The+Most+Dangerous+Game

It is not human nature to kill other humans. "The Most Dangerous Games" shows aspects of human nature revolving around murder, the hunt, and hunter and huntee. By making a human become the huntee, Connell makes a character that learns all of the emotions that an animal has when it is being hunted. The story expresses the fine line between the sport of hunting and hunting to kill for fun, more-so murder.

1. What is meant by “He lived a year in a minute”? //The author is trying to say that when Rainsford was put in a life-and-death situation he felt as if a minute took a year to pass by.// /2

2. What is meant by “I am still a beast at bay"? //Imagery is used to compare himself with a beast who has the strength to survive against the hunter.//  /2

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

4. How is Zaroff able to finance his life style? //Zaroff invested heavily in American securities and became rich after the revolution.// /2

5. If Rainsford wins the hunt, what does Zaroff promise him? //Zaroff promises that if Rainsford wins the hunt he will be let free.// /1

6. What happened to Lazarus? //Lazarus drowned in quicksand in the swamp////.// /2

7. Where does Rainsford spend the first night of his hunt? //He spends the first night on the big tree with the thick trunk and spread-out branches.// /1

8. How many acres did Zaroff’s father have in the Crimea? //He had a quarter of a million acres.// /1

9. Why does Zarroff suggest Rainsford wear moccasins? //He suggests Rainsford wear moccasins because they leave less of a trail.// /1

10. What caused Rainsford to believe Zaroff knew he was hiding in the tree? Do you think he was right? Give reasons. //Zaroff stopped by the tree and examined the ground, then lit a cigarette and blew smoke up at Rainsford. I think Zaroff knew he was there but didn't want the hunt to end early because he had hope for a chase that would be more fun//. /3

11. How does Zaroff stock his island with “game”? //Zaroff uses flashes of light to indicate a safe channel where there are actually sharp rocks that ships filled with people crash into.// /2

12. What happened to General Zaroff at the end of the story? //He lost a duel against Rainsford and was killed.// /2

13. Inspite of being hurt, Zaroff congratulates Rainsford on his “Malay mancatcher,” why? //He is impressed by Rainsford's abilities to make mancatchers.// /2

14. How do we know Rainsford is an exceptionally fit man? //We assume he is exceptionally fit because he is a big-game hunter and is able to swim rough oceans at night.// /2

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.) //Rainsford feels no remorse about hunting before going to the island, and when the hunt begins he gains knowledge about animals' feelings when they are being hunted; the feeling of fear, awaiting death, and desperation.// ///2//

16. How does Connell inspire fear without obvious bloodshed/grotesqueness. //Connell uses a crazy, scary character to inspire fear.// /3

/30/32

Short Stories - Literary Devises Title: The Most Dangerous Game

Point of View: Third Person, Omniscient

Protagonist: Rainsford What type of character is the Protagonist? Round and dynamic

Antagonist: General Zaroff

Describe the setting. Time: Early 20th century. Place: On a island near the Carribean Sea. Mood: Suspenseful and mysterious

Type of Conflict: Man vs. Man

Describe the main conflict: The main conflict involves General Zaroff finding Rainsford on his private island and inviting him to stay at his house, which eventually turns into Rainsford being hunted to the death by the General. Rainsford must survive for three days in the wild to be freed.

Describe the Climax of the Story: The climax of the story occurs when Rainsford is running from General Zaroff and jumps off the cliff. General Zaroff assumes Rainsford is dead.

How does the Protagonist change over the course of the story? Rainsford changes throughout the story when he is faced with situations such as being hunted. He thought that any animal weaker than a human was considered prey, and disregarded their feelings. When Rainsford becomes the hunted he also becomes more receptive to feelings of animals who are hunted.

Describe the relationship between the title and the theme. The title, "The Most Dangerous Game", relates to the theme because the "most dangerous game", also called the hunt between two humans, is being played.

How does the main conflict help to illustrate the theme? The main conflict is that Rainsford is being hunted by General Zaroff, and the theme is about hunters and huntees. Zaroff is the hunter and Rainsford is the huntee.

How does the climax help to illustrate the theme? The climax is when Rainsford jumps off the cliff. The climax helps illustrate the theme because it is like an animal escaping or pretending death from a hunter. The hunter thinks the prey is dead since there is a low survival rate.

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

Simile: "... it was like trying to see through blanket." "... the truth was as evident as the sun." ''he lept back like an ape."

Metaphor: "... Rainsford stood blinking in the river of glaring gold light that poured out." ''He was a monster."

Personification: "... where the sea licked greedy lips in the shadows." "... the muttering and growling of the sea breaking on a rocky shore."

Symbol: The bed is a symbol of victory.

Foreshadowing (give both elements): Foreshadow: When Rainsford jumped off the cliff, it foreshadows that Zaroff would expect Rainsford to be dead.

Flashback: "When I was only five years old he gave me a little gun, specially made in Moscow for me, to shoot sparrows with. When I shot some of his prize turkeys with it, he did not punish me; he complimented me on my marksmanship."

Irony: Rainsford and his friend had a conversation on the boat about being lucky they are the hunters and not the hunted. This is ironic because shortly after Rainsford fell into the water he became the hunted.

Imagery: "It's like moist black velvet." "I am still a beast at bay."

Describe the relationships between the class theme and the story. The class theme of "Humanity" relates to the story because humans like to play games and in this story, Zaroff plays a game where he traps people on an island, feed them, and then he hunts them down. Killing others is not a good characteristic of humanity.

20/20