1. Relationship Essay
Sample Introduction

2. Attention-Getter
The famous philosopher Ovid once said that “We can learn, even from our enemies.”
In fact, it is often one’s enemies that force a person to overcome a difficult challenge. Sometimes, only because a person faces an enemy does he/she realize his/her fullest potential. For example, if Harry Potter had never been challenged by Lord Voledemort, Potter would have never realized how talented of a wizard he really is.
General Info: Relationship
This stimulating aspect of a relationship between enemies is what makes their relationship important. Likewise, in the short story, “The Most Dangerous Game,” the characters Rainsford and Zaroff are good enemies for each other, since they each push the other to perfect their hunting skills. In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford, a well-known hunter, is put to the test by Zaroff, a man of more years of experience than Rainsford. After telling Rainsford that he will be the quarry, Zaroff arms Rainsford with only a knife as a weapon, and gives him three days in the jungle to fend off his attacks. Rainsford’s intellect, shrewdness, and composure are tested through their three-day battle of wits. In the end, Zaroff’s challenge is lost as Rainsford outwits his opponent and wins the battle.
Summary of story
Thesis: Title, relationship, and traits
Through the short story “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell illustrates that a healthy enemy relationship is both challenging and equally matched.

3. Relationship Essay
Sample Body Paragraph

4. Topic Sentence: Trait, relationship type, and benefit/explanation
Being equally matched is important to a healthy enemy relationship because each person can then improve his/herself through the relationship.
In “The Most Dangerous Game,” Rainsford is well-known to Zaroff because he had read Rainsford’s books about hunting. Clearly, Rainsford is a high-quality hunter, and Zaroff undoubtedly matches Rainsford’s skill level. In fact, Zaroff tells Rainsford that, “no animal has a chance with [him] anymore… instinct is no match for reason” (Connell 48).
Supporting detail #1: summary and quote
Since Zaroff has killed even the most difficult animals to hunt, he is obviously also a superior hunter. Since both Rainsford and Zaroff are at an equivalent skill level, they can learn from one another and figure out new ways to use the techniques they already know.
Explanation of supporting detail
For example, Rainsford begins to impress Zaroff with his skills, especially when he creates a specific type of trap.
Transition

5. Supporting detail #2: Quote
Zaroff calls to Rainsford and tell him that “not many men know how to create a Malay man-catcher… You are proving interesting Mr. Rainsford… I shall be back” (Connell 55).
Zaroff had clearly not been faced with that particular type of obstacle in quite some time, but because Rainsford is a healthy enemy for Zaroff, he is helping Zaroff review and strengthen his trap-seeking skills.
Explanation of supporting detail
Likewise, Zaroff’s skill level helps Rainsford remember his own power, like when Rainsford knew that Zaroff and Ivan would shortly find him within the jungle weeds. Rainsford remembers “a native trick he had learned in Uganda” (Connell 56) and is actually able to kill Ivan.
Transition
Supporting detail #3: Quote
Without the equal match-up between Rainsford and Zaroff, Rainsford would probably never have used this native hunting technique, so the test he was given by Zaroff actually helped improve his own skills.
Explanation of supporting detail
Clincher: trait, relationship type
Without a doubt, it is imperative for a healthy enemy relationship to have equally matched people.

6. Relationship Essay
Sample Conclusion

7. Through the healthy enemy relationship in “The Most Dangerous Game,” Richard Connell portrays that enemies should be both equally matched and challenging.
Restate thesis using different words
Because Rainsford and Zaroff were both hunters at equal skill levels, when they met each other on the hunting grounds, they were forced to remember and use techniques. Zaroff needed to remember how to find traps that lesser-skilled hunters would not have been able to set for him, and Rainsford needed to use his wits to remember tricks that he learned from natives in order to keep Zaroff and his hunting party at bay.
Summary of body paragraph one
Furthermore, each competitor needed the other to challenge each other to reach new levels. Rainsford needed Zaroff to challenge his ideas regarding the emotions that a quarry feels while being hunted, since prior to meeting his enemy, Rainsford felt little compassion for his own prey. On the other hand, Zaroff needed Rainsford to teach him modesty and morals. Zaroff needed to learn that just because he was bored, he could not harm other people.
Transition
Summary of body paragraph two
General discussion of relationship
Just like Harry Potter and Lord Voledemort, Rainsford and Zaroff were good enemies for one another. They certainly did help one another face new challenges and pushed each other to overcome them.
The famous philosopher Ovid was right: Rainsford learned a lot from his enemy.
Hook to intro