Outline for short fiction Essay

Shirley Jackson’s “The Lottery” and Franz Kafka’s “In the Penal Colony” both deal with a gruesome tradition that is seemingly unnecessary and unjustifiable. Compare these two traditions, paying particular attention to the language and imagery used to describe each. 

Title: In a Trap of Tradition

Introduction:

• Explain how tradition can be a trap to society
• Many similar traits between the village in "The Lottery" and the Penal Colony.
• There are also several differences among the two

Body:

1st- Similar traits

• Gruesome and and unnecessary punishment
• Neither character receives adequate punishment, in both cases the torture is much worse than it should be
• Many people gather around to participate at some point in the story
• Both tools of torture are described in great detail
• There is at least one person who strongly agrees with the concept of the tradition
• There are at least a couple of people who completely disagree with the tradition
• None of the citizens of the colony or village try to stop the tradition
• imagery used to describe the way the citizens of the community react to the tradition
• Neither victim was allowed a chance to tell why they should not be tortured
• Both victims are used as a sacrifice of some sort, an example for others.

2nd- Differences 

• The character in the penal colony has committed a crime, whereas the woman of the village has not done anything wrong. 
• In the village there is still very much support for the lottery, whereas in the Penal Colony there is no support other than the officer conducting the execution. 
• In the penal Colony, the explorer decides that this tradition is unjust and is the reason that the officer puts an end to the torture machine.
• The conductor of torture kills himself in the end because he wants to receive justice for unjustly killing people, whereas in the village the conductor of the lottery does not feel that he is being unjust and does not kill himself.
• The description and imagery used "In the Penal Colony" is much more graphic and detailed than in "The Lottery"
• the victim of the lottery knew the outcome of her winning and what to expect, however the prisoner of the penal colony had no idea what was going on and did not understand his punishment.

Conclusion:

• There are many similarities and differences in the way the the people in these stories deal with their old traditions. 
• In both cases it shows that tradition can trap people and causes them to keep unnecessary laws that harm others for no reason.
• It is important to constantly reevaluate the laws and regulations, especially those dealing with death or torture.