Lullaby / Ring Final Exam Essay Topics
Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, Lullaby (2002), and Koji Suzuki’s novel, Ring (1991), have a
striking number of similarities: Both plots begin with a mysterious series of deaths that an
investigative reporter begins to explore because of a death in his family, and each reporter’s
investigations ultimately reveal the existence of a magical murder weapon that can be used to kill
vast numbers of people without any apparent cause of death. Whenever two texts have an
unusual number of similarities like this, they provide readers with an opportunity to analyze the
subtle differences that exist between them in terms of theme and technique and to construct an
argument about the overall significance of these differences. For this essay, you can choose
ONE of the following TWO TOPICS in constructing your argument.
1) One subtle set of differences that arises through careful analysis of these two novels
relates to the moral merits and shortcomings of the different characters. Each novel contains a
murder weapon that can be used with impunity, and people approach and employ this murder
weapon with moral standards that differ greatly. Some characters commit murder
unintentionally, some do it out of carelessness and some do it with calculated intent. Some
characters also have back stories that allow readers to sympathize with their cruel behavior.
If you choose this topic, you should assess how each author uses techniques such as
characterization, internal conflict, external conflict, foil and flashback to create characters who
are innocent, malevolent or something in between. Your essay should analyze at least TWO
main characters from EACH of the two novels in separate body paragraphs (four characters body
paragraphs minimum), and the topic sentence of each paragraph should indicate the techniques
each author uses to create complex characters whose life stories, motivations, statements and
actions provide readers with the opportunity to formulate complex moral evaluations. In your
introduction, you should make sure to provide a statement of the moral standard you will be
using in your essay to evaluate the comparative moral qualities of the different characters you
analyze. Conclude your introduction with a thesis statement that assesses each author’s preferred
techniques and underlying moral message.
2) Another subtle set of differences that arises through careful analysis of these two
novels relates to the techniques that each author uses to create suspense, curiosity, sympathy,
fascination, terror and horror (terror plus disgust) in their readers. These two mystery writers
employ techniques of character development (dynamic, static, minor and foil characterization,
internal and external conflict, exposition of back story, etc.), techniques of plot (conflict,
complication, climax, resolution, etc.) and other formal techniques (different time settings, etc.)
to make their novels more mysterious and to sustain the interest of their readers.
If you choose this topic, you should assess how each author uses techniques to create the
different kinds of reader reactions I have just outlined. You should organize your discussion of
EACH text in terms of at least TWO body paragraphs (four body paragraphs minimum), and the
topic sentences of each paragraph should indicate BOTH the different literary techniques AND
the reader responses (curiosity, sympathy, fascination, terror, horror, etc.) that the body
paragraph will analyze. Conclude your introduction with a thesis statement that assesses the
differences between these two mystery writers in terms of the techniques they employ and the
reader responses they evoke.