The+Most+Dangerous+Game

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: The Most Dangerous Game

Point of View: 3rd person, partially omniscient

Protagonist: Rainsford

What type of character is the Protagonist? Round. Dynamic.

Antagonist: General Zaroff

Describe the setting.

Island, jungle, rocky cliff, swamp with quicksand, rough weather. Dark mood. Not cheerful.

Type of Conflict: Man vs. Man

Describe the main conflict:

General Zaroff is hunting Rainsford.

Describe the Climax of the Story:

General Zaroff finds Rainsford in his room after the hunt. They decide to fight to the death.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story?

Rainsford goes from nonchalant (on the boat), to terrified for his life (swimming desperately after falling off of the boat), to relieved (when he finds land and realizes there must be people there), to terrified for his life (encounters Ivan), to relieved (meets General Zaroff), to terrified for his life (is hunted by General Zaroff), to smug and satisfied (kills General Zaroff).

Theme: Humans' ability to reason.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme.

Humans are the most dangerous animal to hunt because of our ability to reason. Also, boredom causes us to play dangerous games.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme?

The whole reason that General Zaroff was hunting Rainsford is that he could, well, reason. He was excited especially to hunt Rainsford because he himself was a very clever hunter.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme?

Rainsford ability to reason was part of the reason he didn't run away once he survived the hunt. It was also how he got himself into that situation in the first place.

Give examples of each of the following literary terms in the story (use quotes):

Simile: "The revolver pointed as rigidly as if the giant were a statue."

Metaphor: "The sensuous drowsiness of the night was on him."

Personification: "Twenty feet below him the sea rumbled and hissed."

Symbol: " 'I want to show you my new collection of heads.' " Each head represents a life that General Zaroff took.

Foreshadowing (give both elements): " 'Who cares how a jaguar feels?'

'Perhaps the jaguar does,' observed Whitney."

"Rainsford now knew how an animal at bay feels."

Irony: " 'Great sport, hunting.'

'The best sport in the world,' agreed Rainsford."

Imagery: "His eyes made out the shadowy outlines of a palatial chateau; it was set on a high bluff, and on three sides of it cliffs dived down to where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows."

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story.

Reasoning is a unique ability of humans. It is crucial to our humanity.

1. What is meant by “He lived a year in a minute”? /2

The amount of stress and panic he was experiencing (adrenaline) caused time to pass very slowly in his mind.

2. What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay”? /2

He still felt like he was being hunted. He was dangerous; he felt unsafe.

3. In which sea has Connell set Ship-Trap island? /1

Caribbean

4. How is Zaroff able to finance his lifestyle? /2

His father was very rich. He also "invested heavily in American securities."

5. If Rainsford wins the hunt, what does Zaroff promise him? /1

" 'My sloop will place you on the mainland near a town.' "

6. What happened to Lazarus? /2

He followed a man that General Zaroff was hunting into Death Swamp, into the quicksand.

7. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt? /1

In a tree.

8. How many acres did Zaroff’s father have in the Crimea? /1

1/4 million

9. Why does Zarroff suggest Rainsford wear moccasins? /1

They would make his trail harder to follow.

10. What caused Rainsford to believe Zaroff knew he was hiding in the tree? Do you think he was right? Give reasons. /3

I think he was right.

1. General Zaroff stopped at the tree.

2. He looked puzzled, most likely part of the act.

3. He looked up the tree before walking away carelessly.

11. How does Zaroff stock his island with “game”? /2

Sailors from shipwrecks: "lascars, blacks, Chinese, whites, mongrels."

" 'They're from the Spanish bark San Lucar that had the bad luck to go on the rocks out there.' "

12. What happened to General Zaroff at the end of the story? /2

He returned home, had a nice supper, and found Rainsford in his room. Rainsford killed him.

13. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his “Malay man-catcher,” why? /2

" 'Not many men now how to make a Malay man-catcher.' "

General Zaroff is losing.

14. How do we know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man? /2

He is able to dig, crouch, run, etc., after days of no rest.

He outran the dogs.

15. Discuss the state of mind of Rainsford before he lands on the island versus that after he meets the General. What is different? (Especially about how he perceives animal feelings.)/5

When he is on the boat talking to Whitney, he says how he doesn't care how the animal feels. He is a hunter.

General Zaroff doesn't care how the people he hunts feel. They are his prey. Rainsford thinks this is crazy. By the end of the hunt with General Zaroff, he understands how the animals feel.

16. How does Connell inspire fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness. /3

The feeling of being hunted, with no escape and no one you can trust, is a horrifying idea. It's more about that terror in your heart, than guts being spilled. A feeling, not a sight.

Completion 5/5

Effort 3/5

Content3/5

Questions 32/32

Total43/47