. Shepperton] had ever had” create a
deep emotional connection throughout the story. When he makes the transition into a killer, one must feel an
almost personal sense of disappointment and cynicism towards the read world of bad endings. It leaves those
that read it in a mood of confusion and questioning as to why it happened, and therefore broadens their view of
life—the exact definition of the function of literary stories.
Although there are traces of both commercial and literary elements in each story, these are used to
further bring out the dominance of either of the forms. There is enough commercial elements to keep one
reading “The Child by Tiger”, and enough literary devices to contain a purpose and moral in “The Most
Dangerous Game.” However, both of these books possess a clean label, as well as the characteristics of great
works of literature.
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