The Significance of Fate in Different Genres of Literature Anonymous College

There are many overarching themes that can be applied to the different genres of literature. People can relate to these themes, and they can be applied to short fiction, poetry and drama. The theme of fate is something that can be applied to all of these forms of literature. Fate is defined as the development of events beyond a character’s control, as determined by an unseen force. The short story “The Lottery” written by Shirley Jackson, the poem “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” written by T.S. Eliot, and the play “Oedipus the King” written by Sophocles, are all works of literature that explore the theme of fate. “The Lottery” deals with the societal acceptance of fate, “The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock” deals with internal acceptance of fate, and Oedipus the King deals with the fact that people cannot escape their fate. Fate is something that people have no control over, both in real life and in works of literature. Short stories are able to develop characters and conflict in just a few pages.

In the short story “The Lottery”, society’s acceptance of fate is the conflict being explored. This story describes a tradition within a society in which a lottery is conducted once a year. Everyone in the town gathers in the...