What is a significant difference between the narrative structure in “The Most Dangerous Game” and the narrative structure in “Story of an Hour?”

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Comparing the Narrative Structures of “The Most Dangerous Game” and “The Story of an Hour”
The term “narrative structure” referrers to two things in a story: The first one is what the story entails while the second one is how the author tells the story. Differently put, the narrative structure is both the story itself and the plot of the story. While the story or its content entails the chronological arrangement of events, the plot entails the techniques used to tell the story. Within these two concepts are other aspects such as styles and themes used in telling a story. Thus, this paper shall discuss how the twp stories differ in their narrative structure: “The Most Dangerous Game” by Richard Connell and “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin.
To begin with, “The Story of an Hour” is set in the house of Mrs. Mallard. The events that start the story refer to the manner in which Mrs. Mallard is given the news of her husband’s death. Present in her house are her sister Josephine and Richard who is introduced as the friend of her husband and the three form the main characters in the story (Chopin 1). At the beginning of the story, there is a conflict as to how her husband’s death news should be introduced. This is considering the fact that Mrs. Mallard suffered from a heart condition. In facing this conflict, Josephine revealed the news to Mrs. Mallard in rather incomplete sentences that were meant to hint of the tragic that her husband faced and lost his life.

Richard took part in the conflict by confirming that his friend had died. He did this twice; the first time in the news office and the second one through a telegram. This was with a view of forestalling the bad news as Mrs. Mallard is referred in the story as a “less tender friend” (Chopin 1). Once the news was broken, Mrs. Mallard locked herself in her room where she interestingly started to have a different perception of the tragedy. She later died, and the cause of death was described as a heart disease known as the joy that kills. Here, a major twist arises as the front door opens and Mr. Mallard walks in.
The plot of this story is organized in a straight and chronological order. This is based on the fact that it introduces the characters in the first instance as well as the conflict that faces the. Later, the manners in which they handle the conflict, as well as the twists that occur in the story, are unraveled. However, there is an instant when the story gives a flashback and breaks from the sequential order of narration. This is when we are told of how Richard received the news of his friend’s death. The style of this Story takes a third person point of view. The point of view, however, keeps changing to the second person when there is an exchange between the characters. The setting is well described to give a clear picture of each scene and the mood of the story. For instance, the words “there stood, facing the open window, a comfortable, roomy armchair” give a description of where Mrs. Mallard went to sit to ponder about the news she just received (Chopin 1). The story is also told in a continuous series of brief paragraphs that are specific and to the point. The idea behind this style is to augment the tension that should rightfully be in this kind of drama. Ideally, from the moment Mrs. Mallard receives the news, the story can sink us into her thoughts where we learn of her joy of premeditated freedom. The story is also told in a rather poetic manner as Chopin makes good use of devises such as alliteration and repetition to emphasize on important points. For instance, the word is repeated severally to show just how much Mrs. Mallard was ironically fascinated by her husband’s death. Additionally, words such as “Composedly Carrying” shows alliteration to give a dramatic description of how the supposedly dead husband appeared
On the other hand in “The Most Dangerous Game” is a story that involves a big game hunter by the name Rainsford. At the beginning of the story the conflict that faces him is immediately introduced as we learn that he feel into the sea and has to swim to an island. Here a different conflict is introduced as well as two other characters; Ivan and Zaroff. Ivan is seen as brutal and as salvage as he tries to kill Rainsford in the first place. The second conflict that meets Rainsford is the fact that he is supposed to participate in a bigger and more dangerous hunting game that has him as the hunted. Zaroff told Rainsford that it is either he takes part in the game or he will be given to Ivan who would torture him. Zaroff also states that he has hunted big games for long and he is tired of hunting animals. He hunts game that can reason; human beings. However, Rainsford is given an option. He has to remain alive for three days on the island as he is being hunted and if this happens, he is promised to be shipped to the mainland on condition that he will not tell anyone about what happens on the island. When Rainsford discovers that he has no choice, he is given a 3-hours head-start where he realizes that the game is one of life or death. Rainsford then sets three traps where one injures Zaroff on his shoulder (Connell 10), one kills his dog, and the other one kills Ivan. When all these traps fail to kill Zaroff, he jumps over a cliff into the sea, and Zaroff thinks that Rainsford has killed himself. When he returns to his mansion and decides to sleep, Rainsford was behind the curtains, and he completed the game.
This story is set in the jungle, and it pits men against each other. The setting allows the story to have its genres of action and adventure. Instances of horror and thrilling moments can also be observed in this story. Connell has specific choices of words to bring out each of the aforementioned genres. For instance, the words “Blood warm waters of the Caribbean Sea” (Connell 2) show how horrible things were still meant to happen on the island. There are instances where the story describes the sounds of gun shots as well as the horrible sounds of animals that are dying. Additionally, the house in the island is also described in a manner that appears haunted depending on the choice of words. For instance, it is expressed as having “heavy knockers” as well as gates that are spiked.
The point of view used to tell the story is from a third person point of view. In fact, he uses a third person narrator who is omniscient and describes every happening. Most of the scenes are however narrated from the perspective of Rainsford but these changes towards the last part of the story. The rationale behind this shift may be explained in the context that Connell wants to show that the person who was the hunter is now the one being hunted. This is the point where Zaroff is followed to his bedroom, and even when he told Rainsford that he won the game, Rainsford informed him that the game is still on.
The structure of “The Most Dangerous Game” is closely compacted so as to ensure that the genres of action, adventure and horrors compliment each other perfectly. For example, the use of too many words to describe a very short part of the story gives the structure of story a classical appearance of a thriller and an adventure. This gives the story the effect of having a short period seem to be long.
In conclusion, both stories as described use different techniques and strategies to bring out the structure that best tells the story. For instance, while “The Story of an Hour” uses short sentences and a linear style of narration to bring out the suspense, “The Most Dangerous Game” uses long sentences and bulky words to give the story a tensed feeling.
Works Cited
Chopin, Kate. The Story of an Hour. Jimcin Recordings, 1981. Print
Connell, Richard. The Most Dangerous Game. Filiquarian Publishing, LLC., 2006. Print